Impact of a Short Yoga Intervention on Medical Students' Health: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Medical students often experience significant distress early-on in undergraduate training.

Aims: We aimed to demonstrate the impact of a brief structured yoga intervention on medical students.

Method: Fourteen first-year medical students participated in a 16-week yoga intervention pilot study. Students completed questionnaires at baseline, mid-intervention and end of the study.

Results: The students reported improvements in overall health, perceived stress and depressive symptoms following the intervention.

Conclusions: A yoga intervention may be effective in decreasing stress and improving general well-being in medical students.