Experiences of children and parents in MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness yoga program for cerebral palsy: A mixed method study

Catherine K Mak; Koa Whittingham; Roslyn N Boyd

doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.12.006

Experiences of children and parents in MiYoga, an embodied mindfulness yoga program for cerebral palsy: A mixed method study

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 Feb:34:208-216. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.12.006. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Authors

Catherine K Mak¹, Koa Whittingham², Roslyn N Boyd³

Affiliations

¹ Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Level 6, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Sir Fred Schonell Drive, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. Electronic address: c.mak@uq.edu.au.
² Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Level 6, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Sir Fred Schonell Drive, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia. Electronic address: koawhittingham@uq.edu.au.
³ Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Level 6, Centre for Children's Health Research, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. Electronic address: r.boyd@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 30712729
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.12.006

Abstract

Background and purpose: A mindfulness yoga program (MiYoga) was developed and trialled with children with cerebral palsy and their parents. This mixed-method study explores the experiences of children and parents who participated in MiYoga, to assess its acceptability, feasibility and implementation.

Materials and methods: Of the forty-two child-parent dyads who participated in the MiYoga randomised control trial, 19 children and 22 parents were interviewed individually in a semi-structured way about their experiences of MiYoga. Participants rated their mood on a 5-point scale before and after each session and completed short questionnaires at the end of each session.

Results: Children and parents reported improved mood after each MiYoga session. Parents reported being more aware of their thoughts and feelings and possibly became more aware of their day-to-day mindlessness.

Conclusion: MiYoga significantly improved children and parents' mood. Parents reported gains in awareness as well as challenges of adhering to the home practice.

Keywords: Awareness; Cerebral palsy; Mindfulness; Mood; Parent; Yoga.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Cerebral Palsy / therapy*
Child
Humans
Mindfulness*
Parents
Yoga*