Influence of Yoga and Meditation on Academic Achievements of Medical Students in Physiology

Academic achievement is related with the quantity and quality of learning attained in students after a long period of instruction. It is an attained ability usually measured by standardized tests and expressed in grades. Several yogic studies have witnessed the improvement in academic performance.

This study is carried out to assess the influence of yoga and meditation on academic achievements of medical students in physiology.

The study started with 180 medical students who were segregated into three groups yoga (n=60), meditation (n=60), control (n=60). A yoga module consisting of yoga asanas, and meditation, was administered on experimental groups for 12 weeks. The academic performance was accessed by the summative marks in physiology before and after interventions in three groups at Annapoorana Medical college, Salem, India.

Results suggest that Yoga and meditation group had significant change in academic performance in comparison to that of the control group. These results may be due to reduce stress, personality development, better attention and concentration achieved due to Yoga and meditation training.