Enhancing well-being at work: Qualitative insights into challenges and benefits of long-term yoga programs for desk-based workers

IF 1.7 Q2 Medicine

Advances in integrative medicine Pub Date : 2025-01-08 DOI:10.1016/j.aimed.2025.01.001

Poovitha Shruthi Paramashiva , Annapoorna K , Vaishali K , Baskaran Chandrasekaran , Shivashankar K.N. , Suresh Sukumar , Sneha Ravichandran , Dilip Shettigar , Sathya Sabina Muthu , Koustubh Kamath , Rajagopal Kadavigere

{"title":"Enhancing well-being at work: Qualitative insights into challenges and benefits of long-term yoga programs for desk-based workers","authors":"Poovitha Shruthi Paramashiva , Annapoorna K , Vaishali K , Baskaran Chandrasekaran , Shivashankar K.N. , Suresh Sukumar , Sneha Ravichandran , Dilip Shettigar , Sathya Sabina Muthu , Koustubh Kamath , Rajagopal Kadavigere","doi":"10.1016/j.aimed.2025.01.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Desk-based workers face substantial health challenges due to sedentary lifestyles and work-related stress. Although yoga interventions hold promise in mitigating these issues, implementing them effectively and ensuring adherence remain significant hurdles.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This qualitative study explored the experiences of desk-based workers participating in a yoga programme, focusing on challenges, perceived benefits, and recommendations for future interventions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six desk-based workers who engaged in a yoga intervention. Thematic analysis identified critical themes from the interview data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants highlighted challenges in maintaining regular yoga practice, citing time constraints, initial physical discomfort, and varying motivation levels. Despite these obstacles, they reported significant benefits, particularly in mental well-being and stress management. Improved concentration, emotional regulation, and physical flexibility were commonly cited outcomes. Participants emphasised the need for flexible scheduling, gradual intensity progression, and ongoing support to enhance adherence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Desk-based workers encounter practical challenges in sustaining consistent yoga practice but perceive substantial mental health benefits. Future yoga interventions should prioritise flexible scheduling and adaptable practice intensity, emphasise mental health advantages, and provide ongoing support.</div></div><div><h3>Implications</h3><div>This study contributes to developing more effective workplace yoga programs, potentially improving long-term health outcomes for desk-based workers. Further research should quantitatively assess cognitive and cardiovascular impacts over extended periods.</div></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><div>The study's small sample size limits generalisability. Future research should include more extensive and more diverse samples, integrating quantitative measures alongside qualitative insights.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7343,"journal":{"name":"Advances in integrative medicine","volume":"12 3","pages":"Article 100454"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Advances in integrative medicine","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212958825000011","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Desk-based workers face substantial health challenges due to sedentary lifestyles and work-related stress. Although yoga interventions hold promise in mitigating these issues, implementing them effectively and ensuring adherence remain significant hurdles.

Objective

This qualitative study explored the experiences of desk-based workers participating in a yoga programme, focusing on challenges, perceived benefits, and recommendations for future interventions.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six desk-based workers who engaged in a yoga intervention. Thematic analysis identified critical themes from the interview data.

Results

Participants highlighted challenges in maintaining regular yoga practice, citing time constraints, initial physical discomfort, and varying motivation levels. Despite these obstacles, they reported significant benefits, particularly in mental well-being and stress management. Improved concentration, emotional regulation, and physical flexibility were commonly cited outcomes. Participants emphasised the need for flexible scheduling, gradual intensity progression, and ongoing support to enhance adherence.

Conclusions

Desk-based workers encounter practical challenges in sustaining consistent yoga practice but perceive substantial mental health benefits. Future yoga interventions should prioritise flexible scheduling and adaptable practice intensity, emphasise mental health advantages, and provide ongoing support.

Implications

This study contributes to developing more effective workplace yoga programs, potentially improving long-term health outcomes for desk-based workers. Further research should quantitatively assess cognitive and cardiovascular impacts over extended periods.

Limitations

The study's small sample size limits generalisability. Future research should include more extensive and more diverse samples, integrating quantitative measures alongside qualitative insights.

查看原文本刊更多论文

提高工作幸福感：对长期瑜伽项目对办公室工作人员的挑战和好处的定性分析

由于久坐不动的生活方式和工作压力，坐在办公桌前的员工面临着巨大的健康挑战。尽管瑜伽干预有望缓解这些问题，但有效实施并确保坚持仍然是重大障碍。目的：本定性研究探讨了办公室工作人员参加瑜伽课程的经验，重点关注挑战、感知到的好处以及对未来干预措施的建议。方法对6名从事瑜伽干预的办公桌工作人员进行半结构化访谈。主题分析从访谈数据中确定关键主题。结果参与者强调了保持定期瑜伽练习的挑战，包括时间限制、最初的身体不适和不同的动力水平。尽管存在这些障碍，但他们报告了显著的益处，特别是在心理健康和压力管理方面。改善注意力、情绪调节和身体灵活性是常见的结果。与会者强调需要灵活的日程安排，逐步加强强度，并持续支持，以提高依从性。结论：在办公室工作的员工在坚持持续的瑜伽练习中遇到了实际的挑战，但却感受到实质性的心理健康益处。未来的瑜伽干预措施应优先考虑灵活的时间安排和可适应的练习强度，强调心理健康优势，并提供持续的支持。这项研究有助于开发更有效的工作场所瑜伽项目，有可能改善伏案工作人员的长期健康状况。进一步的研究应该定量评估长期的认知和心血管影响。该研究的小样本量限制了普遍性。未来的研究应该包括更广泛和更多样化的样本，将定量措施与定性见解结合起来。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Advances in integrative medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

3.20

自引率

11.80%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Advances in Integrative Medicine (AIMED) is an international peer-reviewed, evidence-based research and review journal that is multi-disciplinary within the fields of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. The journal focuses on rigorous quantitative and qualitative research including systematic reviews, clinical trials and surveys, whilst also welcoming medical hypotheses and clinically-relevant articles and case studies disclosing practical learning tools for the consulting practitioner. By promoting research and practice excellence in the field, and cross collaboration between relevant practitioner groups and associations, the journal aims to advance the practice of IM, identify areas for future research, and improve patient health outcomes. International networking is encouraged through clinical innovation, the establishment of best practice and by providing opportunities for cooperation between organisations and communities.