SKY Breath Meditation for Stress

(SKY Breath Trial)

Overseen By Sree K Patiballa, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Disqualifiers: Serious psychiatric conditions, Acute psychiatric crisis, Acute medical conditions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 8 weeks

53 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) for university students. Over an eight-week period, 56 students will be randomly assigned to either a SKY breathwork group or a control group engaging in general yoga without breathwork. The SKY group will participate in a three-day in-person retreat, weekly virtual sessions, and independent home practice. The study will assess recruitment, retention, and adherence, as well as changes in physical activity, perceived stress, anxiety, resilience, social connectedness, and cognitive focus. All participants will complete validated wellness questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention. The goal is to determine whether SKY is a feasible, low-risk intervention that may enhance student well-being and inform future research.

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must be able to provide informed consent

Participants must speak and read English

Participants must be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students at the university in Alabama

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have a serious psychiatric condition like schizophrenia.

Participants will be excluded if they are in acute psychiatric crisis such as active suicidal ideation

I do not have chronic conditions that prevent my doctor from clearing me to join.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants in the SKY group attend a 3-day in-person retreat, followed by weekly virtual sessions and independent home practice. The control group engages in self-paced online yoga.

8 weeks

3-day in-person retreat, weekly virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants complete validated wellness questionnaires to assess changes in stress, anxiety, resilience, and social connectedness.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• SKY Breath Meditation

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

SKY breath meditation retreat for 3-days, once weekly online meditation session, and home practice.

Group II: control group will receive online Yoga Videos to practice at least three times a week Active Control 1 Intervention

Yoga videos to practice three times per week will be distributed to control group

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Lead Sponsor

Trials

49

Recruited

17,900+