Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons^™

Benefits Of Pet Friendly Work Environments On Physical, Mental, And Social Health Of Office Workers: A Systematic Review, Ahmed Radwan, Jenna Keeman, Tristan Hunzinger, Owen Wilson, Shayla Seymour

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: Pet-friendly workplace initiatives are increasingly common, yet the empirical evidence for benefits to office workers’ physical, mental, and social health is scattered and heterogeneous.

Objective: To synthesize evidence on health-related outcomes associated with pet-friendly work environments for office and desk-based workers, and to appraise the current level of evidence.

Methods: A PRISMA-guided systematic search (2014–2024) was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, OVID, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full texts, extracted data, and appraised study quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklists. Outcomes were coded and synthesized narratively within three domains: physical, mental, …

A Philosophical And Spiritual Design For Prenatal Yoga Courses, Tia A. Arriola

Journal of Applied Yoga Studies

Fear and anxiety dominate much of the global birth culture, whereby approximately 80% of pregnant women report worrying with regard to the natural risks of childbirth (Rublein & Muschalla, 2022). This leads to increased rates of antenatal stress and postpartum depression. These psychosocial responses present risk factors for adverse developmental and health outcomes for the fetus, newborn, mother, and family (Shakarami et al., 2021). In the Western context, the overwhelming response is to increasingly medicalized childbirth, which, while offering life-saving support, may also pose its own set of adverse risks for mother and infant. Therefore, alterative and complementary approaches that …

Impact Of For-Credit Mindfulness Course On Student Resilience, Engagement, And Mental Health, Linda Yaron Weston

Journal of Applied Yoga Studies

This paper highlights the impact of a university for-credit introductory mindfulness course. Research compiled from student reflections, surveys, and interviews revealed that it had a notable impact on personal growth and development, including the capacity to navigate challenges, manage difficult emotions, and build resilience. This enhanced student learning, decision making, engagement, and connection to themselves, others, and the world around them. Course pedagogy and curriculum are included here alongside a narrative account of student experiences in the course. These findings indicate a promising practice for schools to include well-being supports in the student experience.

Exploring The Role Of Yoga In Improving The Quality Of Life Among Patients Diagnosed With Schizophrenia And Intellectual Disability, Laura Tolbaños-Roche

Journal of Applied Yoga Studies

Background and objectives

There is large evidence of the positive effect of yoga in mental health disorders, mainly anxiety and depression. However, the studies on the role of yoga in schizophrenia and intellectual disability are sparse and inconclusive. The objective of this study is exploring the role of a specific yoga intervention, based on the Gitananda Rishiculture Asthanga Yoga Tradition, in improving the quality of life (QoL) of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and intellectual disability in a mental health institution of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain).

Methods

Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n=5) and patients diagnosed with intellectual disability (n=4) …

The Correlation Of Consistent Exercise With Depressive Symptoms, John Gericke, Tara Pellegrino, Robert Steer

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Background: Depression is a major health issue that affects an estimated 350 million people worldwide. Typically, depression is associated with individuals who follow a poor diet and are physically inactive. Exercise is one form of treatment for depression and has been shown to reduce the risk of depression and protect against the onset of depression. The PHQ-9 Depression Score is a tool used to screen individuals for depression on a scale from 0-27. The goal of this study is to identify a relationship between consistent exercise and depression symptoms.

Methods: An original Qualtrics survey was created to be distributed with …

Enhancing The Quality Of Life For Senior Citizens: A Facilitator’S Guidebook For Mindful Music And Movement, Shannon Sexton

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Music appreciation and enjoyment enhance well-being throughout the lifespan. The challenges and constraints that people experience as they age can lead to lack of access to music, decreased physical activity, and fewer avenues for creative expression. Group music and movement interventions created for older populations offer opportunities for social connection and improved quality of life. Mindful practices add further benefit when combined with these interventions. Current available programs are scarce and most often do not encompass mixed modalities. In addition, the benefits of these programs do not show long-term sustainability. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the effects …

The Ot Well-Being Summit 2021, Deanna Waggy Otr

Journal of Transformative Touch

The OT Well-Being Summit empowers occupational therapists and other holistic practitioners around the globe to have confidence with holistic health and wellness skills for their therapy practice. The OT Well-Being Summit brings together 11 occupational therapists who share holistic health and wellness strategies and tools that you can use in your integrative medicine practice today with the confidence (and evidence) to use them. The OT Well-Being Summit is an online self-paced course with 12 hours of information and insights to give you the confidence to move forward in areas related to holistic health, wellness, and prevention. https://tinyurl.com/t9cc6afp

Student Readiness: Examining The Impact Of A University Outdoor Orientation Program, Eddie Hill, Timothy Posey, Edwin Gómez, Stephen L. Shapiro

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This study examined the impact of a university outdoor orientation program on participants’ transition to higher education. Researchers focused on participants’ experiences during the program, utilizing a mixed-methods approach to measure resilience and well-being. Pre- and posttest instruments consisted of two pre-established scales and a series of open-ended questions, which were administered during a 4-day university outdoor orientation program. Findings indicated significant improvement of resilience and well-being in participants through outdoor orientation program involvement. Additionally, direct content analysis identified major themes related to resilience, well-being, and readiness for college.