International Journal of Yoga最新文献

{"title":"Interest in and Barriers to Practicing Yoga among Family Caregivers of People with Cancer.","authors":"Krupali Desai, Allison J Applebaum, Shelly Latte-Naor, Eva M Pendleton, Sarah Cheyney, Qing S Li, Ting Bao, Susan Chimonas, Jun J Mao","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_203_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_203_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Family caregivers of people with cancer report high levels of psychological distress. Yoga, with well-documented mental health benefits, could be a useful intervention to address distress in this population. However, little is known about yoga practices among cancer caregivers. The present study evaluates their interest in and barriers to yoga practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional survey study of family caregivers of cancer patients at five suburban satellite locations of an academic cancer center. Survey items and statistical analyses focused on yoga usage as well as interest in and barriers to yoga practice.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 539 participants, most were females (64.8%), white (84.2%), and caring for a spouse or partner (54.7%). Interest in practicing yoga among study participants was 42.3%. Increased interest was independently associated with being females (odds ratio [OR] = 3.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.98-5.51, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and employed (part-time: OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.1-6.18, <i>P</i> = 0.03; full-time: OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.1-2.01, <i>P</i> = 0.02). Few participants (6.3%) were currently practicing yoga, although 31% had done so in the past. Sixty-one percent of those who had practiced before their loved one's diagnosis stopped practicing yoga afterward. Commonly cited barriers to yoga practice included time constraints (37.3%) and psychological obstacles (33.6%). About a quarter of those who had never practiced yoga lacked awareness of yoga's benefits (26.6%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite the low use of yoga, interest in practicing was moderately high, especially among women and employed caregivers. As caregivers face numerous barriers to yoga practice, strategies are needed to overcome these barriers and help them access yoga's health benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"16 1","pages":"5-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/c8/c9/IJY-16-5.PMC10424271.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10003955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Future of Yoga for Mental Health Care.","authors":"Vanika Chawla,&nbsp;Christiane Brems,&nbsp;Heather Freeman,&nbsp;Arun Ravindran,&nbsp;Douglas L Noordsy","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_25_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_25_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Yoga is an integrated holistic system originating in India that provides a path to alleviate physical, mental, and emotional suffering. Interest in the application of yoga in health care to manage and treat psychiatric conditions has grown. While research and clinical interventions using yoga show promising results for improving mental and emotional well-being, more data are needed. This perspective article summarizes the current evidence on yoga as a treatment for mental health conditions, potential mechanisms of action, future directions, and a call to action for proactive clinical and research agendas for yoga-based interventions in mental health care.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"16 1","pages":"38-41"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/f9/da/IJY-16-38.PMC10424272.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10003951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Integrated Yoga and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention for Managing Excessive Use of Internet among the Youth: A Case Series.","authors":"Ashwini Tadpatrikar,&nbsp;Shubham Sharma,&nbsp;Manoj Kumar Sharma,&nbsp;Hemant Bhargav,&nbsp;Nitin Anand,&nbsp;Prashant Mishra","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_47_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_47_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Internet addiction is a behavioral problem that is managed by pharmacological and nonpharmacological methods. The nonpharmacological methods focus on enhancing skills for healthy use of technology and promoting mindfulness and mental relaxation. Yoga therapy is an effective tool to reduce psychological stress and promote self-regulation and mindfulness. Thus, present work focused on developing an integrated yoga and cognitive behavioral therapy intervention (Y-CBT) for the management of excessive use of technology amongst adolescents and young adult students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Feasibility of the Y-CBT program was tested by implementing 10 sessions of yoga and 6 sessions of CBT program for 2 weeks by certified Yoga therapist and psychologist, respectively. This was followed by online booster sessions once a week, and post assessments were conducted at 12 weeks. A total of 4 college-going students with the excessive use of technology were recruited from tertiary specialty service for promotion of healthy use of technology. Each participant was assessed using short-version of internet addiction test (s-IAT), Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, Kessler's Psychological distress scale for baseline, and follow-up assessment after completion of the program.