Yoga Versus Yoga Plus Mindfulness on Perceived Stress and Mindful Attention Awareness in a Chiropractic College Setting

Yoga Versus Yoga Plus Mindfulness on Perceived Stress and Mindful Attention Awareness in a Chiropractic College Setting

The Effects of Yoga or Yoga Plus Mindfulness on Perceived Stress and Mindful Attention Awareness in a Chiropractic College Setting

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of different types of yoga practices on mindfulness and stress levels reported by students, faculty, and staff at a health professional school. Including mindfulness cues (body scan, mindful movement, and yoga nidra) with Bishnu Gosh lineage hatha yoga as taught by Mary Jarvis may have additive therapeutic effects on mindfulness and stress. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental pre-post test design. Sixty-three individuals qualified for the study and were randomized in a 1:1 allocation ratio of matched pairs into either a physical-based yoga practice (Yoga Group, n = 31) or a mindfulness-based yoga practice (Yoga + Mindfulness Group, n = 32). Participants attended two 50-minute class sessions per week during the four-week intervention phase. The primary outcomes were the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the 15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS).

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of different types of yoga practices on mindfulness and stress levels reported by students, faculty, and staff at a health professional school. Including mindfulness cues (body scan, mindful movement, and yoga nidra) with Bishnu Gosh lineage hatha yoga as taught by Mary Jarvis may have additive therapeutic effects on mindfulness and stress. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental pre-post test design. Sixty-three individuals qualified for the study and were randomized in a 1:1 allocation ratio of matched pairs into either a physical-based yoga practice (Yoga Group, n = 31) or a mindfulness-based yoga practice (Yoga + Mindfulness Group, n = 32). Participants attended two 50-minute class sessions per week during the four-week intervention phase. A sample size of 30 participants per class was deemed appropriate based upon the assumption of normality and the central limit theorem underlying the mathematics of inferential statistics. The yoga class sessions included the physical postures of yoga with an emphasis on alignment, holding postures, and breathing normally. Throughout the yoga class session, the instructor demonstrated the performances of the physical postures. While participants were performing the physical postures, the instructor provided verbal alignment cues to the participants. As needed, the instructor also demonstrated postural modifications, which allowed all participants to perform all physical postures. Each class session sequentially included the following physical postures of yoga: (1) standing in stillness; (2) pranayama deep breathing and warm up; (3) standing series- balance postures, wide leg postures; (4) transition from the standing postures to the floor postures with tree pose; (5) floor series - wind removing, sit up movements, cobra posture, kneeling postures; (6) cool down-stretching, spine twist, Kapalbhati breathing, and Savasana. The Yoga + Mindfulness class sessions included all elements of the yoga class session described above with the addition of mindfulness cues. The mindfulness cues included body scan, mindful movement, and yoga nidra. Beyond verbal physical cues on how to control breathing and perform precise body movements during the yoga postures, verbal mindfulness cues asked participants to focus on the sensations of their breathing and body awareness non judgmentally, e.g. Feel your breathe move in through your nose and fill your lungs from bottom to top. Feel your breath exit the nose and empty lungs from top to bottom. Keep your attention on your breath and your body. In general, the instructor reminded the participants throughout the Yoga + Mindfulness class session to "feel the sensation of ..."or "keep your attention on ..."as the instructor provided the alignment cues. The primary outcomes were pre-post changes in the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the 15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS).

Participants attended two 50-minute class sessions per week during the four week intervention phase. The physical-based yoga practice was Bishnu Ghosh lineage hatha yoga as taught by Mary Jarvis. The yoga class sessions included the physical postures of yoga with an emphasis on alignment, holding postures, and breathing normally. Each yoga class session sequentially included the following physical postures of yoga: (1) standing in stillness; (2) pranayama deep breathing and warm up; (3) standing series- balance postures, wide leg postures; (4) transition from the standing postures to the floor postures with tree pose; (5) floor series - wind removing, sit up movements, cobra posture, kneeling postures; (6) cool down-stretching, spine twist, Kapalbhati breathing, and Savasana.

Participants attended two 50-minute class sessions per week during the four week intervention phase. The mindfulness-based yoga practice included all elements of the physical-based yoga class sessions with the addition of mindfulness cues. The mindfulness cues included body scan, mindful movement, and yoga nidra. Beyond verbal physical cues on how to control breathing and perform precise body movements during the yoga postures, verbal mindfulness cues asked participants to focus on the sensations of their breathing and body awareness non judgmentally, e.g. Feel your breathe move in through your nose and fill your lungs from bottom to top. Feel your breath exit the nose and empty lungs from top to bottom. Keep your attention on your breath and your body.

Physical-based yoga classes emphasized Bishnu Ghosh lineage hatha yoga. The 50 minute yoga classes were twice per week for four weeks. The yoga instructor had certifications in both Bikram and Amrit yoga practices and training in Bishnu Ghosh lineage hatha yoga as taught by Mary Jarvis

The mindfulness-based yoga classes included all elements of the physical-based yoga classes with the addition of mindfulness cues. The mindfulness cues included body scan, mindful movement, and yoga nidra. Certification of the instructor included the Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra that was inclusive of the use of mindfulness cues that coincided with the physical postures of yoga.

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is 10 item questionnaire that asks participants to rate their feelings and thoughts during the last month within the context of how often they felt or thought a certain way in different situations. The rating scale is 0 - never, 1 - almost never, 2 - sometimes 3 - fairly often 4 - very often. Classification system of stress levels included 0 to 13 as low stress, 14 to 26 as moderate stress and 27 to 40 as high stress.

The mindfulness domain was measured using the 15-item Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). MAAS assesses an individual's dispositional mindfulness, which defines individual's awareness and attention during every day experiences, i.e. being present in the moment. The MAAS rates attention and awareness related to everyday experiences. MAAS numeric scale is 1- almost always, 2 - very frequently, 3 - somewhat frequently, 4, - somewhat infrequently, 5 - very infrequently, and 6 - almost never. The average numeric rating is the score on MAAS with higher mean values reflecting greater dispositional mindfulness.

Inclusion Criteria: Male or Female Age Limits: from 20 years to 65 years of age Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy Nursing Wearing a pacemaker Prescription medications except for birth control or ADD/ADHD medications Stroke within the past three months Heart attack within the past three months Surgery within the past three months Car accident with injuries in the past three months Litigation of any type within the past three months or currently Currently participating in yoga activities once per week Currently participating in mindfulness activities once per week

IPD sharing includes study protocol, statistical analysis plan, and informed consent form upon e-mail request to Central Contact

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