Evaluating the Impact of SKY Breath Meditation on Stress, Well-being, and Connection in College Students
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: SKY Breath Meditation, Yoga Videos.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Stress, Anxiety, Physical Activity. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United States
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Breath of Resilience: Evaluating the Impact of SKY Breath Meditation on Stress, Well-being, and Connection in College Students - A Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) for university students. Over an eight-week period, 56 students will be randomly assigned to either a SKY breathwork group or a control group engaging in general yoga without breathwork. The SKY group will participate in a three-day in-person retreat, weekly virtual sessions, and independent home practice. The study will assess recruitment, retention, and adherence, as well as changes in physical activity, perceived stress, anxiety, resilience, social connectedness, and cognitive focus. All participants will complete validated wellness questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention. The goal is to determine whether SKY is a feasible, low-risk intervention that may enhance student well-being and inform future research.
Detailed description
The investigators are conducting a small pilot study to explore whether a specific type of breath-based meditation-Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY)-can support the well-being of university students. Over the course of eight weeks, 56 undergraduate and graduate students will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will take part in the SKY program, while the other will follow a general online yoga routine that does not include breathwork.
Participants in the SKY group will begin with a three-day in-person retreat, followed by weekly virtual sessions and independent home practice. The control group will engage in self-paced online yoga and receive occasional check-ins.
The primary focus of this study is feasibility: whether investigators can successfully recruit participants, maintain engagement, and support adherence to the intervention. The study will also examine whether SKY contributes to improvements in participants' physical and mental well-being. In addition to monitoring physical activity, the study will assess changes in perceived stress, anxiety, resilience, social connectedness, and cognitive focus-key areas that commonly affect student populations.
All participants will complete validated mental health and wellness questionnaires before and after the program. Data will be analyzed using statistical methods that include all enrolled participants, regardless of program completion. The SKY practices are considered low-risk and have been used in diverse populations; all data will be handled confidentially and securely.
This research is intended to lay the foundation for a larger study and provide early insight into how SKY breathwork practices may help students navigate academic demands with increased calm, clarity, and resilience.
Interventions
- Other SKY Breath Meditation
Three day in person retreat, weekly virtual sessions, home practice - Other Yoga Videos
Pre-recorded yoga videos will be sent to the participants to perform yoga three times per week
Primary outcome measures
- perceived stress scale [Time frame: 8 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale [Time frame: 8 weeks]
- International physical activity scale - short form [Time frame: 8 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Participants must:
- be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students at the university in Alabama;
- be at least 18 years old;
- speak and read English;
- be available to attend a 3-day in-person retreat and twice-weekly online sessions for SKY breath program over 8 weeks;
- be able to provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- Participants will be excluded if they:
- have a serious psychiatric condition (e.g., schizophrenia, psychotic disorders) that could be exacerbated by group-based interventions;
- are in acute psychiatric crisis; such as, active suicidal ideation
- have acute medical conditions that contraindicate light physical activity or breathwork;
- are unable to obtain physician clearance for participation due to chronic conditions (e.g., uncontrolled asthma, severe cardiovascular disease, active psychiatric illness requiring intensive treatment).
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
United States · 1 center
- University of Alabama — Tuscaloosa
Publications
- Scott, K., Andrabi, M., Patiballa, S. K., McCoy, T., Shrestha, S., & Mumba, M. (2026). Breath of Resilience: Evaluating the Impact of SKY Breath Meditation on Stress, Well-being, and Connection in College Students - A Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07415460 · 25-11-9227