What’s This Research About?
Approximately 2.8 million Americans experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year. Although the brain injury can vary in severity, many people experience long-lasting changes in their mental and physical health as a result.
After experiencing a life-altering traumatic brain injury, professional snowboarder Kevin Pearce co-founded LoveYourBrain Yoga to support people with TBIs. The program involves a 6-session, yoga intervention delivered to groups of people with TBI and their caregivers through community-based yoga studios. It also includes psychoeducation which helps participants better understand and cope with their injury.
The LoveYourBrain 18-h program is free and led by a PhD-level yoga teacher who is also a Certified Brain Injury Specialist. In addition to the psychoeducation, participants are led through a series of gentle movements that have been modified to address various TBI symptoms, such as balance issues, headaches and difficulty with proprioception (awareness of the body in space). In addition, the participants are taught breathing exercises and meditation techniques.
In this study, researchers examined the LoveYourBrain Yoga program and how it impacted the lives of TBI survivors and their caregivers.
TITLE: A qualitative study of LoveYourBrain Yoga: a group-based yoga with psychoeducation intervention to facilitate community integration for people with traumatic brain injury and their caregivers
PUBLICATION: Disability and Rehabilitation
DATE: 2020
AUTHORS: Kyla Z. Donnelly, Shari Goldberg & Debra Fournier
Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A disruption in the normal function of the brain that is caused by an injury to the head.
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