Becoming connected: the lived experience of yoga participation after stroke

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate the personal experiences and perceived outcomes of a yoga programme for stroke survivors.

Method. This article reports on a preliminary study using qualitative methods to investigate the personal experiences and perceived outcomes of a yoga programme. Nine individuals who had experienced stroke were interviewed following a 10-week yoga programme involving movement, breathing and meditation practices. An interpretative phenomenological approach was used to determine meanings attached to yoga participation as well as perceptions of outcomes.

Results. Interpretative themes evolving from the data were organised around a bio-psychosocial model of health benefits from yoga. Emergent themes from the analysis included: greater sensation; feeling calmer and becoming connected. These themes respectively revealed perceived physical improvements in terms of strength, range of movement or walking ability, an improved sense of calmness and the possibility for reconnecting and accepting a different body.

Conclusion. The study has generated original findings that suggest that from the perspective of people who have had a stroke yoga participation can provide a number of meaningful physical, psychological and social benefits and support the rationale for incorporating yoga and meditation-based practices into rehabilitation programmes.

Keywords:

• Bodily experiences
• yoga
• meditation
• stroke

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank our research participants for their invaluable contributions to the study. They also acknowledge the contribution of Anita Clara and Lena Lapinska as the yoga instructors for this study. Finally the authors would like to thank the International Yoga Fellowship Movement for providing permission for use of yoga practices and input into the development of the yoga programme.

Declaration of interests:

The authors declare no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article. The authors disclose receipt of the following financial support for the research of this article: A research grant from the National Stroke Foundation, Australia.