The mental health of college students is a topic of recurring concern in the scientific world. From this perspective, the WHO (World Health Organization) developed a project to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in college students in their first year of undergraduate studies in different countries. The report revealed that among 13,984 students, the most prevalent disorders were depression, bipolar mania/hypomania, anxiety, and panic disorders, which were associated with factors such as advanced age, female gender, single parents, lower religious affiliation, identification with homosexual behavior, low grades in secondary education, and extrinsic motivation to enter college [1].
The complex demands of everyday academic life, financial difficulties, and interpersonal problems have also been associated with the impairment of mental health and, consequently, the quality of life (QoL) of college students [2], [3], [4]. In this field of research, QoL is understood as a construct resulting from components (domains) linked to physical and mental health, social relationships, and the environment [5].
Given this context, there is an emerging need for health policies that aim to promote a healthier mental environment for this population. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated positive effects of mind-body practices to alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression in various populations [6], [7], [8].
The practice of yoga has been incorporated into a set of integrative practices that are increasingly gaining legitimacy and is affirmed by the WHO as a less invasive and more participatory strategy, as it offers a better understanding and coexistence of philosophical, moral, psychic and somatic fronts of human health [9]. There is a growing body of evidence regarding the practice of yoga in modulating responses to stress, with positive effects on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters, sleep quality and autonomic variability [10], [11], [12], [13]. Furthermore, yoga appears to have a regulatory effect on brain plasticity in areas involved in cognitive tasks, particularly memory and work [14].
There is strong evidence in the literature that practicing yoga promotes cortical GABAergic inhibitory tone. Exposure to yoga for 12 weeks increases thalamic GABA and dopamine levels in the ventral striatum [15]. With respect to the bioelectrical activity of the brain, practicing yoga increases brain activity in the amygdala and frontal cortex regions [16]. Meditation leads to changes in the anterior and dorsolateral cingulate cortex and to an increase in alpha waves that are relevant during conscious perception and working memory [17].
Beta brain wave activity is present throughout the motor cortex during the execution of isotonic contractions and slow movements typical of yoga asana practice. These waves are related to gains in academic performance and high capacity for arithmetic calculations [18]. In addition, during meditative states, there is an increase in theta brain wave activity. These waves aid in alertness and the ability to process information quickly. Higher levels of theta waves are associated with lower levels of anxiety [15].
Therefore, Yoga presents itself as a possibility for managing the mental health and quality of life variables of university students. Yoga is a philosophical practice that involves physical and mental activities that originated in India at least 5,000 years ago. The term Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word Yuj, which translates to “union” and symbolizes the union of the body with consciousness in the mind and spirit [19]. The practice of Yoga is considered a “mind-body” modality that combines specific physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayamas), relaxation and meditation to stimulate the connection between the mind and body, philosophical discussions and other practices [20].
The justification for developing this study is to verify the contributions of yoga practice in academic initiatives for modulating mental health variables in university students in the literature, since the literature reports cerebral and systemic improvements that can be applied to this public.