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Koncz Á, Csala B, Ferentzi E. The effect of 10-week long yoga training on interoceptive abilities: cross-sectional and longitudinal investigation of cardiac and gastric accuracy. Biol Futur 2024; 75:41-50. [PMID: 37979130 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00195-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Based on their characteristics, it is likely that mind-body techniques develop interoception, the perception of bodily state. Nevertheless, findings on mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and body scan techniques are inconclusive. Additionally, the methodological scope is not exhaustive, neither in terms of the intervention nor the applied measure of interoception. This study investigated for the first time the effect of regular yoga training on cardiac and gastric perceptual ability (measured with the mental heartbeat tracking task and the water load task, respectively). With the involvement of 90 female university students (yoga group n = 57, control group n = 33) we did not find any connection between baseline heartbeat perception score and gastric fullness. Moreover, the applied 10-week-long regular yoga training did not develop any of the measured interoceptive abilities. We conclude that yoga might develop other abilities than these specific sensations. Very probably, the measured cardiac and gastric perceptual abilities do not represent bodily sensations in general. It would be worth to investigate, however, the effect of longer yoga training on interoception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ádám Koncz
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Barbara Csala
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Ferentzi
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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Koncz A, Nagy E, Csala B, Körmendi J, Gál V, Suhaj C, Selmeci C, Bogdán ÁS, Boros S, Köteles F. The effects of a complex yoga-based intervention on healthy psychological functioning. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1120992. [PMID: 37063561 PMCID: PMC10097994 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1120992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundYoga based interventions were found to have a positive impact on various indicators of psychological functioning, such as perceived stress, satisfaction with life, positive and negative affectivity. Additionally, such interventions improved bodily or interoceptive awareness and spirituality.MethodsThe present study assessed the effects of a 3-month long complex yoga-based intervention compared to a passive control group in a Hungarian community sample. The final sample consisted of 44 intervention (Mage = 47.5, SD = = 8.76) and 29 control participants (Mage = 47.4, SD = 9.47). The aforementioned constructs were measured 1 week before and after the intervention.ResultsThe intervention reduced participants’ perceived stress (p = <0.001, ηp2 = 0.153) and negative affectivity (p = 0.019, ηp2 = 0.113), improved spirituality (p = 0.048, ηp2 = 0.054) and various aspects of interoceptive awareness such as noticing (p = <0.001, ηp2 = 0.169) attention regulation (p = <0.001, ηp2 = 0.211), self-regulation (p = 0.002, ηp2 = 0.190) body listening (p = 0.010, ηp2 = 0.097), trusting (p = 0.026, ηp2 = 0.070), but did not impact positive affectivity and satisfaction with life.ConclusionA 3-months long complex yoga-based intervention has a positive impact on many aspects of healthy psychological functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Koncz
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Adam Koncz,
| | - Eszter Nagy
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Barbara Csala
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Körmendi
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vera Gál
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csilla Suhaj
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csongor Selmeci
- Magyar Jóga Társaság/Hungarian Yoga Society, Veszprém, Hungary
| | | | - Szilvia Boros
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Köteles
- Ádám György Psychophysiology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Psychology, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, Hungary
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Töbelmann L, Hahne I, Schulze T, Bergmann N, Fuchs L, Zierhut M, Hahn E, Böge K. Mechanisms of action and processes of yoga-based group intervention for inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders-A longitudinal qualitative study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1086468. [PMID: 36824673 PMCID: PMC9941680 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1086468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research exploring the effects of yoga therapy (YT) on individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) is scarce. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore possible mechanisms of actions and processes, as well as adverse effects of a novel yoga-based group intervention (YoGI) for in-patients with SSD in a German university hospital setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS A longitudinal qualitative study was integrated into a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial, exploring the impact of a 4-week YoGI as add-on treatment. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants receiving YoGI (n = 19) in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) and a control group (n = 14) which only received TAU. Interviews were conducted at baseline (n = 33) and 4 weeks post-intervention (N = 28) to assess the participant's experiences and how they changed over time. The interviews (N = 61) were audio-taped, translated, coded, and analyzed by means of inductive thematic analysis. Separate case summaries were prepared for each participant to analyze longitudinal changes within subjects. The research team members collaboratively discussed the final list of themes and subcodes. Rater-based questionnaires, such as the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), and Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) were administered at baseline to assess clinical outcomes. RESULTS At baseline, participants reported a desire to improve their stress- and symptom management. A minority of participants expressed reservations toward yoga, and several psychosocial barriers were named, including worries about symptom exacerbation. At post-intervention, four mechanisms of change became evident from the interviews: (1) acquiring competence in relaxation, (2) increased interoceptive awareness, (3) feeling connected, and (4) a sense of spiritual wellbeing. A small number of participants reported difficulties with YoGI. CONCLUSION Generally, YoGI positively influenced participants' experiences of their inpatient stay, regarding distress, self- and body awareness, social connectedness, and spiritual wellbeing. However, participants also illuminated necessary adjustments to improve the intervention. YoGI will therefore be adapted and further developed in an iterative process based on a participant involvement approach. The efficacy regarding outcomes and processes needs to be investigated in a future larger-scaled randomized controlled trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Töbelmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Inge Hahne
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Theresa Schulze
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Niklas Bergmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lukas Fuchs
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Zierhut
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerem Böge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Effects of a Single Yoga Session on Cardiac Interoceptive Accuracy and Emotional Experience. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11121572. [PMID: 34942874 PMCID: PMC8699040 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11121572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an increasing body of research supporting the idea that cardiac interoceptive accuracy (IAc) can be improved by training. Findings concerning the effects of a single yoga session on IAc and the related construct emotional experience are sparse. The aim of this study was to examine if a single yoga session increases IAc and improves emotional experience. METHODS 137 students were randomly assigned to a 20-min yoga session (n = 47), an endurance session (n = 46), or an inactive control condition (n = 44). IAc and emotional experience were assessed before and after the sessions. RESULTS There were no significant changes in IAc, or positive and negative affect. IAc at baseline and the change in positive effect were found as predictors for IAc after the yoga session. CONCLUSION A 20-min yoga session seems to be not applicable to improve IAc and emotional experience. Future studies should investigate long-term interventions and diverse healthy and clinical populations.
