Design and validation of Integrated Yoga Therapy module for Antarctic expeditioners

• Published in: Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
• Main Authors: Ragavendrasamy Balakrishnan, Ramesh Mavathur Nanjundaiah, Mohit Nirwan, Manjunath Krishnamurthy Sharma, Lilly Ganju, Mantu Saha, Shashi Bala Singh, Nagendra Hongasandra Ramarao
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020
• Subjects: Yoga module; Antarctica; Stress; IAYT; Miscellaneous systems and treatments; RZ409.7-999; Antarctic; Indian; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2017.11.005; https://doaj.org/article/7476e92ff1fb4379b437c940870c9a55

Background: Extreme environments are inherently stressful and are characterized by a variety of physical and psychosocial stressors, including, but not limited to, isolation, confinement, social tensions, minimal possibility of medical evacuation, boredom, monotony, and danger. Previous research studies recommend adaptation to the environment to maintain optimal function and remain healthy. Different interventions have been tried in the past for effective management of stress. Yoga practices have been shown to be beneficial for coping with stress and enhance quality of life, sleep and immune status. Objective: The current article describes preparation of a Yoga module for better management of stressors in extreme environmental condition of Antarctica. Materials and methods: A Yoga module was designed based on the traditional and contemporary yoga literature as well as published studies. The Yoga module was sent for validation to forty experts of which thirty responded. Results: Experts (n = 30) gave their opinion on the usefulness of the yoga module. In total 29 out of 30 practices were retained. The average content validity ratio and intra class correlation of the entire module was 0.89 & 0.78 respectively. Conclusion: A specific yoga module for coping and facilitating adaptation in Antarctica was designed and validated. This module was used in the 35th Indian Scientific expedition to Antarctica, and experiments are underway to understand the efficacy and utility of Yoga on psychological stress, sleep, serum biomarkers and gene expression. Further outcomes shall provide the efficacy and utility of this module in Antarctic environments.