Stress

This study explored the effects of a 10-step protocol of iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation on perceptions of stress in workers. The research hypothesized that the completion of a 4-week iRest protocol would decrease perceived stress in working participants, and that the use of a take home CD or mp3 would offer added benefits. A total of sixty participants (N= 60) included adults over the age of 18 years who were currently employed at least 20 hours per week. Of the sixty participants, thirty (N = 30) were in the experimental group, and thirty (N = 30) were in the control group.

Abstract - Older adults, a rapidly growing population in the United States, have fewer physiological reserves and are more likely to be affected by stress, making them especially susceptible to depression symptoms. Meditation offers promising potential as an effective treatment; however, few studies have evaluated meditation interventions for this demographic.

Although the efficacy of meditation-based interventions has been widely studied, research with homeless groups is minimal. Homeless people suffer from increased levels of stress, emotional distress, and negative life events that can present a complicated web of inseparable stressors. Without question, food, shelter, and case management services are the first line of intervention and stabilization. However, mind-body practices such as meditation may have the potential to reduce the negative impacts on stress and quality of life that may accompany housing instability.

Stress is a common occurrence in many chronically ill patients, and researchers are calling for cost-effective stress reduction interventions. Meditation techniques have demonstrated a host of benefits for chronically ill patients. The present study examined the effects of a 6-week Yoga Nidra meditation program on perceived stress in multiple sclerosis and cancer patients.