What happens when you train a Div. I athletic team in mindfulness + yoga? This is offered partly in fun. Small n and not randomized, but nevertheless… psycnet.apa.org/journals/cns/1/4/339.html A Brief Mindfulness and Yoga Intervention With an Entire NCAA Division I Athletic Team: An Initial Investigation Fallon R. Goodman email the author, Todd B. Kashdan, Travis T. Mallard, Mary Schumann Abstract: Whereas traditional sports psychology interventions emphasize controlling or reducing distress, mindfulness-based interventions teach tolerance and acceptance of negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In the present pilot study, an entire men’s Division I athletic team (n = 13) provided voluntary consent and participated in a brief mindfulness-based intervention. Over 5 weeks, the team attended eight 90-min group intervention sessions immediately followed by 1-hr Hatha yoga sessions. Completer analyses showed that following the intervention, participants reported greater mindfulness, greater goal-directed energy, and less perceived stress than before the intervention. Compared with a nonrandomized control group (student athletes from various club sports; n = 13), intervention participants reported greater goal-directed energy and mindfulness. We also explored written feedback from players to identify ways to improve the intervention. Implications for practitioners for improving mindfulness-based interventions are discussed. From literature review section: Yoga as Physical Practice of Mindfulness Mindfulness practices can be taught through mind–body exercises such as yoga. The central message of yoga is to learn how to listen and respond to bodily sensations. This awareness helps individuals move to a comfortable “physical and mental space” while challenging their body (Shiffmann, 1996). Various physical poses and movements are used to increase awareness of one’s physical and mental states. Yoga practitioners are shown how to mindfully focus their attention on the present moment. Several studies have supported the physical and psychological benefits of yoga. In a comprehensive review of 81 studies that compared yoga to other types of physical exercise (e.g., walking, running, cycling), Ross and Thomas (2010) found that yoga was equally or more effective at improving multiple factors related to one’s well-being, including decreased stress and fatigue. Some of these benefits have been documented at a physiological level (e.g., decreased cortisol; Kamei et al., 2000). More frequent yoga practice has been associated with more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, and increased satisfaction with life (Impett, Daubenmier, & Hirschman, 2006), and some studies have observed beneficial effects after a single yoga session (e.g., Telles, Gaur, & Balkrishna, 2009). In addition, yoga-based interventions have been associated with reductions in levels of depression and anxiety (Kirkwood, Rampes, Tuffrey, Richardson, & Pilkington, 2005; Pilkington, Kirkwood, Rampes, & Richardson, 2005). When compared with contemplative practices that lack active physical activity (e.g., body scanning, meditation), researchers have found yoga to be more effective at increasing mindfulness and well-being and reducing perceived stress and anxiety (Carmody & Baer, 2008). For full article: psycnet.apa.org/journals/cns/1/4/339.html
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 13:09:21 +0000
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