Efficacy of Yoga and Meditative Practices in the Schools

Associate Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School, Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD, will outline the scientific rationale for yoga and meditative practices in schools. In this 75-minute talk that includes a 20-minute Q&A facilitated by Susan Lord,MD, Dr. Khalsa will address the widespread and chronic mental health and behavior problems that now plague our educational system, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to stress, anxiety, and depression among both students and educators. Dr. Khalsa will address how the efficacy of yoga and meditative practices provides the groundwork for solutions on all levels. As seen in this growing body of research, yoga and mindfulness practices reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and can provide a vastly improved learning environment for all constituents involved.