StressLess Yoga Study

StressLess Yoga Study: A Scientific Exploration of Yoga for Stress Reduction

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of using an asynchronous online yoga program to reduce stress. The study will use an 8 week asynchronous yoga intervention of two different types of yoga (high in breath work and meditation; low in vigorous movement/postures vs. low breath work and meditation; high movement/postures). In addition to self-report stress, measures include sleep, heart rate variability, mindfulness, Essential Properties of Yoga, and acceptability questions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Yoga with High Breath work & meditation; Low movement/postures; Behavioral: Yoga with Low Breath work & meditation; High movement/postures

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • Storrs, Connecticut, United States, 06269
      • Bousfield Psychology Building, 406 Babbidge Road

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18 years or older
• Self-identification as "stressed"
• Scoring 8 or higher on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) indicating moderate-to-high stress
• Willingness to complete the 8-week yoga intervention
• Willingness to attend baseline and follow-up visits
• Ability to read and write in English
• Having practiced yoga ≤ 2x in the last 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Serious or unstable psychiatric illness (e.g., psychosis, mania)
• Major coexisting medical illness (e.g., cancer, COPD, obesity)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Yoga with High Breath work & meditation; Low movement/postures	Behavioral: Yoga with High Breath work & meditation; Low movement/postures; Participants will engage in an 8 week asynchronous yoga class focused on the internal and cognitive experience within the practice using breathing and meditation focused techniques.
Experimental: Yoga with Low Breath work & meditation; High movement/postures	Behavioral: Yoga with Low Breath work & meditation; High movement/postures; Participants will engage in an 8 week asynchronous yoga class with a emphasis on the physicality and movements of the practice.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The number (percentage)of people completing the whole protocol (6/8 yoga classes & 2 in-person visits)	The number (percentage)of people completing the whole protocol (6/8 yoga classes & 2 in-person visits)	8 weeks
The combined score (out of 35) on the 5-item Treatment Acceptability Questionnaire (TAQ)	The combined score (out of 35) on the 5-item Treatment Acceptability Questionnaire (TAQ). The measure is scored on a 1-7 Likert scale. Higher scores indicate highly acceptable, ethical, knowledgeable, and trustworthy study treatment.	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Connecticut

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 3, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 5, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): May 5, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 25, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): February 15, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: H23-0617

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No