Yoga Nidra as an Adjunctive Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Feasibility Study.

Engel, C.
Goertz, C.
Cockfield, D.
Armstrong, D.
Jonas, W.
Walter, J.
Fritts, M.
Greene, R.
Carnes, R.
Gore, K.
Miller, R.
Published date

Background

Yoga Nidra is an ancient form of meditative inquiry used to reduce physical, emotional and mental suffering. The approach fosters deep relaxation, and is hypothesized to arouse the parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation response) through body sensing, deep breathing and other techniques.

Purpose

To conduct a pilot/feasibility study of yoga as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a cohort of military personnel at the Walter Reed Army Medical center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC.

Hypothesis

Will a manualized Yoga Nidra intervention reduce symptoms associated with PTSD?