TESTING THE EFFICACY OF AN INTENSIVE YOGIC MEDITATION COURSE FOR WELLNESS Manoj Sharma, MBBS, Ph.D.

Yoga Derived from Sanskrit word meaning ‘union’ Physical & Psychic practice First written records in Yogasutra of Patanjali (200 B.C.) Systematic practice of developing harmony in body, mind and environment around oneself

Asthangayoga All schools of yoga use some or all of the steps of Asthangayoga: – Yama (Rules for living in society) – Niyama (Self-restraining rules) – Asaana (Low physical impact postures) – Pranayama (Breathing techniques) – Pratihara (Detachment of mind from sense objects) – Dharana (Concentration) – Dhyana (Meditation) – Samadhi (Complete union with Super consciousness)

Kundalini Yoga Hallmark is start from the seventh step in Asthangayoga that of meditation Fundamental technique is one of “formless” internal contemplation on Pituitary and Hypothalamus glands In addition asanas for strain relieving, pranayama for enhancing vital capacity of the lungs, and relaxation for stress relief are used

Benefits of Yoga Wellness/Health Promotion: Improved body flexibility, performance, stress reduction, attainment of inner peace, self-realization Complementary treatment: Depression, anxiety disorders, coronary heart disease, bronchial asthma, extensive rehabilitation requiring disorders Behavioral therapy: Smoking cessation and substance abuse treatment

Purposes of the study Develop a replicable intensive Kundalini yoga training intervention Develop psychometric tools for ascertaining changes in behavioral antecedents and yoga-related behaviors Pilot test the intensive intervention in a sample of healthy volunteers Assess the changes in behavioral antecedents and yoga-related behaviors

Intervention Week end course with overnight stay Implemented at a Dance Laboratory of a Midwestern University Techniques: – Candle gazing (Lau dharana) – Mirror gazing (Pritibimb dharana) – Recitational meditation (Mantra dharana) – Primordial sound meditation (Nada dhyana) – Primordial energy meditation (Kundalini dhyana) – Absolute meditation (Thuriyateeth dhyana)

Instrumentation 30 item self-report instrument Perceived knowledge about yoga (Range 0-20) Outcome expectations from learning Kundalini Yoga (Range 0-96) Self-efficacy to perform yoga related behaviors (Range 0-24) Past week performance of yoga-related behaviors of asanas, relaxation, and meditation Demographic data: age, gender, race, and education Rating of instruction, master teacher, facilities, food, willingness for future participation, & recommendation to others

RESULTS 20 participants completed the entire course (Valid entries=17) Age Range: years (Mean = 45 years) Gender: 9 men (52.9%) and 8 women (47.1%) Education: College education (82.4%), High school (17.6%) Race: White Caucasian (70.6%), Asian (29.4%)

Changes in mean scores between pre-test and post- test for perceived knowledge, outcome expectations from learning meditation, and self-efficacy for meditation practice ConstructnMean score (std. dev.) at pre-test Mean score (std. dev.) at post-test p-value Perceived knowledge (3.15) (2.59) Outcome expectations (22.76) (15.95) Self-efficacy for meditation (4.69) (3.90) 0.001

Conclusions Practical and statistical significant increase in perceived knowledge No significant increase in outcome expectations Practical and statistical significant increase in self- efficacy and its components Instruments are useful for process and impact evaluation in future efficacy trials Intervention is replicable and can be applied for efficacy testing

Limitations Pilot test with no long term follow-up data No comparison group Instruments not tested for reliability and validity Sample predominantly white (Caucasian)