Embodied experiences of stress and self-regulation among university students following a brief yoga programme: ‘I could feel myself again’
Irene Gianeselli, Antonella Brighi, Demis Basso
Body Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy July 6, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/17432979.2026.2693529 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 4 |
| Population | Female university students reporting academic stress |
| Intervention | Yoga programme |
| Duration | Five-day intervention |
| Keywords | Embodied cognition Thematic analysis Reflexivity Dance Stress linguistics Qualitative research Relation database Lived experience |
| Key findings | Participants described experiences of stress as external pressure, curiosity, bodily awareness, and grounded presence. The study indicates that a brief embodied practice may foster awareness of bodily experience and provide resources for engaging with academic stress. |
Abstract
This qualitative study explored how a brief, five-day yoga programme was experienced by university students reporting academic stress. Four female undergraduates completed semi-structured video interviews before and after the intervention. Using reflexive thematic analysis integrating verbal accounts and embodied indicators (e.g. breathing patterns, posture, gestures, and vocal expression), participants described experiences organised around themes of stress as external pressure, curiosity, bodily awareness, and grounded presence. These themes were interpreted in relation to regulatory processes discussed in dance movement psychotherapy and body psychotherapy. The study indicates that even a brief embodied practice may foster awareness of bodily experience and provide resources for engaging with academic stress in non-clinical educational contexts.