Pre-Post Changes in Mood States Following a Single Hatha Yoga Session in Adult Women: A Community-Based Study

Background: Hatha yoga has gained increasing popularity worldwide and has been associated with benefits for mental health and short-term emotional functioning. Objective: The present study examined pre-post changes in mood states following a single Hatha yoga session in adult women participating in community-based exercise programs. Methods: A total of 253 adult women participated in the study. Participants completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire immediately before and after a single 60 min Hatha yoga session. The questionnaire assesses anxiety-tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, and vigor. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine the changes in mood states and the potential differences between the age groups. Results: Significant improvements in mood states were observed following the session. Anxiety-tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion decreased, while vigor increased. No significant time × age group interaction was observed for most mood variables. However, a significant interaction was found for vigor, indicating that women aged 41 and older showed a greater increase following the session. Conclusions: Participation in a single Hatha yoga session was associated with short-term changes in mood states among adult women, suggesting that yoga may represent a potentially beneficial community-based activity for supporting short-term mood regulation.