Research: KHALSA and COLLEAGUES,

Listed in Issue 175

Abstract

KHALSA and COLLEAGUES,  Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. khalsa@hms.harvard.edu  conducted a controlled study to evaluate the benefits of yoga and meditation for musicians.

Background

Yoga and meditation can alleviate stress, anxiety, mood disturbance, and musculoskeletal problems, and can enhance cognitive and physical performance. Professional musicians experience high levels of stress, performance anxiety, and debilitating performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs).

Methodology

Young adult professional musicians who volunteered to participate in a 2-month program of yoga and meditation were randomized to a yoga lifestyle intervention group (n = 15) or to a group practising yoga and meditation only (n = 15). Additional musicians were recruited to a no-practice control group (n = 15). Both yoga groups attended three Kripalu Yoga or meditation classes each week. The yoga lifestyle group also experienced weekly group practice and discussion sessions as part of their more immersive treatment. All participants completed baseline and end-program self-report questionnaires that evaluated music performance anxiety, mood, PRMDs, perceived stress, and sleep quality; many participants later completed a 1-year followup assessment using the same questionnaires.

Results

Both yoga groups showed a trend towards less music performance anxiety and significantly less general anxiety/tension, depression, and anger at end-program relative to controls, but showed no changes in PRMDs, stress, or sleep. Similar results in the two yoga groups, despite psychosocial differences in their interventions, suggest that the yoga and meditation techniques themselves may have mediated the improvements.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that yoga and meditation techniques can reduce performance anxiety and mood disturbance in young professional musicians.

References

Khalsa SB, Shorter SM, Cope S, Wyshak G and Sklar E. Yoga ameliorates performance anxiety and mood disturbance in young professional musicians. Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback. 34(4): 279-89. Dec 2009.

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