Digital Commons Network^™

The Influence Of Yoga And Meditation On Intrinsic Motivation In Early Childhood Education, Nicole Laviolette

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

"The objective of this action research was to see if daily voluntary yoga and meditation influence intrinsic motivation in a 3-6-year-old Montessori classroom. The time frame of this study was over six weeks in the beginning of the school year at an urban public Montessori school. The children who participated in the study were eighteen 3-6-year-old students. The experiment included using two apps, one for meditation and one for yoga, every morning for forty-five minutes. Children were welcomed to join when they were ready and leave when they felt refreshed. Some positive effects of our research were an increase in …

Off The Mat, Into The Office: How A Regular Yoga Practice Transformed Eight Corporate Leaders And Their Leadership, Pamela Kay Smith

Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership Theses

We live in a time of constant change and challenging conditions for business leaders (Benson, 2005). Leaders must develop behaviors and skills to adapt and respond in healthy ways to stressful environments and ongoing change in order to lead others toward positive change effectively. This study examines how leaders in corporate America feel a regular Yoga practice has influenced their leadership, in essence taking Yoga "off the mat" and into the workplace. Heifetz's adaptive leadership theory was used to identify ways that leaders take Yoga off the mat and demonstrate adaptive leadership. The findings highlight that a regular Yoga practice …

A Systematic Review: Examination Of Yoga-Based Interventions To Determine Their Benefits And Effectiveness In Treating Ptsd In Women, Jessica Skaare

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This systematic review was designed to examine yoga-based interventions to determine their benefits and effectiveness in treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in women. The review was set up using peer reviewed articles published after 2007. The databases Scopus, CINHAL, AMED, Health Source, PsychINFO and Pilots were systematically searched using the terms: “post-traumatic stress disorder” or “PTSD” and “yoga-based interventions” or “yoga interventions” or “yoga” or “mind-body therapy”. Out of these searches nine articles satisfied criteria for inclusion and were used in the final review. Three themes emerged from the research synthesis regarding how yoga-based interventions can be beneficial and effective for …

Yoga Before Naptime, Natalie L. Henderson

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Naptime is a part of a developing child’s day. At school, a child may face a lot of stimulation before transitioning into naptime. Due to the high state of stimulation, a child may need to be shown a way to help self-calm to prepare the child for a period of rest. This research focused on using yoga as a transitional activity and as a way to help children self-calm before naptime. For eight weeks, 12 children between the age of three and four in a Midwest Montessori school participated in a five-minute yoga session before naptime. Through the first four …

Complementary And Integrative Therapies For The Management Of Insomnia In Chronic Disease: An Applied Research Project, Juliana Saynor, Lisa Benson, Mary Mckinley, Nicole Anderson

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies Research Papers

One-half of all adults in America have a diagnosis of at least one chronic disease. Up to 80% of people with chronic diseases suffer from insomnia, creating a significant health burden. Healthcare providers (HCPs) do not routinely address insomnia and primarily use pharmaceuticals to manage insomnia. The purpose of this research is to co-create with HCPs an educational artifact that helps them inform their chronically ill patients about evidence-based complementary and integrative therapies (CIT) for insomnia management. Based on a design and development culture of inquiry and research method, we used the literature to create a preliminary educational artifact focused …

Effects Of Yoga And Mindfulness-Based Practices On Stress And Anxiety In Children And Adolescents, Amanda Geldert

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study focused on yoga, and other mindfulness-based practices and how they impact children and adolescents who are dealing with stress and anxiety. Three interviews were conducted with Yoga Calm certified instructors who work with children and adolescents, and how they view the impacts of Yoga Calm on the population they work with. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed. Once analyzed, nine themes were found: Children use tools they are taught to cope with stress and anxiety, practicing mindfulness allows one to better listen to their bodies, lack of time, resistance from children, children teaching others, adaptation for developmental differences, …

Warrior Pose: Evaluation Of Yoga Programming For Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness, Stacey Lillebo

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effectiveness and practicality of offering yoga classes for youth aged 18-24 years old experiencing homelessness. The class took place at an urban drop-in center for homeless youth located in a metropolitan city in the Midwest. The goals for the yoga class were to provide a safe space for youth, improve overall physical and mental health, test the effectiveness of yoga programming, and to provide the blue print for future research. A mixed method approach was selected for this evaluation using survey and openended questions and field observations. Quantitative techniques for analysis …

Adolescent Yoga: Goals And Settings In Therapeutic Practice, Alison Roberts

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Mindfulness practices, such as yoga, involve being fully present in the moment and practicing a non-judgmental acceptance of experiences. Among the last 10 years there has been an increased popularity of mind-body practices, but there is limited information examining how yoga is practiced by adolescents in therapeutic settings. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to answer how certified professionals use mind-body techniques, such as yoga and mindfulness, with adolescents and the intended goals. Synthesis of qualified articles revealed six common themes involving improved academic performance, stress, mood, emotional regulation, emotional intelligence and resilience. It is recommended to seek …

