BRITISH WHEEL OF YOGA QUALIFICATIONS (BWYQ)
ABOUT THE RESEARCH STUDY:
With gratitude to the National Lottery Community Fund, BWYQ was able to pilot a new programme which will help us to develop a new qualification in Yoga for Mental Health Conditions. The 12-week courses for people with Yoga for Generalised Anxiety Disorrder took place at five different sites in Yorkshire as part of a pilot research study from 3 January to 23 March 2024. Sixty-three participants – identified as meeting the eligibility requirements after completion of a screening form — attended the sessions free of charge.
Research questionnaires were conducted at the first and last sessions and interviews with participants and teachers have taken place. BWYQ’s research team are currently analsying the data. The aim is to assess the acceptability of this yoga intervention and the study methods that were used in this uncontrolled study and to explore the feasibility of running a randomised controlled trial at some point in the future. To learn more about Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), see NHS Overview of GAD
GRATITUDE:
BWYQ would like to thank the participants for their enthusiasm during class and at home using the Home Practice Sheets that were created for the programme – see sample practice sheet and video with beginner yoga student. We would like thank all 5 YOGAD teachers for delivering the pilot study classes: Jane Cluley, Michelle Griffiths, Susie Dennis, Sonia Perry and Susan McHale. We are especially grateful to YOGAD teacher Michelle Griffiths from Mind Body and Spirit Barnsley for sharing this sequence for the programme, to BWYQ coordinator Jenny Howsam for the drawings and to BWYQ chair for putting it all together in Photoshop and Camtasia.
