THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Volume 00, Number 00, 2017, pp. 1–2

ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
DOI: 10.1089/acm.2017.0046

SHORT REPORT

Using Yoga Nidra to Improve Stress

in Psychiatric Nurses in a Pilot Study
Roberta Anderson, MSN, RN-BC, Kristine Mammen, RNBC, MSN, BA,
Padmini Paul, PMH-CNS-BC, PMH-CRNP-BC, Allisyn Pletch, RN, PMHCNS-BC,
and Kathleen Pulia, MSN, RN-BC

Abstract
Given today’s hurried and stressful heathcare system, nurses need mechanisms to take care of themselves,
promote their own wellness, and build resilience in managing sick patients. Yoga is one such mechanism; it can
decrease anxiety and improve sleep and quality of life. In this pilot study, nine nurses participated in 6 weekly
sessions of yoga nidra. Measures of sleep, stress, and muscle fatigue were obtained to determine whether yoga
had a positive impact upon quality of life and stress. Although based on a small sample of nurses, results
indicated positive findings for both perceived stress level and muscle fatigue. This pilot study demonstrated the
potential benefit of yoga in stress reduction, muscle tension, and self-care in nurses.

Keywords: yoga, stress, nursing

Introduction Materials and Methods

1

T oday’s healthcare system is hurried and stressful.

Programs aimed at promoting both well-being and re-
siliency demonstrate greater awareness of actions and atti-
Nine registered nurses between the ages of 24 and 49
years and working on an inpatient psychiatric unit at a major
urban hospital volunteered to participate in the study. The
tudes, especially in nurses.2 In a review by Edwards and majority of nurses worked rotating 8- or 12-h shifts. Years
Burnard, relaxation, behavioral training for problem solving, of nursing experience ranged from 2 to 18 years. All of the
workshops on the principles of stress management, and nurses were Caucasian female, with the exception of one
therapeutic skills training were identified as effective coping African American female. After IRB approval, participants
strategies for stress.3 completed a presession questionnaire generated for the
Yoga is another method that promotes well-being and has study by the authors that assessed their existing stress level
been studied in hospital-based workers.4 Yoga can decrease utilizing a Likert scale, with 0 equating to no stress and 10
anxiety and improve sleep and quality of life.5,6 Yoga can be equating to the highest level of stress possible. The ques-
practiced in any quiet setting at any time. Its essential tionnaire also queried participants about areas of muscular
components include breathing, meditation, and relaxation. tension on their body, utilizing a Likert, sleep patterns, and
Meditation reduces physiologic arousal, synchronizes brain their previous experience with yoga. Participants attended
waves, reduces stress, improves immune responses, offers six professionally led yoga nidra sessions lasting 1.5 h each.
peace of mind, and improves interpersonal relationships, Yoga nidra is a meditation and relaxation technique de-
mood, and sleep. To this effect, meditation helps nurses with signed to introduce physical, emotional, and mental relax-
stress and builds resiliency when it comes to the suffering of ation. The sessions occurred within the workplace during
others.7–9 The authors hypothesized that a short-term course their regular shift. They were asked to complete a presession
of yoga would lead to improvements in stress levels, and, questionnaire asking about current stress levels, areas of
therefore, improve resilience and well-being for nurses who tension, and if they had practiced yoga outside of the ses-
practiced it. The aim of this pilot study was to examine sion. They also completed a postsession questionnaire, as-
yoga’s impact upon those elements. sessing perceived stress level and muscular tension. At the

Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, Baltimore, MD.

1
2 ANDERSON ET AL.

completion of all six sessions, the participants were asked to session. Participants appreciated a reduction in muscle ten-
complete a poststudy questionnaire 4 weeks after the study’s sion as well. Although at face value yoga appears to be a
conclusion, asking about the change in their overall stress viable option for self-care, this pilot study is recommended
level, muscular tension, and sleep patterns. to be expanded to include not only a larger sample size but
other healthcare staff within an acute care setting as well. It
Results is hoped that the evidence obtained from larger studies will
support the use of yoga nidra for nurses and encourage
There were notable differences between the pre- and
hospital systems to routinely offer yoga among available
postsession muscle tension scores for all sessions with the
mechanisms of self-care.
exception of weeks 3 and 6. The average muscle tension
score for all sessions was higher than the average post-
Author Disclosure Statement
muscle tension score (pre-2.13, post-1.17), which is con-
sistent with this hypothesis. Although only sessions 4 and 5 No competing financial interests exist.
showed a positive change within the session with regard
to perceived stress levels, the average pre- and postsession References
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sources, including physical, mental, and emotional chal-
lenges of caring for sick patients; maneuvering in ever- Address correspondence to:
changing hospital systems and operations; and having more Roberta Anderson, MSN, RN-BC
demands placed on them to do more with limited resources. Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System
When given the opportunity to practice yoga as a mecha- 300 North Wolfe Street
nism to build resilience and for self-care, psychiatric nurses Baltimore, MD 21287-2182
valued this practice. Most participants reported some im-
provement in their perception of stress after their yoga E-mail: [email protected]