Yoga as Mindful Movement: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT07088003 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UBuffalo
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 47
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aimed to close an existing research gap by exploring the impact of a school-based mindful yoga program, Yoga as Mindful Movement (YMM), on foundational motor skills, social-emotional competence, classroom behavior, attention, and impulse control of students with various developmental disabilities in kindergarten, first-, and second-grade (K-2).

Conditions

Developmental Disability

Keywords

Yoga; Mindfulness; Developmental Disability; Children; Early Elementary School

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition

  The Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition measures children's motor performance in physical tasks (e.g., threading beads, catching a ball, walking heel-to-toe) through direct observation. Quantifiable criteria (e.g., task completion time, number of successful attempts, number of errors) is measured.

  From pre-enrollment (2 weeks before 8-week intervention) to post-enrollment (2 weeks after intervention's conclusion).

• Devereux Student Strengths Assessment-Mini

  This questionnaire asks assessors (classroom instructional staff) to rate how often a student displays certain behaviors (e.g., taking an active role in learning, making a suggestion or request in a polite way) in the past four weeks that correspond to social-emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal skills. Behaviors are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very Frequently). A higher score indicates more social-emotional competence.

  From pre-enrollment (2 weeks before 8-week intervention) to post-enrollment (2 weeks after intervention's conclusion).

• Child Behavior Rating Scale

  The Child Behavior Rating Scale asks classroom instructional staff to indicate how often each student exhibits certain behaviors (e.g., returning to an unfinished task after interruption, attempting new challenging tasks) over the past week. This was completed using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always), with a higher score indicating positive behavior.

  From pre-enrollment (2 weeks before 8-week intervention) to post-enrollment (2 weeks after intervention's conclusion).

• Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders-Revised (HTKS-R) modified for Neurodiverse Learners (HTNL)

  From pre-enrollment (2 weeks before 8-week intervention) to post-enrollment (2 weeks after intervention's conclusion).

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Classroom Observations

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Yoga as Mindful Movement

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Yoga as Mindful Movement

Adapted Physical Education

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Adapted Physical Education

Interventions

Yoga as Mindful Movement BEHAVIORAL

YMM is an 8-week hybrid (in-person and virtual) school-based mindful yoga program (modified from its original 10-week, in-person design due to complications of COVID-19) informed by the teachings of Radiant Child Yoga. It was designed to teach students about self regulation through the integration of movement, breath, and present-moment awareness. It was delivered in the form of three, 30-minute YMM sessions each week by the same instructor-an individual with training and experience as an occupational therapist and yoga teacher through the Yoga Alliance and Radiant Child Yoga.

Yoga as Mindful Movement

Adapted Physical Education BEHAVIORAL

Adapted PE took place daily (Monday-Friday) for one hour and consisted of lessons on movement skills such as catching, throwing, aiming, running, jumping, skating, and dancing through various activities and games.

Adapted Physical Education

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 7 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University at Buffalo: lead

Study Sites (1)

Cantalician Center

Buffalo, New York, 14226, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Developmental Disabilities

Interventions

Yoga

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Spiritual Therapies; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Officials

• Catherine P. Cook-Cottone, PhD

  University at Buffalo

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 11, 2025
• First Posted: July 28, 2025
• Study Start: October 4, 2021
• Primary Completion: February 14, 2022
• Study Completion: March 2, 2022
• Last Updated: July 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)