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Y-CBT program was found feasible and useful in reducing internet use, smart phone use, and psychological distress. There were no reported side-effects. A trend was observed for increase compliance toward treatment at follow-up. Future studies should explore this further with robust methodology.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"16 1","pages":"56-60"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d0/ae/IJY-16-56.PMC10424269.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10012654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can Yoga Pranayama Practices Improve Burnout in Elite Mountain Bikers: A Single-arm Pilot Study.","authors":"Wei Liang,&nbsp;Li Le,&nbsp;Cun Yaling,&nbsp;Yuan Hongbo,&nbsp;Zhang Yu,&nbsp;Deng Yunzhu","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_184_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_184_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mountain bike (MTB) racing is a highly intensive physical activity and requires a high degree of technical ability to perform at the elite athlete level, which might compromise mental well-being, increasing symptoms of anxiety and depression through overtraining, injury, and burnout. Yoga Pranayama is the key to bringing about psychosomatic integration and harmony. This study aimed to explore the effects of yoga pranayama practices (YPP) on elite mountain bikers' burnout. This is a single-arm pilot study. Twenty-seven subjects practiced 30 sessions of YPP seven times a week for 1 month. The outcomes measured were blood biochemical parameters accompanied by complete blood count and athlete burnout score. Cubital vein blood test and burnout questionnaire were conducted at baseline and after 1 month. Test results showed a significant decrease in cortisol (CO) (<i>P</i> = 0.001) and urea nitrogen (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and an increase in testosterone: CO ratio (<i>P</i> = 0.001). This study indicates that YPP might improve burnout in elite mountain bikers.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"16 1","pages":"49-55"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/72/c6/IJY-16-49.PMC10424275.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10012657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of 24-Week Yoga Intervention on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Inflammatory Markers in Type 2 Diabetes.","authors":"Sonali Sharma,&nbsp;Sonal Bhardwaj,&nbsp;Arvind Gupta,&nbsp;Vishwa Mohan Katoch,&nbsp;Krishna Kumar Sharma,&nbsp;Rajeev Gupta","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_176_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_176_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Persistent hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress are important in cardiovascular risk in type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). To evaluate the effect of 24-week yoga intervention on anthropometry and biochemical markers in DM patients, we performed a study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A hospital-based prospective randomized study in 104 participants with DM divided into control (<i>n</i> = 52) and intervention (<i>n</i> = 52) groups was performed. Patients in the intervention group performed 40 min of multifaceted individualized yoga exercises 5 days/week for 24 weeks. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analysis were performed at baseline and after 24 weeks in both groups. Descriptive statistics are reported.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. At 24 weeks, participants in the intervention versus controls had lower body mass index (25.6 ± 2.9 vs. 28.0 ± 3.2 kg/m²), waist-hip ratio (0.94 ± 0.06 vs. 0.99 ± 0.05), systolic blood pressure (121.2 ± 11.7 vs. 139.3 ± 19.1 mmHg), fasting glucose (142.7 ± 45.3 vs. 175.7 ± 45.4 mg/dL), glycated hemoglobin (7.2 ± 1.8 vs. 9.4 ± 1.9%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (167.5 ± 38.1 vs. 192.2 ± 51.4 mg/dL), nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol (136.8 ± 35.3 vs. 158.6 ± 47.2 mg/dL), interleukin-6 (32.0 ± 21.5 vs. 43.5 ± 34.3 pg/mL), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (5.1 ± 3.7 vs. 9.5 ± 15.6 mg/L) (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.05). In the intervention group, higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (49.2 ± 15.0 vs. 40.4 ± 7.2 mg/dL) and serum total antioxidants (1.9 ± 0.4 vs. 1.4 ± 0.4 mmol/L) were observed (<i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A short-term yoga intervention led to reduced glycemia, dyslipidemia, and inflammatory markers and increased antioxidant status in patients with type-2 DM.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"16 1","pages":"27-33"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/8f/66/IJY-16-27.PMC10424277.