The Impact of Trait Mindfulness on Relational Outcomes in Novice Yoga Practitioners Participating in an Academic Yoga Course

Objective: This study examined the role of dispositional mindfulness in impacting the relational benefits of yoga in novice practitioners in an undergraduate academic yoga course. Participants: 21 college students enrolled in a yoga course throughout a 15-week academic semester (January-April 2016). Methods: Participants attended lab assessments at the beginning and end of the semester and were asked to complete eight consecutive Internet-based daily surveys across six separate bursts, yielding 48 data points for each participant. Results: Multivariate time-series analyses revealed within-person subgroup differences such that in general, those in the high trait mindfulness group gleaned benefits from yoga practice with respect to relational outcomes. Conclusions: This study demonstrated trait mindfulness impacts relational outcomes in novice yoga practitioners, suggesting those low in trait mindfulness may not garner immediate relational benefits from yoga and could benefit from additional strategies to bolster against any negative influences of initiating yoga practice.