Luna Yoga: A Wellness Program for Female Counselors and Counselors-in-Training to Foster Self-Awareness and Connection

ABSTRACT

Yoga has gained popularity as a way to relieve stress and maintain well-being. It may also be a helpful resource for counselors to learn effective self-care strategies to sustain personal wellness and professional competence. This pilot study examined the impact of Luna Yoga, a four-week program created specifically for women to enhance creativity, connection, and self-awareness, and facilitate a socially supportive environment unlike traditional yoga sessions. This pilot study employed a delayed treatment control group design to test the impact of the Luna Yoga intervention on reported levels of wellness, resulting in an increase in social wellness among female professional counselors and counselors-in-training.

KEYWORDS:

• Burnout
• creativity in counseling
• social support
• stress
• well-being
• wellness
• yoga

Funding

Note: Partial funding for this research was provided by grants from the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International and the University of Florida’s Center for Spirituality and Health.

Additional information

Funding

Note: Partial funding for this research was provided by grants from the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International and the University of Florida’s Center for Spirituality and Health.

Notes on contributors

Isabel A. Thompson

Isabel A. Thompson is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and is a certified yoga instructor.

Cheryl Pence Wolf

Cheryl Pence Wolf is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Elisa Mott

Elisa Mott is a counselor, yoga instructor, and mind-body wellness educator.

Adrienne S. Baggs

Adrienne S. Baggs is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Argosy University Online and a certified yoga instructor.

Eric S. Thompson

Eric S. Thompson is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Carmelo Callueng

Carmelo Callueng is an Assistant Professor of School Psychology at Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey.

Ana Puig

Ana Puig is a Scholar and Research Director of the College of Education at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.