Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unparalleled suffering on a global scale, affecting both physical and mental well-being. In such challenging times, it becomes crucial to identify interventions that can alleviate negative mental health outcomes, such as stress, while promoting pos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1280859/full |
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| author | Saketh Malipeddi Seema Mehrotra John P. John Bindu M. Kutty |
| author_facet | Saketh Malipeddi Seema Mehrotra John P. John Bindu M. Kutty |
| author_sort | Saketh Malipeddi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unparalleled suffering on a global scale, affecting both physical and mental well-being. In such challenging times, it becomes crucial to identify interventions that can alleviate negative mental health outcomes, such as stress, while promoting positive mental health outcomes, like well-being. We report the effectiveness of a mind–body practise, Isha Yoga, in promoting well-being.MethodsWe conducted an online survey, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Yoga practitioners (n = 1,352) from the Isha Yoga tradition in Karnataka, India. We evaluated stress and well-being attributes using conventional psychometric questionnaires. Subsequently, we requested the Isha Yoga practitioners to share another survey with their friends and family members, assessing similar outcomes. From the respondents of this shared survey (n = 221), we identified individuals who currently did not engage in any form of Yoga or meditation, constituting the non-Yoga control group (n = 110). To enhance the reliability and validity of our study and minimize the limitations commonly associated with online surveys, we adhered to the CHERRIES guidelines for reporting survey studies.ResultsIsha Yoga practitioners had significantly lower levels of stress (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.94) and mental distress (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.75) while reporting significantly higher levels of well-being (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.78) and affective balance (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.80) compared to the control group. Furthermore, expertise-related improvements were observed in these outcomes, and a dose–response relationship was found between regularity of Isha Yoga practice and outcome changes. A minimum 3–4 days of weekly practice showed significant differences with the control group. In addition, we investigated the effect of Isha Yoga on stress and well-being among the healthcare workers (HCWs) in our sample and observed better mental health outcomes.DiscussionThese findings collectively underscore the benefits of Mind and Body practices like Isha Yoga on various aspects of mental health and well-being, emphasizing its potential as an effective and holistic approach for promoting a healthy lifestyle among diverse populations, including healthcare workers, even in difficult circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:26:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dbf3ea78e76548fc9b0bcce214b3a2db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:26:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-dbf3ea78e76548fc9b0bcce214b3a2db2024-02-02T04:38:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-02-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.12808591280859Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 surveySaketh Malipeddi0Seema Mehrotra1John P. John2Bindu M. Kutty3Centre for Consciousness Studies, Department of Neurophysiology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IndiaDepartment of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IndiaMulti-modal Brain Image Analysis Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IndiaCentre for Consciousness Studies, Department of Neurophysiology, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Karnataka, IndiaIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unparalleled suffering on a global scale, affecting both physical and mental well-being. In such challenging times, it becomes crucial to identify interventions that can alleviate negative mental health outcomes, such as stress, while promoting positive mental health outcomes, like well-being. We report the effectiveness of a mind–body practise, Isha Yoga, in promoting well-being.MethodsWe conducted an online survey, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Yoga practitioners (n = 1,352) from the Isha Yoga tradition in Karnataka, India. We evaluated stress and well-being attributes using conventional psychometric questionnaires. Subsequently, we requested the Isha Yoga practitioners to share another survey with their friends and family members, assessing similar outcomes. From the respondents of this shared survey (n = 221), we identified individuals who currently did not engage in any form of Yoga or meditation, constituting the non-Yoga control group (n = 110). To enhance the reliability and validity of our study and minimize the limitations commonly associated with online surveys, we adhered to the CHERRIES guidelines for reporting survey studies.ResultsIsha Yoga practitioners had significantly lower levels of stress (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.94) and mental distress (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.75) while reporting significantly higher levels of well-being (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.78) and affective balance (p < 0.001, gHedges = 0.80) compared to the control group. Furthermore, expertise-related improvements were observed in these outcomes, and a dose–response relationship was found between regularity of Isha Yoga practice and outcome changes. A minimum 3–4 days of weekly practice showed significant differences with the control group. In addition, we investigated the effect of Isha Yoga on stress and well-being among the healthcare workers (HCWs) in our sample and observed better mental health outcomes.DiscussionThese findings collectively underscore the benefits of Mind and Body practices like Isha Yoga on various aspects of mental health and well-being, emphasizing its potential as an effective and holistic approach for promoting a healthy lifestyle among diverse populations, including healthcare workers, even in difficult circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1280859/fullCOVID-19 pandemicYogameditationIsha Yogamental healthperceived stress |
| spellingShingle | Saketh Malipeddi Seema Mehrotra John P. John Bindu M. Kutty Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 pandemic Yoga meditation Isha Yoga mental health perceived stress |
| title | Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey |
| title_full | Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey |
| title_fullStr | Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey |
| title_short | Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey |
| title_sort | practice and proficiency of isha yoga for better mental health outcomes insights from a covid 19 survey |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic Yoga meditation Isha Yoga mental health perceived stress |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1280859/full |
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