Yoga Enhances Positive Psychological States in Young Adult Musicians.
Bethany Butzer, Khalique Ahmed, Sat Bir S Khalsa
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback June 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-015-9321-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Musicians enrolled in a 2-month fellowship program in 2005, 2006, and 2007 |
| Intervention | Yoga and meditation program |
| Duration | 2-month fellowship program |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Yoga Awareness Music Adult Female Surveys and questionnaires Flow |
| Key findings | Compared with controls, yoga participants reported significant decreases in confusion and increases in dispositional flow; the 2006 yoga group also reported increased mindfulness awareness. Increases in flow and mindfulness were associated with decreases in confusion and music performance anxiety. The authors suggest yoga and meditation may enhance flow and mindful awareness and reduce confusion. |
Abstract
Although yoga has been shown to be a viable technique for improving the performance of the mind and body, little attention has been directed to studying the relationship between yoga and the psychological states of flow and mindfulness. Musicians enrolled in a 2-month fellowship program in 2005, 2006 and 2007 were invited to participate in a yoga and meditation program. Fellows not participating in the yoga program were recruited separately as controls. All participants completed baseline and end-program questionnaires evaluating dispositional flow, mindfulness, confusion, and music performance anxiety. Compared to controls, yoga participants reported significant decreases in confusion and increases in dispositional flow. Yoga participants in the 2006 sample also reported significant increases in the mindfulness subscale of awareness. Correlational analyses revealed that increases in participants' dispositional flow and mindfulness were associated with decreases in confusion and music performance anxiety. This study demonstrates the commonalities between positive psychology and yoga, both of which are focused on enhancing human performance and promoting beneficial psychological states. The results suggest that yoga and meditation may enhance the states of flow and mindful awareness, and reduce confusion.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Is the Qi experience related to the flow experience? Practicing qigong in urban green spaces. PLoS One 2021
- Meditation as a tool to counteract music performance anxiety from the experts’ perspective Psychology of Music March 29, 2023
- Changes in mindfulness facets across yoga, CBT and stress education in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Mood and Anxiety Disorders June 1, 2024
- Meditating musicians: investigating the experience of music students and professional musicians in a brief mindfulness course to address music performance anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- Unlocking Flow Through Mindfulness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. The Journal of Psychology 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 14
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity and GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering Psychological Science March 28, 2013
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Urban Youth The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine February 25, 2011
and 9 more in the library