The Acute Impact of Hatha Yoga on Craving among Smokers Attempting to Reduce or Quit.

Introduction: Despite negative effects of smoking, smokers have difficulty quitting, suggesting a need for additional strategies to help them quit. A single-session hatha yoga intervention acutely reduced craving among nicotine-deprived smokers not attempting to reduce or quit, yet it is unknown if it reduces craving among those attempting to change their smoking. Thus, this study tested the efficacy of a single-session hatha yoga intervention for acutely reducing craving among smokers attempting to reduce or quit smoking. Methods: Data presented are part of a larger dissertation project. Participants were 55 community-recruited smokers (62% male) motivated to reduce or quit smoking randomized to one session of hatha yoga (n = 25) or wellness control (ie, reading educational materials about healthy lifestyle; n = 30) on their intervention day (ie, the day on which they began to reduce or quit smoking). Participants rated, "I have a desire for a cigarette right now," on a 7-point Likert scale immediately before and after the intervention. Results: After statistically controlling for CO in breath, participant type, age, gender, race, and ethnicity, a significantTime x Condition interaction was found, F(1, 47) = 4.72, p = .035, eta(2)(p) = .09, suggesting craving decreased at a greater rate in the hatha yoga condition relative to the wellness condition. Conclusions: Results from this study add to a growing body of research demonstrating the potential clinical utility of hatha yoga as an adjunctive intervention tool for smoking cessation.