1 hr ago
Can Structured Breathing Help Adolescents Heal From Childhood Trauma?
Vaishnavi had a difficult childhood, including her parents’ divorce and moving between homes.
She says meditation and a program called the Intuition Process helped her feel calmer and focus.
A study in California looked at a breathing program called SKY Breath with 174 teenage girls.
The program used guided, rhythmic breathing.
After eight weeks, girls who had faced more difficulties reported feeling more connected to other people.
The article says this kind of breathing practice may help some young people manage stress.
The study does not show that breathing erases painful experiences.
Vaishnavi says she learned to grow beyond what happened to her.
Vaishnavi Gowda says meditation and Art of Living’s Intuition Process helped her feel more stable and focused after a difficult childhood.
A study of 174 girls aged 14–18 at two Southern California high schools examined Art of Living’s SKY Breath program.
After eight weeks, social connectedness among participants with higher adversity improved by approximately 8% from baseline.
The study compared SKY Breath with techniques the schools had previously used, focusing on emotional regulation, resilience and social connection.
The article cites other research linking childhood adversity with later mental-health difficulties and reports frequent loneliness among adolescent girls.
- Who
- Vaishnavi Gowda and 174 adolescent girls aged 14–18 who participated in the UCLA study.
- What
- An article examines whether Art of Living breathwork and meditation may support adolescents affected by childhood adversity.
- Where
- The study took place at two high schools in Southern California, USA.
- When
- The study lasted eight weeks; the article does not give its dates.
- Why
- Researchers compared SKY Breath with schools’ previous techniques to examine emotional regulation, resilience and social connection.
Potential benefits
Limits and context
Breathwork and adolescent wellbeing
Potential benefits
The article reports that after eight weeks, girls who had faced greater adversity showed improved social connectedness, and Vaishnavi says meditation and the Intuition Process helped her feel stable and focused.
Limits and context
The reported study involved 174 girls at two schools and measured outcomes over eight weeks; the article does not establish that breathwork alone heals childhood trauma or that its findings apply to all adolescents.
Key facts
- Study participants
- 174 girls aged 14–18
- Study setting
- Two high schools in Southern California
- Program studied
- SKY Breath, short for Sudarshan Kriya Yoga
- Study duration
- Eight weeks
- Reported social-connection change
- Approximately 8% improvement from baseline in the cohort described as having higher adversity
- Vaishnavi’s age
- 20
- Vaishnavi’s degree
- Bachelor of Management Studies, specialising in Marketing
Quotes
Vaishnavi Gowda
A 20-year-old student who describes her childhood adversity and experience with the Intuition Process.
“From there, I became the head girl of my college. I was the head girl for two years. As time goes by, as you start meditating and as there is more calmness in your mind, you realise that whatever bad thing has happened to you may actually become something that helps you grow in life.”
republicworld.com
“What I am grateful for is the Intuition Process because it made my mind stable and helped me focus in one place.”
republicworld.com
Gurudev (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar)
Founder of Art of Living and a figure associated with its SKY programme and Intuition Process.
“The breath is the link between the body and the mind.”
republicworld.com
Sources
Related news
Women Share Mental Health Journeys After Years Of Silence
Aishwarya Lekshmi Calls Therapy After Breakup Her Best Decision
Sanjay Dutt Reflects on Reconnecting With Daughter Trishala
Expert Warns Childhood Trauma Can Affect Young Adults
Navi Mumbai Family Court Promotes Mediation to Preserve Relationships
Anushka Ranjan Shares Emotional Postpartum Experience After Twins
Irritability Can Mask Depression in Men, Experts Say
How to read food labels beyond front-of-pack health claims
Mystery Surrounds Russian Lab Technician’s Death as Residents React
India Urged to Crack Down on Nicotine Pouch Sales
