The Effect of Vinyasa Yoga Practice on the Well-Being of Breast-Cancer Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Vinyasa yoga practice improves body fitness and potentially positively affects practitioners’ well-being and health. Due to the diverse intensity of practice and positions customized to the practitioner’s needs, it can also support cancer patients. Undertaking physical activity that has a potentially positive effect on well-being and health was particularly important during the self-isolation that followed the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of three-month mild and moderate intensity vinyasa yoga practice on breast-cancer patients’ stress perception, self-confidence, and sleep quality during COVID-19 induced self-isolation. Methods: Female breast-cancer patients participated in twelve-weeks of online vinyasa practice during the COVID-19 induced self-isolation period. Meetings were held once a week, where 60-min vinyasa yoga sequences were followed by 15 min of relaxation. Patients completed pre- and post-intervention surveys to evaluate changes in the following outcomes: stress perception, self-confidence, and sleep quality. Forty-one female patients enrolled in the Vinyasa course completed the pre-intervention survey, while 13 attended all the meetings and completed the post-intervention survey. Results: The effect of the twelve-week yoga and relaxation practice significantly reduced sleep problems and stress of oncological patients. The participants also declared an improvement in their general well-being and self-acceptance. Conclusion: Dynamic forms of yoga combined with mindfulness techniques can be applied to patients treated for oncological diseases. It contributes to improving their well-being. However, in-depth studies are needed to analyze the complexity of this effect.

Reduce stress and the risk of burnout by using yoga techniques. Pilot study

“…Significantly few people indicated that spiritual motivation is the main reason for exercise ( Figure 4 ). Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic style characterized by the diversity that allows practitioners to choose the intensity of the practice according to their needs and abilities ( 37 , 73 , 74 ). The impact of vinyasa yoga practice on reducing stress and reducing problems with falling asleep has already been shown in a study on a group of oncologists who declared an improvement in well-being after 3 months of practice ( 37 ).…”

“…Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic style characterized by the diversity that allows practitioners to choose the intensity of the practice according to their needs and abilities ( 37 , 73 , 74 ). The impact of vinyasa yoga practice on reducing stress and reducing problems with falling asleep has already been shown in a study on a group of oncologists who declared an improvement in well-being after 3 months of practice ( 37 ). Notably, in clusters 4 and 5 ( Figure 3 ), the respondents to whom the desire to reduce stress through yoga practice was assigned were predominantly those with a short history of the practice allowing us to assume, as confirmed by the results of other researchers, that yoga has a positive effect on stress management role ( 67 , 75 , 76 ).…”

“…Yoga is a unique form of physical activity because of the multifaceted nature of the practice. There is evidence that yoga has mood-enhancing properties, likely related to its inhibitory effects on physiological stress and inflammation, often associated with affective disorders (13,36,37). Yoga practice has already been described as an effective and safe intervention for people with depression, anxiety disorders, or PTSD (38)(39)(40).…”

Mindfulness and Subjective Well-Being of Indian University Students: Role of Resilience during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Previous research has revealed high correlation between various measures of mindfulness and measures of subjective well-being [8]. Numerous researchers [9,10] have recognised that mindfulness-based techniques, such as yoga and meditation, lead to an increase in individuals' well-being. A few studies [11], conducted on a sample comprising college students, have reflected that mindfulness may influence subjective well-being via different mediating variables, namely self-esteem, core self-evaluation, optimism, and emotional intelligence.…”

The therapeutic effects of yoga in people with Parkinson’s disease: a mini-review

“…Currently, yoga training for people with PD includes Hatha yoga [ 14 ], Iyengar yoga [ 15 ], flow yoga [ 16 ], or Ashtanga yoga [ 17 ], of which Hatha yoga is the most widely used, followed by Iyengar yoga. Settings for yoga training include rehabilitation centers, yoga studios, home settings, and community service centers [ 18 ].…”