Evidence-based Review of Yoga Interventions for Adolescent Health and Well-being in US Schools

Abstract The adolescent behavioral health crisis has intensified pressures to foster both physical health and mental well-being, particularly in the post-COVID-19. Yoga, as a holistic approach, has been integrated into existing curricula and positive behavioral interventions. This review examines the implementation and impact of yoga interventions in the U.S., with a focus on adolescent students in secondary schools, to identify effective strategies and provide recommendations to ensure the sustainable integration of yoga into school-based behavioral health initiatives. The articles were systematically searched from EBSCOhost, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria were: yoga component with physical elements, implemented in U.S. secondary schools as part of PE curricular or school interventions, and published in English in peer-reviewed journals. This review synthesizes findings from 17 studies on yoga interventions, highlighting notable benefits across physical and psychosocial outcomes. While most interventions are integrated into the school day, some alterations, including the afterschool and virtual formats, have emerged, providing insight into accessibility to school health promotion. The review suggests that ongoing research to refine intervention designs, address implementation barriers, and expand the reach of yoga interventions to racially and ethnically diverse populations is warranted. Overall, this review advocates for integrating yoga into health promotion initiatives, which provide adolescents with practical tools to enhance their well-being in the educational setting.