Stress Management through the Philosophy of Yoga
Lehtoranta, Sirkku (2019)
Lehtoranta, Sirkku
2019
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2019051610126
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2019051610126
Tiivistelmä
The purpose of this Bachelor’s thesis was to produce a four-week yoga philosophy-based course and examine whether it reduced the level of perceived stress in a trial group. The objectives were to understand negative effects of stress on a societal and individual level, study yoga philosophy and deepen professional knowledge of the author regarding these topics. In addition, the original aim of the commissioning party, the learning environment of the Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK), was to enhance their offering of stress management related services through the written information and the produced material. However, since the functioning of the learning environment was to be terminated in spring 2019, the main benefit remained in the professional growth of the author.
In the theoretical part of the thesis, the prevalence of stress was discovered and an understanding of the harmfulness of stress on a societal level was established. Correspondingly, the disadvantages of stress on an individual level were researched. These led to the importance of stress management and from numerous techniques, yoga was chosen for this paper. Consequently, the philosophy of yoga was studied, with a focus on the teachings of Patanjali, and based on his techniques and a personal reasoning of the author, the course was compiled.
The thesis was functional, and it had features from product development process and action research. The product development was used when compiling the course, and it involved a development area which was the stress management, and the problem identifying and finding the possible solution which occurred through the research to form the theoretical framework. Lastly, the product was tested with a trial group. Additionally, action research, a method where the aim is to implement a change towards better, was applied and a linear model of the method was executed, thus the cycle of research and action occurred just once. Five staff members of KAMK participated to a four-week trial which was mainly implemented online. When researching the functionality of the course, questionnaires including open and closed questions were presented for the initial mapping and at the end.
The results indicated that this kind of course does not significantly reduce the level of perceived stress. The possible reasons for this, according to the results were: the course was too short, life events affected stress levels, a lack of engagement towards the online materials and introspection, or lack of commitment towards the practice of the suggested yoga postures. Nevertheless, the trial appeared to have other positive effects on the participants, depending on their engagement and personal background, and the course was perceived to be useful.
Had there been more time to work within this context, the author would have reintroduced the topics, this time however, during contact sessions to allow time for introspection and conversation. Nevertheless, when seeking change, the results can be unexpected due to how the problem and suggested solutions are perceived. In conclusion, even without the achievement of reducing the level or perceived stress, the process can be considered successful due to the triggered positive effects, and professional development of the author in a societally important field.
In the theoretical part of the thesis, the prevalence of stress was discovered and an understanding of the harmfulness of stress on a societal level was established. Correspondingly, the disadvantages of stress on an individual level were researched. These led to the importance of stress management and from numerous techniques, yoga was chosen for this paper. Consequently, the philosophy of yoga was studied, with a focus on the teachings of Patanjali, and based on his techniques and a personal reasoning of the author, the course was compiled.
The thesis was functional, and it had features from product development process and action research. The product development was used when compiling the course, and it involved a development area which was the stress management, and the problem identifying and finding the possible solution which occurred through the research to form the theoretical framework. Lastly, the product was tested with a trial group. Additionally, action research, a method where the aim is to implement a change towards better, was applied and a linear model of the method was executed, thus the cycle of research and action occurred just once. Five staff members of KAMK participated to a four-week trial which was mainly implemented online. When researching the functionality of the course, questionnaires including open and closed questions were presented for the initial mapping and at the end.
The results indicated that this kind of course does not significantly reduce the level of perceived stress. The possible reasons for this, according to the results were: the course was too short, life events affected stress levels, a lack of engagement towards the online materials and introspection, or lack of commitment towards the practice of the suggested yoga postures. Nevertheless, the trial appeared to have other positive effects on the participants, depending on their engagement and personal background, and the course was perceived to be useful.
Had there been more time to work within this context, the author would have reintroduced the topics, this time however, during contact sessions to allow time for introspection and conversation. Nevertheless, when seeking change, the results can be unexpected due to how the problem and suggested solutions are perceived. In conclusion, even without the achievement of reducing the level or perceived stress, the process can be considered successful due to the triggered positive effects, and professional development of the author in a societally important field.