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Csala B, Szemerszky R, Körmendi J, Köteles F, Boros S. Is Weekly Frequency of Yoga Practice Sufficient? Physiological Effects of Hatha Yoga Among Healthy Novice Women. Front Public Health 2021; 9:702793. [PMID: 34733813 PMCID: PMC8559597 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.702793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Beneficial physical and physiological health outcomes of yoga practice are well-supported by empirical data. However, whether weekly frequency of training is sufficient to evoke positive changes, is still an open question. The present intervention study investigated the effects of 10 weekly sessions of beginner level hatha yoga with respect to indicators of physical fitness and physiological markers. 82 young women (mean age of 22.0 ± 3.83 years) participated in the study. The yoga group (N = 49) attended a yoga course consisting of 10 sessions (1.5 h each) on a weekly basis. The control group (N = 33) did not receive any intervention. BMI, body fat percentage, balance (one-leg-stand test with open and closed eyes, functional reach test), flexibility (side bend test, modified sit and reach test) core muscle strength (plank test) as well as resting heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV) were assessed 1 week before and after the course. Both frequentist and Bayesian analysis showed an improvement in flexibility and balance in the yoga group compared to the control group. The yoga group showed also increased core muscle strength. No changes with respect to BMI, body fat percentage, resting HR and HRV were found. Ninety minute beginner level hatha yoga classes were characterized by 93.39 HR and 195 kcal energy consumption on average. The present findings suggest that weekly setting of a 10-session long hatha yoga training leads to improvements in balance, flexibility and core muscle strength among healthy young women. However, for changes in BMI, body fat percentage, resting HR and HRV longer, and/or more intense interventions are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Csala
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Renáta Szemerszky
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - János Körmendi
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Köteles
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Boros
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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Csala B, Springinsfeld CM, Köteles F. The Relationship Between Yoga and Spirituality: A Systematic Review of Empirical Research. Front Psychol 2021; 12:695939. [PMID: 34408712 PMCID: PMC8365182 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.695939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Both yoga practice and spirituality are associated with beneficial mental health outcomes. Within yoga research, however, spirituality is still a widely neglected area. The present systematic review aims to explore empirical studies, which do, in fact, investigate the relationship between yoga and spirituality in order to provide an overview and future directions for research on this topic. The review examines whether available empirical research supports an association between yoga practice and spirituality and, if so, which specific aspects of spirituality are associated with yoga practice. METHODS The systematic review followed the PRISMA guideline (Prospero registration number: CRD42020155043). Empirical studies written in English, German, or Hungarian language were selected from a database search in Google Scholar, PsycINFO, and Science Direct. A total of 30 studies met the final inclusion criteria. RESULTS According to the quantitative and qualitative studies reviewed, yoga practice seems to be positively associated with spirituality. This association concerns various aspects of spirituality, such as spiritual aspirations, a search for insight/wisdom, an integrative worldview, a sense of meaning and peace, faith, hope, compassion, and happiness within. To harness the potential spiritual benefits of yoga, regular practice appears to be essential. Yoga practitioners seem to have both physical and spiritual motives for practicing. At least in Western societies, however, physical intentions are more prevalent than spiritual ones. The meaning of spirituality for yoga practitioners is also discussed. Due to risk of bias of the majority of the reviewed studies, however, outcomes must be taken with caution. CONCLUSION Yoga practice may be positively associated with several aspects of spirituality. For more evidence, further investigation of the topic is suggested. Particularly, we propose the inclusion of holistic forms of yoga practice and a comparison of Eastern and Western approaches to yoga.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Csala
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Ferenc Köteles
- Institute of Health Promotion and Sport Sciences, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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