Yoko Kamada
Toyo University Graduate School of Information Sciences and Arts, Japan
Title: Preliminary yoga therapy experiments testing the impact of self-awareness on interoception
Biography
Biography: Yoko Kamada
Abstract
The world’s yoga population is increasing. Many meta-analyzed papers on the effects of yoga and of mindfulness-based yoga have been published. According to Kanbara and Fukunagas, (2016) hypothesis, the foundation of physical self-awareness is receiving interoception, which mainly involves the anterior insular cortex (part of the cerebral cortex) and the cingulate gyrus (part of the limbic system) and is implicated in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system. In biofeedback therapy, this is where homeostasis is based. We hypothesize that the same applies to yoga therapy. We plan to prepare a program that allows becoming very aware of intraception and to prove its effectiveness. This experiment, as a preliminary step, verifies whether the program in itself is effective. Subjects concentrate their awareness regarding their interoceptive feelings of now, here, this moment. Their objectivity is enhanced doing isometric yoga exercises, a trademark of Japan Yoga Therapy Society, which alternately tenses and relaxes muscles. Matching ones breathing with movements enables us to understand the changes during and after exercise. The 30-minute program includes ‘body scan’ meditation and breathing exercises. The experiment was conducted on 14 yoga therapy students aged 38 to 74, whose consent was obtained. An abbreviated version of POMS 2 was used and a physical symptom record table before and after practical sessions was completed. No adverse effects were caused by the subjects. POMS 2 indicated a significant reduction of negative feelings and improved physical symptoms, therefore a significant difference was observed. It was recognized that this program encourages self-awareness and the objective of interoceptive sensations is that they influence emotions. In the future, to verify the impact of objectivity and self-awareness, experiments will be conducted with a control group which will not be encouraged to become self-aware and objective.