Abstract
<p>Six self-report measures were administered before and after three months of a mindful Hatha yoga practice for Veterans receiving care in the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System (MVAHCS). These measures assessed trauma-related mental health symptoms, experiential avoidance, quality of life, mindfulness skills, self compassion, and spiritual well-being. Veterans participating in a weekly, sixty minute, adjunctive yoga class experienced significant reductions in common trauma symptoms as measured by the PTSD Checklist, Civilian version (PCL-C; t[19]=3.99, p<.001, d=.78) and two subscales (Avoidance; t[19]=4.01, p=.001, d=.74; and Hyperarousal; t[19]=3.95, p=.001, d=.91). In addition, significant improvements in quality of life as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life, Brief scale (WHOQOL-BREF; t[18]=3.17, p<.005, d=.46) and Social Relationships subscale (t[19]=3.07, p=.007, d=.48) were observed. Finally, mindfulness skills, measured by the full scale Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Long Form (FFMQ-LF; t[19]=2.96, p<.008, d=.41), and spiritual well-being, measured by the full scale Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy, Spirituality scale (FACIT-Sp; t[19]=3.08, p<.01, d=.57) and Peace subscale (t[19]=4.10, p=.001, d=.73) yielded significant results. Yoga may be an acceptable, effective, and safe complementary intervention for Veterans receiving other clinical care. Additional investigation is required in order to empirically assess the value of a complementary yoga practice for Veterans receiving care in a hospital setting.</p>