NIMHANS Study Finds Yoga May Help Reduce Gaming Addiction and Improve Control - Video

What if the solution to gaming addiction isn't switching off the Wi-Fi, but helping the mind switch off?

A new study from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) suggests that structured yoga could be an effective way to tackle internet gaming disorder (IGD) among adolescents, a growing concern in today’s hyper-connected world.

Internet gaming disorder is marked by an uncontrollable urge to game, often at the cost of academic performance, relationships, and mental well-being. In this study, published in Frontiers in Public Health, researchers worked with 120 adolescents aged 14–15 who showed symptoms of gaming addiction. Participants were split into two groups: one underwent a structured yoga program with 24 sessions over eight weeks, while the other engaged in conventional recreational activities like sports and crafts.

The results were striking. Teenagers in the yoga group showed significantly greater improvements across multiple psychological measures, including reduced gaming dependence, better quality of life, improved focus, and lower levels of loneliness and mind-wandering.

Researchers explain that gaming addiction activates the body’s stress response—keeping it in a constant “fight-or-flight” mode, similar to substance dependence. Over time, this can escalate from stress to anxiety and even depression. Yoga, by contrast, works in the opposite direction—calming the nervous system and restoring balance.

The intervention was thoughtfully designed to address both physical and mental strain caused by prolonged gaming. It began with simple exercises targeting the wrists, fingers, neck, and eyes, and progressed to postures like Surya Namaskar, Veerabhadrasana, and Vrikshasana to rebuild concentration and stability.

With Internet gaming disorder affecting up to 10% of adolescents globally—and even higher rates among boys—this study highlights yoga as a promising complementary approach alongside therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy. The takeaway: managing gaming addiction may require more than restrictions—it may need restoration of balance from within.

REFERENCE: Rao NS, Bhat R and Sharma MK (2026) Effect of an eight-week yoga program on adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder in an Indian school setting: a randomized controlled trial. Front. Public Health 14:1750580. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1750580