Pranayama Meditation (Yoga Breathing) for Stress Relief: Is it Beneficial for Teachers?
Stevie-Jae Hepburn, Mary Mcmahon
September 1, 2017 DOI: 10.14221/ajte.2017v42n9.9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report |
|---|---|
| Population | Teachers |
| Intervention | Pranayama meditation (yoga breathing) course |
| Duration | Five-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation Breathwork |
| Keywords | Breathing exercises Stress management Physical therapy Clinical psychology Anesthesia |
| Citations | 22 |
| Key findings | Participants experienced a decrease in their perceived level of stress after a five-week pranayama meditation course. |
Abstract
The effects of stress can have a significant impact on an individual’s personal life, relationship with colleagues, job satisfaction and career prospects. If unmanaged, stress can be the trigger that drives talented, motivated teachers out of our classrooms and into other professions. Yoga and meditation have been prescribed as a form of complementary alternative medicine for the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression. The current exploratory, mixed-methods case study aimed to determine if the participants in a five-week pranayama meditation (yoga breathing) course experienced a degree of stress relief. The course included one 60-minute weekly meditation class focusing on breath awareness. The Perceived Stress Scale was administered pre and post-course, weekly journal reflections were recorded, and a structured interview was completed at the conclusion of the course. Findings indicated that the participants experienced a decrease in their perceived level of stress. Participants reported benefits in both their professional and personal lives.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| EFFECT OF CYCLIC RAJYOGA MEDITATION AND BHRAMARI PRANAYAMA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHITTODWEGA (POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DIS-ORDER): A CASE STUDY 48-year-old woman with psychological disturbances following the traumatic death of her son | 2026 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Multimodal Analysis of Acute Neurophysiological Effects of Tibetan BöN Tsa Lung Breathwork: Insights into Autonomic and Cortical Resilience Validated with Wearable Ear-EEG Tibetan Bön Rinpoche | 2025 | Observational case study | n = 1 |
| Controlled Rhythmic Yogic Breathing as Complementary Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Military Veterans: A Case Series. Military veterans with PTSD | 2017 | Case series | n = 3 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Yoga as a Contemplative Practice and Its Contribution to Participatory Self-Knowledge and Student Retention: A Scoping Review of the First-Year Undergraduate Student Transition. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health July 7, 2024
- A Unifying Framework of Meditation Techniques Mindfulness February 1, 2026
- Yogic Breathing as a Modality to Reduce Stress in Anesthesia Professionals as Measured by Hair Cortisol: A Feasibility Study Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine August 25, 2025
- The Effect of Pranayamic Breathing as a Positive Psychology Exercise on Foreign Language Learning Anxiety and Test Anxiety Among Language Learners at Tertiary Level. Frontiers in Psychology 2021
Cites 8
- Mindfulness for Teachers: A Pilot Study to Assess Effects on Stress, Burnout, and Teaching Efficacy Mind, Brain, and Education August 16, 2013
- Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine August 1, 2005
- Meditation Lowers Stress and Supports Forgiveness Among College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of American College Health March 1, 2008
- Reducing stress in school-age girls through mindful yoga. Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners 2012
- Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychological findings. Clinical Psychology Review December 1, 2010
and 3 more in the library