Abstract
College students experienced increased stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated the effect of brief online Isha Upa Yoga modules on undergraduates’ mental health and well-being. Randomized control trial (RCT) with waitlist control crossover (N = 679). The intervention group was instructed to learn and practice the modules daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the 4-week RCT, the control group was instructed to learn and practice the modules for the remaining 8 weeks. Primary outcomes included stress and well-being. Secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression, resilience, positive affect and negative affect. Linear mixed-effects models were used for analyses. Isha Upa Yoga significantly reduced stress (Group [intervention, control] × Time [baseline, Week 4] interaction, p = .009, d = .27) and increased well-being (Group × Time interaction p = .002, d = .32). By the study’s end, the intervention and control groups experienced significant improvements in well-being (p < .001, p < .001), stress (p < .001, p < .001), anxiety (p < .001, p < .001), depression (p < .001, p = .004), positive affect (p = .04, p < .001), and negative affect (p < .001, p < .001). Online Isha Upa Yoga shows promise for mitigating the pandemic’s negative impact on undergraduates’ mental health and improving their well-being.