title: Medical yoga in the workplace setting-perceived stress and work ability-a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the feasibility of using an intervention of Medical Yoga in the workplace and investigated its effects on perceived stress and work ability.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a quasi-experimental pilot study comparing a group who received Medical Yoga (intervention group, N=17), with a group waiting to receive Medical Yoga (control group, N=15).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical Yoga in nine weekly sessions led by a certified instructor, as well as an instruction film to be followed at home twice weekly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, eligibility, willingness to participate, response to questionnaires and adherence to the intervention plan. Stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale, work ability with the Work Ability Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Convincing unit managers to let their employees participate in this intervention was difficult. Eligibility was perfect, but only 40% of workers were willing to participate. The subjects adhered to a great extent to the intervention and answered the questionnaires satisfactorily. Reaching target individuals requires careful attention to informing participants. The intervention showed no significant effects on stress and work ability, though the two measures correlated significantly over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors limiting feasibility of this workplace intervention were identified. Work place interventions may need to be sanctioned at a higher managerial level. The optimal time, length and availability of the workplace intervention should be explored further. Knowledge from this study could be used as a foundation when planning a larger scale study.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Electronic address: Iben.axen@ki.se.
authors.forename: Iben
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Axén
authors.affiliation: Unit of Intervention and Implementation Research for Worker Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Electronic address: gabriella.follin@stud.ki.se.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Follin
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Stress; Work ability; Workplace; Yoga