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10003952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Electroencephalographic Brainwave Spectrum, Mindful Meditation, and Awareness: Hypothesis.","authors":"Vinod D Deshmukh","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_34_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_34_23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is hypothesized that being mindfully aware is a spontaneous state of being. It is imbued with joy, peace and happiness. Such a state is periodically revealed during restful attentiveness or presence. It is also associated with spontaneous brain alpha activity of 8-13 Hz. In deep nonrapid eye movement sleep, there is synchronous delta activity at a coherent frequency of 0.1 Hz. Both of these brainwave ground states are spontaneous, calm and effortless. When any physical or mental effort is made, the alpha rhythm is desynchronized, and it is superposed by faster brain waves of beta (13-30 Hz) and gamma frequencies (30-150 Hz). This is associated with a stream of dualistic conscious experiences with contents. During deep sleep, delta activity is superposed by beta and gamma activity with microarousals resulting in dream experiences. During effortless, meditative awareness, the whole family of alpha rhythm is synchronized including (a) <i>Occipital-parietal alpha</i> with visual clarity, formless color, and the absence of visual imagery (b) <i>Frontal eye-field alpha</i> with relatively motionless eyes, and the absence of voluntary actions or plans to move the eyes in some direction, along with nonactive working memory, (c) <i>Somatosensory alpha or Mu rhythm</i> from the somatic motor-sensory cortex with the resultant stillness of the body including head, face, larynx, spine, hands and legs, (d) <i>Mid-temporal auditory alpha</i> with vocal quietness and internal verbal silence (<i>Maunam</i>) with a feeling of spontaneous silence and serenity, (e) <i>Cingulate and precuneus alpha</i> resulting in freedom from autobiographical memories and the sense of agency or ego. The insular cortex serves as a gatekeeper, a hierarchical controller to switch between conscious engagement or disengagement from the internal or the external world. It switches between the default mode network and the executive frontoparietal networks, between the sequential and the parallel modes of functioning. Mindful consciousness is local and dualistic, whereas mindful awareness is nonlocal and nondual.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"16 1","pages":"42-48"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/dd/97/IJY-16-42.PMC10424274.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10010150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Transformative Impact of the International Day of Yoga.","authors":"Nandi Krishnamurthy Manjunath","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_106_23","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_106_23","url":null,"abstract":"1 The International Day of Yoga (IDY) is one of India’s most significant traditional and cultural gifts, first celebrated on June 21st, 2015, across the world. Responding to the proposal made by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, the UN General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga in December 2014. The vision was to connect the world as one family (Vasudaiva kutumbakam) through Yoga based lifestyle to create a healthy and peaceful planet earth.","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"16 1","pages":"1-4"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/1e/24/IJY-16-1.PMC10424276.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10012655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Men with and without Alcohol Dependence: A Comparative Study of <i>Triguna</i>, Nonattachment, Personality and Subjective Well-Being.","authors":"Chandana Nedungottil,&nbsp;Jyotsna Agrawal,&nbsp;Mahendra Prakash Sharma,&nbsp;Pratima Murthy","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_128_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_128_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>Indian models of personality are seldom explored in relation to alcohol dependence. <i>Triguna</i> is an Indian model of personality originating from the <i>Sankhya</i> philosophy, whereby three <i>gunas</i>, <i>Sattva</i>, <i>Rajas</i> and <i>Tamas</i> describe personality features. Additionally, the trait of Non attachment which is a concept discussed extensively in <i>Bhagavad Gita</i> is also studied along with <i>Triguna</i>.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The current study discusses these concepts and attempts to explore their relationship with personality and subjective well-being, among men with and without alcohol dependence.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey method was adopted, with a sample of 84 men from the community without alcohol dependence, screened through alcohol use disorders identification test and 30 men diagnosed with alcohol dependence. Informed consent was obtained from all the participants.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis used: </strong>The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent sample <i>t</i>-test, and Mann-Whitney <i>U</i>-test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Men without alcohol dependence scored significantly higher on variables such as <i>Sattva</i>, extraversion and conscientiousness, positive affect, and life satisfaction, than men in the clinical group. Men who were diagnosed with alcohol dependence, scored significantly higher on <i>Tamas</i>, neuroticism, and negative affect.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This novel understanding of the personality structure of patients with alcohol dependence from the <i>Triguna</i> perspective may be helpful in the development of indigenous psychological interventions for alcohol dependence.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"15 3","pages":"222-229"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/07/69/IJY-15-222.PMC10026343.