An interventional study of Down Dog Prenatal Yoga App in Pregnancy Related, Mental Health Issue and Discrimination, Racial, sponsored by San Diego State University. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 46 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-10.
Sponsored by San Diego State University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
The goal of this research is to test if a prenatal yoga app can improve well-being in African American/Black (AA) pregnant women. The main questions it aims to answer are:
The study lasts for 12 weeks and participants are asked to:
This project aims to advance public health by contributing to a broader understanding of how prenatal yoga can support the health and well-being of AA pregnant women and promote optimal maternal and child health outcomes.
Recruitment: The investigators will recruit 50 pregnant African American women from local prenatal clinics, non-profits, and social media.
Eligibility: All interested participants will complete a web-based eligibility screener (\~5 minutes). Eligible participants will be asked to schedule a virtual intake appointment to review the consent form with a research team member.
Procedures: Participants must sign an informed consent and complete a Physical Activity Readiness Medical Examination (PARmed-X) for Pregnancy with their healthcare provider before beginning the study. Once participants sign the consent and return a completed PARmed-X form, they will be asked to schedule an in-person enrollment appointment.
During the in-person enrollment appointment, participants will receive a free yoga mat and Garmin Vivosmart 5, and study materials. A research team member will set up the Garmin device for the participant. Participants will be asked to resume normal activities for one week before beginning the intervention and to complete a baseline survey.
After one week of baseline data collection, a research team member will send the participant an email with instructions to download/use the prenatal yoga mobile app and other relevant study materials. Participants will then engage in prenatal yoga using the mobile app for at least 20 min/day, 3 days/week for the next 12 weeks. Participants will receive a mid-intervention survey at 6 weeks, a post-intervention survey at 12 weeks, and will have an opportunity to complete a virtual interview when the study is over. Within 1-2 weeks after the participants' due date, a research team member will send an online birth outcomes survey to collect self-reported birth outcomes.
The baseline, mid-intervention, and post-intervention surveys will ask about mental and physical health and perceptions about using the prenatal mobile app. The optional virtual interview will ask questions related to further understanding the feasibility of the prenatal yoga mobile app and exploring cultural adaptations to improve the app.
47 studies on the registry are indexed under Racism; 8 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 106 across 34 interventional studies indexed under Racism.
Browse Racism studies →San Diego State University is the lead sponsor of 149 studies on the registry; 43 are open to participants now.
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Participants will be included in the study if they:
Exclusion Criteria:
Prenatal yoga via Down Dog Prenatal Yoga Mobile App 20 minutes a day, 3 days per week, for 12 weeks.
Behavioral: Down Dog Prenatal Yoga App
The Down Dog prenatal yoga app launched in 2015 and was designed to align with the changes a pregnant body goes through in each trimester. Users can select a practice by trimester, which will offer modification cues to work with a changing body during pregnancy. Users can also customize their experience by boosting things like Heartburn or Pubic Symphysis so they can continue to practice yoga and omit poses that might be uncomfortable. The app also utilizes user feedback, to continuously implement new practices to better their app for user interface. All of the prenatal yoga classes were created by a certified and experienced prenatal yoga instructor who has a 200hr yoga certification through Pure Yoga (New York), 80hr prenatal yoga certification through Prenatal Yoga Center (New Yoga), and is Trauma Informed Yoga certified through Exhale to Inhale (New York).
Acceptability of the intervention
Assessed using an investigator-developed questionnaire using a 5 point likert scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Acceptability benchmark: \> 70% of participants report the intervention to be satisfactory, intend to continue using the app, and perceive the app content to be appropriate for pregnancy.
Time frame: Post intervention (12 weeks)
Demand of the intervention
Assessed by measuring actual use of the mobile app with data analytics provided from Down dog. Demand benchmark: \>70% of participants complete at least 75% of their weekly prescribed minutes (i.e., ≥ 45 of 60 minutes per week).
Time frame: Assessed across 12-week study period
Retention
Assessed by calculating the proportion of enrolled participants that complete intervention vs withdrawals. Retention benchmark: ≥70% (N=35) complete the intervention.
Time frame: Assessed across 12-week study period
Ease of recruitment
Assessed by evaluating enrollment rate. Recruitment benchmark: \>8 participants will be enrolled each month on average.
Time frame: Assessed at enrollment
Discrimination
Discrimination will be assessed using the Discrimination in Medical Settings (DMS) Scale. The DMS is a 7-item instrument scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1-never, 2-rarely, 3-sometimes, 4-most of the time, 5-always). Higher scores indicate greater levels of discrimination.
