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LISTEN, BREATHE, MOVE - A PILOT WORKSHOP FOR INFORMAL/FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Informal caregivers (ICG) have been noted to experience decreased physical and psychological well-being due to the complex demands of their care duties. The purpose of the study is to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of a novel intervention, which involves combined evidence-based yoga and music therapy techniques for guided breathing and relaxation of ICG of adult care receivers. METHODS: Participants engaged in a one-time virtual integrated yoga and music therapy intervention conducted in Summer 2023. The intervention began with music-assisted guided breathing for 5 minutes, which was led by an undergraduate music therapy student. The intervention then transitioned into the yoga portion, which was led by a kinesiology student. The yoga portion consisted of guided flexibility exercises, with modifications as needed, for 20 minutes. To end the workshop, the music therapy student completed music-assisted relaxation with verbal meditation for 10 minutes and both students educated participants on how to use yoga and music therapy at home. Participants completed pre-post test session measures including demographics and the Feeling Scale. RESULTS: Participants (N = 14) were 59.2 ± 10.5 years, 71.4% White, and 100% Female. Prior to engaging in the integrated yoga and music therapy session, participants’ Feeling Scale score was 2.6±1.2; after the session the score increased to 4.2±1.1 (p < 0.00). CONCLUSION: Findings from the novel intervention suggest that a single bout of an integrated yoga and music therapy session may increase ICGs’ overall positive feelings. Despite the novelty of the intervention, there are areas for future research. The small sample size of this pilot study makes it difficult to draw broad conclusions about the effectiveness of the intervention, thus future interventions should attempt to increase sample size for generalizability. This study also focuses on a single-session workshop, which may not capture the long-term effects of the intervention. Therefore, future research should utilize a long-term intervention with multiple sessions for ICGs, which may improve ICG’s overall well-being. If successful, this intervention has the potential to improve ICGs’ quality of life and well-being and potentially their care recipients’ quality of life as well.

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