Publication:

Evaluation of a community based yoga training programme in Ernakulam

Background Mental health concern is escalating globally and current therapeutic approach is insufficient to bring people towards the state of mental well-being. There is a compelling need for effective population mental health promotion approaches. Yoga is a universally acclaimed method for promoting mental and physical well-being, but very much underutilised. The objective of the present study is to evaluate a community-based yoga training program which was conducted in the field practice area of a medical college in Ernakulam.

Methods A sequential mixed method-quantitative and qualitative-study was done among the participants who attended the yoga training. The perceived benefits of yoga and adherence to yoga were assessed using an investigator administered semi-structured questionnaire. Subsequently a focus group discussion was conducted among the study participants.

Results 20 subjects who attended the training participated in the study. Mean age was 48 years (SD±14.663) and 85% were females. Mean duration of yoga practice was 6 months. Among the participants, 95% continued yoga practice at home after the training. The main benefits reported were: a feeling of increased energy (75%), relaxed/happy feeling (55%), relief from body pain (40%) and stress reduction (35%).  The subjects reported that the increased energy they felt from yoga increased their work productivity and eased tiredness and stress.

Conclusions The study shows that yoga offers considerable benefits on mental health, with a large proportion of participants feeling energised and happier. Community based yoga training is a low cost and feasible approach for better mental health.