YOGA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON HEALTH – Project topics materials

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Yoga: An Overview

According to Eastern philosophy, health may be viewed as “a state of complete equilibrium of body, mind and spirit” characterised by “forgetfulness of physical and mental consciousness” (Iyengar, 1979, p. 41). Yoga is an ancient system of mind-body practices originating in India aimed at enhancing health and well-being through the integration of the mind, body and spirit (Pelletier, 1997). The origin of the term “yoga” has been linked to the Sanskrit root “yujir” meaning “to unite or connect” (Joshi, 1965, p. 53), or, alternatively, is derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj” meaning “to bind, join, attach and yoke, to direct and concentrate one’s attention on, to use and apply” (Iyengar, 2001, p. 1). Stone seals discovered in the Indus Valley, depicting figures in yoga postures, suggest that yoga was practised around 3000 BC (Flood, 1996). The history of yoga is commonly divided into four periods: the Vedic, PreClassical, Classical and Post-Classical Periods (Sparrowe, 2003).

Health Benefits of Yoga

To date, yoga has been shown to be an effective practice for treating a wide range of conditions, such as anxiety (Netz & Lidor, 2003; Shannahoff-Khalsa, 2004; Woolery, Myers, Sternlieb, & Zeltzer, 2004), depression (Netz & Lidor, 2003; Shannahoff-Khalsa, 2004; Woolery et al., 2004), obsessive compulsive disorder (Shannahoff-Khalsa & Beckett, 1996), substance use disorders (Telles & Naveen, 1997), and insomnia (Cohen, Warneke, Fauladi, Rodriguez, & Chaoul-Reich, 2004; Khalsa, 2003; Shaffer, 1997). Yoga has also been shown to be effective in treating asthma (Singh, Wisniewski, Britton, & Tattersfield, 1990), and migraines (Latha & Kaliappan, 1992); reducing heart disease (Raub, 2002), hypertension (Murugesan, Govindarsjulu, & Bera, 2000; Selvamurthy et al., 1998), stress (Malathi & Damodaran, 1999) and seizure frequency (Panjwani, Gupta, Singh, Selvamurthy, & Rai, 1995); while improving cardiovascular health (Raub, 2002) and general well-being (Carlson, Speca, Patel, & Goodey, 2004; Malathi & Damodaran, 1999). Stage 2 clinical trials investigating the influence of yoga on attention in aging in individuals with multiple sclerosis have been completed and results are awaited (National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [NCCAM], 2008).

Pain Medication Preference Scale (See Appendix 2)

This self-report scale was adapted from a scale originally created by Simkin (1989) to assess a pregnant woman’s preferences regarding the use of pain medication during labour. The original scale includes eleven items that are rated on a Likert scale which ranges from +10 “You want to feel nothing, you desire anaesthesia before labour begins” to -10 “You want no medication whatsoever, even for caesarean delivery”. Located beside each scale number are their corresponding meanings. The top five are positive numbers which decrease in order (e.g., +10, +9, +7, +5, +3) and represent a gradual decline in the desire to use pain medication. A neutral point on the scale, represented by the number zero, indicates “No preference”. Scale numbers below zero (e.g., -3, -5, -7, -9, -10) indicate the increasing desire to avoid pain medication.

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Canada Fitness Survey Questionnaire – Modified Version (See Appendix 3)

The Canadian Fitness Survey Questionnaire (CFSQ; Canada Fitness Survey, 1983) was adapted from the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ) (Taylor et al., 1978) by The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI), as part of a nationally representative study to determine physical recreation habits, physical fitness, and health status of Canadians between the ages of 7 and 97 years (Canada Fitness Survey, 1983). In its assessment of physical activity, the original CFSQ assessed the frequency, intensity and duration (i.e., months when activity was done, number of occasions in last 12 months, average number of minutes per occasion) across thirty named activities which may occur during leisure time, in the home, at work, or at school (Canada Fitness Survey, 1983).

TABLE OF CONTENTS :

LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF APPENDICES
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 :CHILDBIRTH AND BIRTH OUTCOMES
- Childbirth Definitions and Prevalence
- “Natural” or “Normal” Childbirth
- Caesarean Sections
- Operative Vaginal Birth
- Episiotomy
- Induction
- Epidural Analgesia
- Measuring Birth Outcomes
- Maternal Mortality
- Neonatal and Perinatal Mortality
- Maternal Morbidity
- Neonatal Morbidity
CHAPTER 2 : FACTORS INFLUENCING BIRTH OUTCOMES
- Factors Associated with Negative Outcomes
- Smoking, Alcohol and Recreational Drug Use
- Maternal Stress and Anxiety
- Factors Associated with Positive Birth Outcomes
- Social Support
- Antenatal Care
- Nutrition and Gestational Weight Gain
CHAPTER 3 : YOGA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON HEALTH
- Yoga: An Overview
- Hatha Yoga
- Health Benefits of Yoga
- Yoga and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Stress and Yoga
- Pregnancy, Pain and Pain Management
- Maternal Self-Efficacy
- Social Support and Maternal Health
- Purpose
CHAPTER 4 : METHOD
- Participants
- Measures
- Demographic Assessment Form
- Pain Medication Preference Scale
- Canada Fitness Survey Questionnaire – Modified Version
- Complementary Therapies Measure – Revised
- Profile of Mood States
- Social Network Index
- Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale
- Labour and Delivery Questionnaire – Modified
- Procedures
CHAPTER 5 : RESULTS
CHAPTER 6 : DISCUSSION