There are knowledge gaps that need to be addressed in understanding the effects of yoga, specifically long-term interventions, on physiological markers, electroencephalography (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV) and elevated mental health symptoms in young adults. The present study will address the knowledge gaps by evaluating the effect of a 10-week (2x a week; 45-minute per session) Hatha yoga intervention in adults ages 18-25 (n = 45). Participants will be truly randomized to three groups: waitlist control (usual routine), Hatha yoga (experimental group), and meditation (active comparative group). This design will allow the investigators to determine the effects of Hatha yoga on relevant outcome measures. Changes in depression symptoms (BDI), anxiety symptoms (BAI), EEG alpha and theta band power, heart rate variability indices (RMSSD, LF/HF) will be assessed. Compared to the control group, investigators hypothesize that both the Hatha yoga and meditation groups will exhibit an improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms, an increased alpha and theta band power at rest, and an increased RMSSD and decreased LF/HF at rest. Moreover, the investigators hypothesize that the Hatha yoga group will improve body composition, flexibility, muscular endurance and strength, and cardiovascular recovery more than the meditation group.
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effects of a 10-week (2x a week; 45-minute per session) Hatha yoga intervention in adults ages 18-25 (n = 45) on mental health outcomes. The main questions it aims to answer are:~What is the effect of a hatha yoga intervention on depression and anxiety symptoms?~What is the effect of a hatha yoga intervention on electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha and theta band power?~What is the effect of hatha yoga intervention on heart rate variability?~Participants will be randomized to three groups: waitlist control (usual routine), Hatha yoga (experimental group), and meditation (active comparative group). Participants in the Hatha yoga experimental group will attend 10 weeks of twice-weekly 45-minute yoga sessions.~The active comparison meditation group will participate in 10 weeks of twice-weekly 45-minute meditation sessions. The control group will continue with their usual routine.~Researchers will compare changes in depression and anxiety symptoms, EEG alpha and theta band power, and heart rate variability between the three groups.