• Holger Cramer, Romy Lauche, Heidemarie Haller, Jost Langhorst, Gustav Dobos, and Bettina Berger.
• Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. h.cramer@kliniken-essen-mitte.de
• J Altern Complement Med. 2013 Jun 1;19(6):536-42.

ObjectivesThis study investigated the perceived influence of yoga on body perception and psychosocial aspects of life for patients with chronic neck pain.DesignThis qualitative study was conducted using semistandardized interviews.SettingThe interventions and interviews took place in a referral center's research department.SubjectsEighteen (18) patients with chronic nonspecific neck pain were recruited from a larger randomized controlled trial of yoga for chronic neck pain.InterventionsParticipants attended 90 minutes of Iyengar yoga once a week for 9 weeks.Outcome MeasuresParticipants completed a drawing of their neck and shoulder regions to reflect their subjective body perceptions before and after their yoga program. Semistandardized interviews were used to explore their body perception, emotional status, everyday life and coping skills, as well as any perceived changes in these dimensions postparticipation. An interdisciplinary group analyzed the study data using content analysis techniques.ResultsParticipants reported change on five dimensions of human experience: physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social. Physically, most participants cited renewed body awareness, both during their yoga practice and in their daily lives. Such change was echoed in their postparticipation body drawings. Cognitively, participants reported increased perceived control over their health. Emotionally, they noted greater acceptance of their pain and life burdens. Behaviorally, they described enhanced use of active coping strategies. Finally, socially, they reported renewed participation in an active life.ConclusionsParticipants linked yoga to change on all dimensions of human experience, attributing reduced pain levels, increased coping ability, better pain acceptance and increased control to it. Body awareness appeared a key mechanism in these changes.

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