TAMIU Faculty Member Publishes Research on Yoga and Mindfulness
An academic publication focusing on the positive effects of yoga among young, Hispanic students was recently recognized by the American Mindfulness Research Association.
The study, “Positive Psychological Effect of School-Based Yoga and Mindfulness Programs for At-Risk Hispanic Adolescents” was published in Contemporary School Psychology and was authored by Dr. Bernice Y. Sánchez, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) College of Education associate professor; Dr. David Allen, associate dean of Graduate Program at Texas Christian University; and Janna Delgado, faculty member at the Kaplan Center for Yoga and Health & integrative yoga therapist.
“This quasi-experimental study investigates differences in the impact of school-based yoga interventions and mindfulness practices on psychological well-being impact factors in at-risk Hispanic adolescent high school students compared to similar students enrolled in traditional physical education classes,” Dr. Sánchez explained.
The study’s findings indicated that school-based yoga participants exhibited higher levels of improved mood and affect with large effect sizes than those enrolled in a standard physical education (P.E.) class during the 12-week period.
The research was conducted in a collaboration with Laredo Independent School District’s Early College High School students who are still practicing yoga and mindfulness, as the research team continues mentoring these undergraduate students enrolled in TAMIU classes.
The research adds an additional dimension to the emerging field of Mindfulness research, Sánchez emphasized.
“The American Mindfulness Research Association has recognized the research as contributing to the growing field; however, the uniqueness of our research is that it highlights Hispanic adolescents, a population that has not been included, or reflected in the field of research,” said Sánchez.
With some 27 years of experience in the field of Education, Sánchez has served 17 of those years as a University faculty member and 10 years as a classroom teacher. Additionally, she’s also a National Alliance Certified Yoga Instructor for the past eight years.
She was awarded the TAMIU Teacher of the Year Award 2010-2011 and the Texas A&M University System's Teaching Excellence Award for 2010, 2011, and 2012. She was named the College of Education Scholar of the Year for 2015 and 2019. Sánchez earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Reading and Writing for Texas A&M University.
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