Adherence to and changes in mental and physiological health during an 8-week yoga intervention: A pilot study

Bethany Forseth; Michele Polfuss; Michael Brondino; Stacy D Hunter; Michael W Lawlor; Margaret J Beatka; Mariah J Prom; Janis Eells; Jeri-Ann Lyons

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.01.004

Adherence to and changes in mental and physiological health during an 8-week yoga intervention: A pilot study

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2022 Apr:30:203-209. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.01.004. Epub 2022 Jan 19.

Authors

Bethany Forseth¹, Michele Polfuss², Michael Brondino³, Stacy D Hunter⁴, Michael W Lawlor⁵, Margaret J Beatka⁶, Mariah J Prom⁷, Janis Eells⁸, Jeri-Ann Lyons⁹

Affiliations

¹ College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA. Electronic address: bhanson4@kumc.edu.
² College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA; Department of Nursing Research, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. Electronic address: mpolfuss@uwm.edu.
³ Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA. Electronic address: brondimj@uwm.edu.
⁴ Department of Health and Human Performance, Texas State University, USA. Electronic address: s_h393@txstate.edu.
⁵ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. Electronic address: mlawlor@mcw.edu.
⁶ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. Electronic address: mbeatka@mcw.edu.
⁷ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Neuroscience Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. Electronic address: maprom@mcw.edu.
⁸ College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA. Electronic address: jeells@uwm.edu.
⁹ College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, USA. Electronic address: jeri.lyons@unco.edu.

PMID: 35500972
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.01.004

Abstract

Background: Participating in yoga may be ideal for college students to increase physical activity and improve mental health.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility and impact of an 8-week yoga intervention within a university setting on mental and physiologic heath.

Methods: This 8-week yoga intervention included twelve yoga-naïve adults, (23.8 ± 4.6 years; 71% female). Participants attended two 60-min yoga classes/week in addition to baseline, mid- and post-lab visits.

Results: 83% of participants attended ≥75% of yoga classes. Stress and depression symptoms decreased by 11% and 25%, respectively and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) reduced by 28%. Participants who did not meet physical activity recommendations observed greater improvements in stress, depression symptoms, ESR, and C-reactive protein compared to participants who met recommendations.

Conclusion: The majority of participants attended ≥12 of 16 yoga classes. Exploratory analyses provide preliminary support for the impact of yoga on reducing stress, symptoms of depression, and ESR. Participants who were not meeting physical activity guidelines prior to starting the intervention received greater benefits.

Keywords: C-reactive protein; Depression; Inflammation; Mind-body; Stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Exercise
Female
Humans
Male
Meditation*
Pilot Projects
Students
Yoga* / psychology