Yoga For Depression And Anxiety: A Systematic Review, Rachel Hanson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Yoga is a 3,000 year-old practice that has evolved into a holistic approach to general wellness and healing. Yoga is beginning to be recognized by researchers and clinicians as a complementary therapy that encompasses multiple components of healing that are being singled out or used in pieces as parts of traditional treatment methods. The purpose of this research is to conduct an exhaustive review of the research that has been performed on using yoga or yoga therapy to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. This review will focus on how yoga is being used to address symptoms of depression …

Effects Of Mind And Body Interventions On Family Dementia Caregivers: A Systematic Review, Katherine C. Johnson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Family members caring for a loved one with dementia encounter a multitude of physical and psychological stressors. Current interventions address some of these concerns, but are not adequate to address the daily psychological stress that leads so many dementia caregivers to anxiety and depression. The current review selects empirical research from the past twelve years on the effects of mind and body interventions on family dementia caregivers and finds that, while intervention type varies widely, overall results suggest that MBSR and yoga-based methods implemented for eight weeks can have a beneficial impact on caregiver anxiety, depression, mood, stress, and quality …

The Relationships Between Perceived Stress, The Big Five Inventory, The Five- Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, And Yoga, Erin Meyer Stamp

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Much research exists on the relationships between personality and stress, and other research examines the relationships between stress and coping. However, few studies have examined the relationships between how personality, stress, and coping. This study investigated the relationships between stress, personality, mindfulness, and yoga practice. A survey including an abbreviated version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), a short version of the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-SV), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and qualitative questions on yoga practice was created. Fifty-eight people participated. Results indicate that personality not only impacts how people perceive stress, but it may also impact how people …

Transition Strategies In Early Childhood Settings, Crystal P. Cunningham(Black)

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this research was to determine if daily lessons in yoga, mindfulness, and transition skills positively affect the transition from lunch to recess in a Montessori environment. The seven‐week study involved 17 children between two and a half to five years old. Data collection included a pre-and post‐assessment and observations which documented the type of disruptions, amount of disruptions, and the resolution to the disruptions. Results of the pre-and post‐assessments revealed that practice of the skills needed in a transition resulted in more independence. The mindfulness exercises resulted in less distractions while waiting in line during a transition. …

Therapists’ Perspectives On The Use Of Yoga In The Treatment Of Trauma, Brianna Klatt

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

This study explored therapists’ experiences of incorporating the practice of yoga into their psychotherapy with clients who experience traumatic stress. Using a qualitative design, five volunteer licensed mental health professionals were interviewed regarding their experiences with integrating yoga as a therapy tool with their clients who experience traumatic stress symptoms. Data was taken from a semi-structured interview and analyzed to identify common themes. The findings support the literature which says, traumatic events affect both the mind and body, and clinicians’ need to implement inventions’ addressing the whole person, to be effective helping clients’ heal from traumatic stress. Findings indicated that …

Deep Breathing And Downward Dog: Supporting Students With An Ebd Through Yoga, Rachel A. Coates

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to explore how school social workers are utilizing yoga as an intervention for youth who have an emotional/behavioral disorder (EBD). This research project was qualitative in design and seven school social workers from Minnesota were interviewed. Participants interviewed were school social workers from Minnesota that discussed how yoga was being used in schools to increase mindbody awareness and self-regulation among youth who have an emotional/behavioral disorder. Six themes emerged from the data including: normalizing yoga, benefits, yoga curriculum, feedback, barriers, and suggestions. Previous research has indicated that yoga is beneficial not only for …

Yoga As Therapeutic Intervention With Survivors Of Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review, Julia C. Hutchinson

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Survivors of sexual abuse state that the experience is harrowing, involving both their body and mind. Traumas like these stimulate the stress response and can result in disjointed memories within both the body and the mind. Working with the felt sensations of the body, in conjunction with more traditional talk based therapies, may help to create clarity within these disjointed memories. This systematic review was designed to explore the research question: What makes yoga a therapeutic intervention with survivors of sexual abuse? The review was set up using peer-reviewed articles and dissertations published after 2005. The databases PsycINFO, Alt HealthWatch …

The Use Of Yoga In Eating Disorder Treatment: Practitioners’ Perspectives, Jennifer E. Mcmahon

Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers

Eating Disorders are a growing mental health concern with serious consequences for those who struggle. The individual and complex nature of eating disorders presents a need for new, innovative treatment modalities. One such treatment that is gaining interest in the eating disorder field is the holistic modality of yoga. The benefits of yoga on mental health have been addressed in previous research. While previous research focuses on quantitative studies and outcomes of clients, this paper administers a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews done with licensed therapists and yoga instructors who practice yoga with the eating disorder population. The study focuses …

Use Of Yoga To Alleviate Stress In Toddler Group Care Programs, Caitlin J. Jalalat

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

Abstract

Each year children enter into group childcare settings. This is both a necessity for working parents and can be a great introduction to their first group education program. Along with the positive aspects of group care come some negatives. Toddlers show signs of stress such as crying at drop off that can last from a moment to many hours during the day. Toddlers can be very social but must learn how to navigate these social interactions by sharing, taking turns, waiting for materials to become available, and receiving less individual attention from a single caregiver. In this Action Research …