Yoga Among Children in India: An Explorative Review of Current Evidence, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

Yoga has emerged as an important non-pharmacological intervention for promoting children's physical, psychological, cognitive, and social well-being. As the birthplace of yoga, India has increasingly integrated yoga into educational and healthcare systems through national policies and school-based initiatives. Despite widespread implementation, evidence regarding its effectiveness, accessibility, and sustainability remains fragmented. This exploratory review synthesizes existing literature on yoga among children in India, examining its historical evolution, physiological and psychological benefits, educational outcomes, policy initiatives, implementation challenges, and future research directions. A narrative review methodology was adopted through an examination of peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports, and international publications indexed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and official government databases. The literature consistently demonstrates that yoga improves flexibility, muscular strength, respiratory efficiency, attention, emotional regulation, stress management, academic performance, and social behaviour among children. Evidence also supports its application in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nevertheless, disparities in implementation across Indian schools, inadequate instructor training, infrastructural limitations, and the absence of standardized curricula remain major barriers. The review concludes that yoga represents a culturally appropriate, cost-effective, and evidence-based strategy capable of promoting holistic child development in India. Future research should emphasize longitudinal intervention studies, standardized outcome measures, and nationwide implementation frameworks.