title: Yoga Therapy for the Mind Eight-Week Course: Participants׳ Experiences.
abstract: Mindfulness-based therapies are becoming increasingly common in the treatment of mental health conditions. While the popularity of yoga continues to rise in Western culture, little has been done to explore the psychological benefits of yoga from a qualitative, clinical perspective. This study explores participant experiences of the "Yoga Therapy for the Mind Eight-Week Course" (YTFTM), an international, manualized yoga and mindfulness-based intervention for depression and anxiety. Eight female participants took part in semi-structured interviews, and transcripts were analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analysis, with four master themes emerging: "Personal Journey of Change," "Ambivalence," "Mind/Body Connection," and "Group Experience." The findings highlight potential challenges of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions and the importance of providing adequate support in overcoming these. Findings also reveal that participants experience psychological benefits from the practice of yoga asana in addition to mindfulness, such as a more holistic understanding of psychological distress, adaptive coping strategies, and enhanced well-being.
authors.affiliation: City University London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom. Electronic address: contact@hollykahya.com.
authors.forename: Holly Hannah
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kahya
authors.affiliation: City University London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Courtney Grant
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Raspin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D064866:Mindfulness; D011603:Psychophysiology; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: anxiety; depression; emotional regulation; mental health; mindfulness; yoga