Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
$24,295.00
Exercise and Mental Health: A New Approach based on an Ancient Philosophy
FY 2015-16
Summary
As Canadians focus increasingly on their health, the health and fitness industry is facing new opportunities and
challenges. Most exercise programs claim similar, generic health benefits, and few, if any, have evidence to
support their claims. Thus, there is an opportunity for exercise providers to evaluate their programs, identify the
specific benefits they offer, and deliver a well-defined message to their target markets. In the current proposal,
industry partner Chrysalis Yoga wants to compare the effects of in-studio yoga classes to running on measures
of physical, mental, cognitive and social support. Based on previous research, we expect: 1) the yoga group
will have similar scores to the running group on measures of mental health and cognitive performance and 2)
the yoga group will score higher on measures of perceived social support. The results from this study may
therefore identify specific benefits that clients can expect by attending in-studio yoga classes (compared to
non-studio based group exercise programs). This project is a collaboration between Chrysalis Yoga, McMaster
University and Humber College. The investigators will compare the effects of a 12 week running program to a
12 week yoga program on symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety, learning and memory, physical fitness
(cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility) and perceived social support. Participants will be randomized to
yoga or running and will complete assessments at study entry, after 12 weeks of exercise program, and after a
three month period during which we will track their exercise routine. The expected findings are that the yoga
program will provide comparable benefits to running on symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. This study
will also provide novel data on the role of perceived social support and the specific benefit of aerobic exercise
compared to strength and flexibility on learning and memory. The results from the proposed project will allow
Chrysalis Yoga to improve the service they offer to their clients, by providing evidence to support the benefits
of regular attendance to in-studio classes. Further, results will provide insight into the scientific benefits of
yoga, and strengthen our knowledge of how exercise can improve mental and physical benefits.
Program
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Location
Ontario, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
476315-2014
Name nom
Brown, Amanda
Department département
Humber North Campus
Organization id
1662
Institution établissement
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2015
Competition year année de concours
2014
Award amount
24295
Program id
CARD1
Program name en
Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1
Program name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée - niveau 1
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1561
Committee name en
Applied Research and Development Grants
Committee name fr
Subventions de recherche et développement appliquée
Area of application code
1100
Area of application group en
Health, education and social services
Area of application group fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Area of application en
Health, education and social services
Area of application fr
Santé publique, éducation et services sociaux
Research subject code
9000
Research subject group en
Medical sciences
Research subject group fr
Sciences médicales
Research subject en
Medical sciences
Research subject fr
Sciences médicales
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Exercise and Mental Health: A New Approach based on an Ancient Philosophy
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
As Canadians focus increasingly on their health, the health and fitness industry is facing new opportunities and
challenges. Most exercise programs claim similar, generic health benefits, and few, if any, have evidence to
support their claims. Thus, there is an opportunity for exercise providers to evaluate their programs, identify the
specific benefits they offer, and deliver a well-defined message to their target markets. In the current proposal,
industry partner Chrysalis Yoga wants to compare the effects of in-studio yoga classes to running on measures
of physical, mental, cognitive and social support. Based on previous research, we expect: 1) the yoga group
will have similar scores to the running group on measures of mental health and cognitive performance and 2)
the yoga group will score higher on measures of perceived social support. The results from this study may
therefore identify specific benefits that clients can expect by attending in-studio yoga classes (compared to
non-studio based group exercise programs). This project is a collaboration between Chrysalis Yoga, McMaster
University and Humber College. The investigators will compare the effects of a 12 week running program to a
12 week yoga program on symptoms of depression, stress and anxiety, learning and memory, physical fitness
(cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility) and perceived social support. Participants will be randomized to
yoga or running and will complete assessments at study entry, after 12 weeks of exercise program, and after a
three month period during which we will track their exercise routine. The expected findings are that the yoga
program will provide comparable benefits to running on symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. This study
will also provide novel data on the role of perceived social support and the specific benefit of aerobic exercise
compared to strength and flexibility on learning and memory. The results from the proposed project will allow
Chrysalis Yoga to improve the service they offer to their clients, by providing evidence to support the benefits
of regular attendance to in-studio classes. Further, results will provide insight into the scientific benefits of
yoga, and strengthen our knowledge of how exercise can improve mental and physical benefits.
