Experience of MediYoga for people suffering from Common Mental Disorders with perceived stress - a qualitative study in primary healthcare.

Madeleine Bellfjord, Elvira Lange, Lena Nordeman
Purpose:

To explore experiences eight weeks after partaking in MediYoga group sessions among patients with Common Mental Disorders.

Methods:

Research design: A qualitative interview study. 

Study population: Recruitment was planned for 15 participants suffering from Common Mental Disorders with perceived stress-related symptoms who has taken part in MediYoga group treatment in primary care rehabilitation centres. This is an ongoing study and until now three informants have been interviewed. In May 2025, the study is expected to be completed.

Procedure: Participants were recruited 8 weeks after taken part in a MediYoga group sessions in primary healthcare rehabilitation in Region Västra Götaland. The interviews were conducted by a physiotherapist with experience of MediYoga, at a rehabilitation centre or digitally, based on preference. Qualitative content analysis according to Graneheim and Lundman will be used for reading, categorising and coding the interviews. 



Results:

Preliminary results show that the informants described an increased focus on being able to be present both in the body and in the mind. They also mentioned that MediYoga has a simple structure, making the exercises easy to learn. Overall, all participants use MediYoga breathing in everyday situations such as when they experience stress at work or when there are situations with a lot of people such as traveling by municipal bus. They handle the situation by doing their breathing exercise and thus create a calm in body and mind. At the congress in May 2025, results from all interviews of the participants´ experiences will be presented. 

Conclusion(s):

MediYoga was described as simple and accessible, enabling sustained practice with application in everyday life.

Implications:

By highlighting and clarifying the participants´ experiences after practising MediYoga, it is of great importance that these experiences are taken into account and may be included as an important part in the continued implementation of MediYoga as a method in primary health care rehabilitation. 

Funding acknowledgements:
The Local Research and Development Council Gothenburg and Södra Bohuslän
Keywords:
Qualitative research
MediYoga
Common mental disorders
Primary topic:
Mental health
Second topic:
Primary health care
Third topic:
Education: methods of teaching and learning
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Swedish Ethical Review Authority.
Provide the ethics approval number:
Dnr 2022-03942-01
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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