Time frame: Baseline, Mid-intervention (6 weeks), and Post-intervention (12 weeks)
Perceived stress
Perceived stress will be measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The PSS-10 is a 10-item instrument scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0-Never, 1- Almost Never, 2- Sometimes, 3- Fairly Often, 4-Very Often). Higher scores indicate greater levels of perceived stress.
Time frame: Baseline, Mid-intervention (6 weeks), and Post-intervention (12 weeks)
Perinatal Depression
Perinatal Depression will be measured using the 10-item Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Scores range from 0-30, with "possible depression" defined by a score of 10 or greater.
Time frame: Baseline, Mid-intervention (6 weeks), and Post-intervention (12 weeks)
Self-awareness
Self-awareness will be measured using the Self Awareness Outcomes Questionnaire (SAOQ). The SAOQ is a 38-item instrument scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1- Never, 2- Rarely, 3- Occasionally, 4- Frequently, 5- Almost Always). The SAOQ has 4 subscales and the score is determined by calculating the mean of certain items corresponding to each subscale. Higher scores indicate greater frequency of experienced outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline, Mid-intervention (6 weeks), and Post-intervention (12 weeks)
Mindfulness
Mindfulness will be measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). The MAAS is a 15-item instrument scored on a 6-point Likert scale (1- Almost Always, 2- Very Frequently, 3- Somewhat Frequently, 4- Somewhat Infrequently, 5- Very Infrequently, 6- Almost Never). Higher scores indicate greater levels of mindfulness.
Time frame: Baseline, Mid-intervention (6 weeks), and Post-intervention (12 weeks)
Subjective physical activity
Subjective physical activity will be measured using the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ). The instrument assesses the approximate amount of time spent in 32 activities including household/caregiving, occupational, sports/exercise, and inactivity during the current trimester. Duration and intensity will be determined using Compendium-based MET values.
Time frame: Baseline, Mid-intervention (6 weeks), and Post-intervention (12 weeks)
Objective physical activity (steps)
The number of steps per day will be measured using the Garmin Vivosmart 5 fitness tracker.
Time frame: Daily for 12 weeks
Objective physical activity (intensity)
Intensity of activity will be measured using metabolic equivalents (METs) value via the Garmin Vivosmart 5 fitness tracker.
Time frame: Daily for 12 weeks
Cardiac health (heart rate)
Heart rate in beats per minute (BPM) will be measured using the Garmin Vivosmart 5 fitness tracker.
Time frame: Daily for 12 weeks
Cardiac health (heart rate variability)
Heart rate variability in milliseconds will be measured using the Garmin Vivosmart 5 fitness tracker.
Time frame: Daily for 12 weeks
Cultural adaptations
Qualitative interviews will be used to explore and identify cultural adaptations relevant for African American pregnant women.
Time frame: Post-Intervention (12 weeks)
Birth outcomes (gestational age)
Self-report survey will be used to assess gestational age (total length of pregnancy in weeks).
Time frame: Post-delivery (~2 weeks after delivery of baby)
Birth outcomes (type of delivery)
Self-report survey will be used to assess the type of delivery (e.g., vaginal, planned C-section, unplanned C-section).
Time frame: Post-delivery (~2 weeks after delivery of baby)
Birth outcomes (intervention used for delivery)
Self-report survey will be used to assess interventions used for delivery, if applicable, using a list. An intervention can include use of medical treatments or procedures to induce labor or assist with delivery.
Time frame: Post-delivery (~2 weeks after delivery of baby)
Birth outcomes (birth weight)
Self-report survey will be used to assess birth weight (weight of baby in pounds + ounces).
Time frame: Post-delivery (~2 weeks after delivery of baby)
Birth outcomes (maternal weight)
Self-report survey will be used to assess maternal weight (last known weight before delivery in pounds).
Time frame: Post-delivery (~2 weeks after delivery of baby)
Birth outcomes (pregnancy-related disorders)
Self-report survey will be used to assess pregnancy-related disorders, if applicable, using a list. Pregnancy-related disorders could be complications including physical and mental conditions that affect the health of the pregnant or postpartum person, their baby, or both (e.g.,preterm birth, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, eclampsia, birth injury, postpartum hemorrhage, postpartum hypertension etc.)
Time frame: Post-delivery (~2 weeks after delivery of baby)
Plan to share: No
Ran from Apr 2025 to primary completion in Jul 2026, 15 months.
Of 29 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Racism, half reached primary completion within 32 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 14 and three quarters within 41. This study's 15 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 29 studies reached it within 32 months; a quarter within 14 and three quarters within 41.
Primary completion moved once since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026: Aug 2026 → Jul 2026, on Nov 10, 2026.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Nov 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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