Meditation and Pranayama as Educational Management Tools: Implications for Learning Achievement and Cognitive Abilities of Secondary School Students
Om Prakash Sharma, Surendra Sisodia
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) October 30, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18137735 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental pre-test–post-test control group design |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 200 |
| Population | Secondary school students from Classes IX and X |
| Interventions | Meditation Pranayama |
| Duration | 6–8 weeks |
| Measures | Learning Achievement Score, Cognitive Abilities Score |
| Topics | Breathwork Meditation |
| Key findings | The experimental group showed statistically significant improvements in academic scores and all measured cognitive dimensions (attention, concentration, memory, reasoning), while the control group showed no significant changes. The authors conclude that meditation and pranayama practices have a positive and significant effect on learning achievement and cognitive abilities. |
Abstract
The ancient Indian system of yoga has gained significant attention in educational and psychological research for its potential role in improving students’ mental health and cognitive performance. The present study examined the effect of meditation and pranayama interventions on learning achievement and cognitive abilities among secondary school students. Adopting an experimental pre-test–post-test control group design, the study was conducted on a sample of 200 students from Classes IX and X. The group of the sample (experimental group) received a structured intervention comprising selected daily meditation practices and pranayama exercises, over a period of 6–8 weeks, while the other group (control group) followed the regular school routine without any intervention. Pre-test and Post-test data were collected to get a ‘Learning Achievement Score’ and a ‘Cognitive Abilities Score’ derived from specifically designed tests assessing the general academic score, attention, concentration, memory and reasoning. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests. The findings revealed no significant changes in learning achievement and cognitive abilities among the control group, whereas the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in academic scores and all measured cognitive dimensions. The results indicate that meditation and pranayama practices have a positive and significant effect on enhancing learning achievement and cognitive abilities among secondary school students. The study highlights the potential of integrating yogic practices into school routines to promote students’ academic performance and cognitive development.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of the breathworks mindfulness‐based pain management programme: effects on well‐being and multiple measures of mindfulness Chronic pain patients | 2009 | Pilot investigation; quasi-experimental with intervention and comparison groups | |
| Neural Correlates of Non-ordinary States of Consciousness in Pranayama Practitioners: The Role of Slow Nasal Breathing Experienced meditators | 2022 | Within-subjects comparison | n = 12 |
| Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness. Participants referred from Danish Holotropic Breathwork facilitators, including 9... | 2015 | Quasi-experiment with multiple case studies and repeated measures | n = 20 |
| An Effectiveness of Holotropic Breathwork on Stress Management among Higher Secondary Students in Selected Schools of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh Higher secondary students at Sardar Patel Intermediate College, Mandhana, Kanpur, India | 2026 | Quasi-experimental study | n = 60 |
| A Study To Assess The Effectiveness Of Video Assisted Pranayama On Stress Among Students Of Selected College In Chennai College students at Saveetha College of Engineering, Chennai | 2026 | True experimental research design | n = 100 |