An adapted group yoga intervention: the lived experience of individuals with chronic traumatic brain injury
Date
2017
Authors
Roney, Megan A., author
Schmid, Arlene A., advisor
Sample, Pat L., advisor
Stallones, Lorann, committee member
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Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of individuals with chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) who participated in an adapted group yoga intervention. Participants attended one-hour yoga sessions twice a week for eight weeks and described their experiences through focus groups and individual interviews. Data accumulated were analysed using a coding process to generate themes of what experiences occurred, how experiences occurred, and why experiences occurred. Participants described experiencing the yoga intervention as a progression from initially expecting physical benefits from yoga to feeling safe and comfortable in the yoga intervention classes and among fellow participants, and to experiencing physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. Participants stated that these experiences carried over into their daily lives, positively impacting their health maintenance and social participation. Participants attributed their experiences to various structural strategies of the intervention including commonalities among participants, the instructor's dual knowledge of yoga and therapeutic rehabilitation, as well as the adaptability of yoga to their personal needs. Additionally, participant experiences were attributed to a re-conceptualization of what yoga should look and feel like, enhanced body awareness, and feeling supported. The fact that the participants generally expressed beneficial outcomes indicates the need to further research adapted yoga interventions for the population of individuals with chronic TBI.
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Subject
traumatic brain injury
rehabilitation
yoga