Evaluating the Differential Impact of Slow and Fast Sun Salutations on Mindfulness Among Adolescents: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis

Objective School based mindfulness interventions are needed for adolescents’ attentional and emotional regulation skills. While yoga-based practices like Sun Salutations are widely used for improving psycho-physiological health, there is limited understanding of how dynamics and pace of the practice influence mindfulness related outcomes. This study investigates differential impact of slow and fast sun salutations on mindfulness among adolescents, using a randomized controlled trial and a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) analysis. Method Fifty adolescents were randomly assigned to slow (SSS) and fast (FSS) sun salutation groups for a one-week pre-intervention training and 15 days of practice. Mindfulness was assessed using Mindful Attention Awareness Scale at baseline and post-intervention. Results DiD analysis showed that SSSs improved mindfulness more than FSSs, β =  0.314, p  = .019, 95% CI [.120, 1.304], suggesting that SSSs may develop better sustained attention and interoceptive awareness. Conclusions The findings contribute to understanding movement-based mindfulness practices in adolescents and emphasize the role of temporal dynamics of movement sequences as a determinant of intervention efficacy.