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9219728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Integrated Approach to Yoga Therapy-Based Yoga Module in Improving Cardiovascular Functions and Lipid Profile in Hypertensive Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Shivaprasad Shetty, N S Nandeesh, Prashanth Shetty","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_107_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_107_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hypertension is a growing public health problem and its optimal management is imperative. Integration of lifestyle modification and yoga with antihypertensive drugs leads to its successful management. Yoga has been shown to modulate blood pressure (BP) and lipid metabolism in individuals with hypertension. The current study is a preliminary effort to ascertain the underlying mechanisms behind it.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Hundred patients were screened, among which 65 who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. After baseline assessments, they were randomly allocated (1:1) to an intervention group (IG) who practiced integrated approach to yoga therapy (IAYT)-based yoga module for 6 days a week, for 3 months and a control group (CG) who received no intervention. BP, heart rate variability, and lipid profile were assessed before and after the intervention. Data acquired from 60 cases were analyzed by <i>post-hoc</i> analysis for multiple comparisons between the mean values.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At the end of 3 months, within-group comparison showed significant changes (<i>P</i> < 0.05) in IG in all variables except triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (LDL) while similar changes were not present in the control group. Significant differences were seen between the groups in the TC (<i>P</i> = 0.005), HDL (<i>P</i> = 0.047), non-HDL (<i>P</i> = 0.013), LDL (<i>P</i> < 0.001), LDL/HDL Ratio (<i>P</i> = 0.031), CHOL/HDL Ratio (<i>P</i> = 0.043), DBP (<i>P</i> < 0.001), SBP (<i>P</i> < 0.001), and all indices of HRV (<i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that IAYT-based yoga module was effective in improving cardiovascular performance and lipid metabolism, thereby mitigating coronary artery disease risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"15 3","pages":"215-221"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/d4/24/IJY-15-215.PMC10026340.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9219729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of 4-Week Heartfulness Meditation on Stress Scores, Sleep Quality, and Oxidative and Inflammatory Biochemical Parameters in COVID-19 Patients after Completion of Standard Treatment - A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Senthil Kumar Subramanian,&nbsp;Vidya Desai Sripad,&nbsp;Amudharaj Dharmalingam,&nbsp;V Naga Guhan,&nbsp;Vinoth Kumar Kalidoss,&nbsp;Nichenametla Gautam,&nbsp;Arundhathi Shankaralingappa,&nbsp;Rajathi Rajendran,&nbsp;Syed Ghouse Mohiuddin","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_95_22","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_95_22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Context: </strong>COVID-19-affected patients showed increased stress, impaired sleep quality, altered complete blood count, and increased inflammatory and oxidative parameters. Yoga is an add-on nonpharmacological treatment that is established to normalize the abovementioned parameters. Heartfulness meditation is a form of Raja yoga.</p><p><strong>Aims: </strong>The present study aimed to study the effects of 4 weeks of heartfulness meditation on the abovementioned parameters in COVID-19 patients following treatment completion.</p><p><strong>Settings and design: </strong>The present study was a randomized controlled trial carried out in the Department of Physiology, AIIMS, Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods: </strong>Out of 50 COVID-19 treatment-completed patients recruited for the study, 25 were randomly assigned to the study group who received 4-week app-based heartfulness meditation. Other 25 patients were assigned to the control group who received app-based relaxation for 4 weeks. Perceived stress score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, baseline cardiovascular parameters, complete blood count, serum cortisol, inflammatory parameters, oxidative stress parameters, and antioxidant parameters were assessed before and after 4 weeks of intervention in both the groups. The outcome assessor was blinded in the present study.</p><p><strong>Statistical analysis used: </strong>The mean difference between the two groups was tested using the Student's <i>t</i>-test or Mann-Whitney <i>U</i>-test based on data distribution. Effect of intervention was analyzed using paired Student's <i>t</i>-test for dependent samples test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test based on data distribution.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The groups were comparable before intervention for all the variables. After 4 weeks of intervention, we observed a significant decrease in stress, circulating cortisol, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress biomarker in both the groups. Further, we observed improved sleep quality and antioxidant biomarkers in both the groups. These beneficial alterations following intervention were high in the study group compared to the control group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results suggest that app-based heartfulness meditation/relaxation can be used as a nonpharmacological adjuvant to hasten the recovery process in patients who have completed the COVID-19 treatment protocol. Beneficial effects in subjects practicing heartfulness meditation were more than that observed in subjects practicing relaxation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"15 3","pages":"195-204"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/87/b3/IJY-15-195.PMC10026342.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9166698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}