Yoga and Psychological and Physiological Health

Region Skane

Status: Completed

Conditions: Physiological Stress; Depression; Anxiety; Sleep; Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: Yin yoga; Behavioral: YOMI

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03428542

2015610

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate the benefits of yoga as a 'mind-body' practice, by measuring it's effects on health-related psychological and physiological variables. The study also aims to investigate whether an association exists between subjective (psychological) and objective (physiological) measures, with a particular focus on stress as the primary outcome.

Full description

Stress and worry in everyday life are common features of Western society. Stress is a biological mechanism tapping the fight-or-flight-response via activation of the sympathetic nervous system. When exposed to stress during prolonged periods of time, the immune system is affected, leading to physiological as well as psychosocial problems. The consequences of untreated high stress can not only turn into reduced job capacity, and work roles conflicts, but also into cardiovascular disease, and mental illness such as an anxiety disorder or/and depression.

One common and recommended strategy to manage stress is to exercise regularly. Yoga is an umbrella term for a wide variety of physical, mental, and spiritual practices with its roots in ancient India. Most previous research on the health effects of yoga has demonstrated benefits on psychological health factors including mental stress, anxiety, depression and sleep problems.

The aim of the study is thus to investigate the effects of two types of yoga intervention on psychological and physiological health.

Enrollment: 105 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• A score on four items of the Perceived Stress Scale between 8-16, thereby indicating a current stress experience of at least moderate level.
• Ability to participate in the intervention during the time-period.
• Comprehensive in Swedish.

Exclusion criteria

• Ongoing yoga practice or any regular practice of yoga or meditation within the last 6 months.
• Any known physical limitations that may prevent light physical activity (yoga postures).
• Current psychological or psychopharmacological treatment.
• Inability to attend more than 5 of the scheduled 10 yoga sessions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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105 participants in 3 patient groups

Control arm

No Intervention group

Description:

Instructed not to practice any yoga or mindfulness during the five-week study period.

Yin yoga intervention arm

Active Comparator group

Description:

The Yin yoga intervention arm will receive Yin yoga, a calm-paced practice that uses seated and lying down positions. Participants were also provided a CD which contained a 10-minute voice recording called conscious breathing. The guided instructions encouraged participants to keep awareness on their breath and to use calm, slow, nostril breathing.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Yin yoga

YOMI program intervention arm

Active Comparator group

Description:

The YOMI intervention arm will receive stress education + yoga, and bring together education about stress, mindfulness and yoga practice. It will involve weekly group meetings, homework, and yoga postures. Stress education and mindfulness will make up one portion of the intervention. This will take place in a group lecture format and shall be conducted by a mental health professional(s). Yoga practice in a group format will make up the second portion of the intervention. Participants were also provided a CD which contained a 10-minute voice recording called conscious breathing. The guided instructions encouraged participants to keep awareness on their breath and to use calm, slow, nostril breathing.

Treatment:

Behavioral: YOMI