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Young readers can learn all about what happens at yoga class in this Pre-level 1 Ready-to-Read with sweet text and photographs of yogis-in-training!It’s the first day of yoga class in this early reader by Biscuit creator Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Roll out your yoga mat! What will it be like? Yoga students stand on sticky mats and learn poses with animal names like “downward dog” and “lion pose.” Young readers will love seeing kids their age practicing yoga in this adorable introduction to the sport!
Includes a special section of step-by-step instructions for basic yoga poses—to be done with a parent or guardian’s supervision.
BackgroundDepression is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in coronary heart disease. Numerous conventional and complementary therapies may address depression. Few involving spirituality have been tested.
Objective
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a nondenominational spiritual retreat, Medicine for the Earth (MFTE), on depression and other measures of well-being six- to 18-months post acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Design/Setting
A randomized controlled pilot study of MFTE, Lifestyle Change Program (LCP), or usual cardiac care (control) was conducted in Southeastern Michigan.
Participants
ACS patients were recruited via local and national advertising (n = 58 enrolled, 41 completed).
Interventions
The four-day MFTE intervention included guided imagery, meditation, drumming, journal writing, and nature-based activities. The four-day LCP included nutrition education, exercise, and stress management. Both retreat groups received follow-up phone coaching biweekly for three months.
Main Outcome Measures
Validated self-report scales of depression, spiritual well-being, perceived stress, and hope were collected at baseline, immediately post-retreat, and at three and six months.
Results
Depression was not significantly different among groups (P = .21). However, the MFTE group had the highest depression scores at baseline and had significantly lower scores at all postintervention time points (P ≤ .002). Hope significantly improved among MFTE participants, an effect that persisted at three- and six-month follow-up (P = .014). Although several measures showed improvement in all groups by six months, the MFTE group had immediate improvement post-retreat, which was maintained.
Conclusions
This pilot study shows that a nondenominational spiritual retreat, MFTE, can be used to increase hope while reducing depression in patients with ACS.
This week Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Alyssa Rheingold about Mindfulness—an approach to improve psychological wellbeing and reduce stress. Dr. Rheingold is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Associate Director of the Sleep and Anxiety Program at MUSC.
The current case study combined mindfulness-based strategies with a classroom behavior management treatment package, to assist teachers with managing 3rd grade student behaviors. Two teachers (Classroom teacher and Specials teacher) and six students within the same classroom were observed using a 5-min momentary time sampling procedure. A delayed multiple baseline across settings (e.g., Classroom teacher, Specials teacher) design was used to assess student behaviors across baseline (A), classroom behavior management treatment package (CBM) (B), CBM plus mindfulness (C), and CBM plus mindfulness and self-monitoring (D). Behavioral treatment alone increased on-task behaviors for four of six (66%) students compared to baseline; however, five of six (83%) students increased and sustained high rates of on-task behaviors when mindfulness exercises were added to the behavior analytic techniques. These preliminary results support the combination of mindfulness-based strategies with traditional behavior analytic interventions for increasing student on-task behaviors in classroom settings.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether utilizing yoga as an adjunctive therapy to the medical standard of care for adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is: (1) feasible and acceptable, (2) effective in reducing disease severity, intestinal inflammation and improving wellness.DESIGN: Prospective, non-randomized, 8-week pilot study for adolescents with a diagnosis of IBD. Feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were assessed weekly and post-intervention via surveys and a focus group (week 8). Disease severity, intestinal inflammation, and wellness measures were assessed at baseline and post-intervention (week 8).
INTERVENTION: Over the 8-week study period, patients were assigned three 60-minute, in-person yoga classes at weeks 1, 3 and 8, and three 30-minute, online yoga videos per week.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcome measures assessed preliminary clinical efficacy by examining pre- and post-intervention change in disease severity (PUCAI), intestinal inflammation (fecal calprotectin), and six wellness measures (PROMIS-37).
RESULTS: Nine adolescents with IBD participated. Eight participated in one or more yoga videos per week and all nine attended at least two in-person yoga classes. Focus group themes revealed that the intervention was well liked, with all participants reporting reduced stress, improved emotional self-awareness, and increased ability to identify and manage the physical symptoms of IBD. Participants had difficulty, however, completing the yoga videos due to time limitations and competing priorities. We lacked power to detect any statistically significant changes in PUCAI, calprotectin, or any of the six PROMIS-37 domains.
CONCLUSIONS: A combination of in-person instructor led yoga with video-based yoga is a feasible and acceptable adjunct therapy for adolescents with IBD. Participants reported reduced stress and improved ability to identify and manage physical symptoms. A larger, randomized controlled trial is necessary to determine if the yoga protocol results in clinically and statistically significant improvements in inflammatory biomarkers and patient reported outcomes.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic developmental disorder affecting 3-7% of children. In light of the growing utilization of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation in ADHD populations and potential benefits it has on ADHD symptoms, executive function deficits, and social functioning, we sought to evaluate these interventions for youth with ADHD. The primary aim of this review paper is to identify the efficacy of these programs for the treatment of youth with ADHD through a systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic literature search was conducted in the following electronic databases: PsychINFO, ERIC, PubMed, and MEDLINE. Studies were included in the meta-analytic review if participants were between 5-17 years old, had a diagnosis of ADHD or met symptom threshold on psychometrically-validated measure of ADHD symptoms, was a treatment outcome study, and was published in a peer-reviewed English-language journal. The effect sizes of eleven studies demonstrate that yoga, mindfulness-based interventions, and/or meditation had a statistically significant effect on the outcomes of ADHD symptoms, hyperactivity, and inattention (parent and teacher report), as well as parent-child relationship, executive functioning, on-task behavior, parent stress, and parent trait-mindfulness (p < 0.05). The effect sizes range from small to large effects across these outcomes. Considerable risk for bias was found across studies. Given significant methodological limitations of the literature, positive effect sizes found in studies should be interpreted with caution; these interventions should not be considered first-line interventions for ADHD. However, preliminary findings suggest yoga, mindfulness, and meditation may be beneficial for youth with ADHD, but extensive research is required to validate the efficacy of these interventions.