With a new school year beginning, many of us are worried about our students’ mental health and well-being.  A small study from Yale University and reported in Science Daily found that a combination of SKY breath meditation, yoga postures, social connections and service activities resulted in benefits in six reported measures of well-being. These measurements were: depression, stress, overall mental health, mindfulness, positive affect, and social connectedness.  Interestingly, the study found that the combination of activities resulted in better results than the internationally known Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program.

The study, though small, underscores the idea that there is no one single means of creating well-being. How we breathe, move, connect, and care are each an important component of overall health (I would personally add sleeping well, eating well, and spiritual practices to this list).  You may find the Science Daily article here and a site about SKY Breath Meditation here.