“I am not pain, I have pain”: A pilot study examining iRest yoga nidra as a mind-body intervention for persistent pain
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Meg Barber a , Subhadra Evans b, Rosie Marks b, Jo Sheedy a, Richard Miller c,
Stephanie Lopez c, Melissa O’Shea b,*
a Pain Management Unit, Barwon Health, Victoria, Australia
b School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia
c iRest Institute, Australia
A B S T R A C T
Purpose: This pilot study was the first of its kind to examine the experiences of people with persistent pain engaging in a six-week iRest for Pain group program as part of multidisciplinary pain care.
Method: The present study used a qualitative, phenomenological design and reflexive thematic analysis to gain an understanding of the firsthand experience of patients who participated in the iRest for Pain group program. This program was offered in a specialist outpatient pain management service within a regional public hospital in
Victoria, Australia.
Results: Participants reported they experienced iRest Yoga Nidra as personal and therapeutic, that the practice facilitated deep relaxation and restoration; for some participants trauma reprocessing and integration; improved pain self-management and self-efficacy, as well as dis-identification from persisting pain as personal identity.
Additionally, some participants reported motivation and confidence to use iRest instead of medication, to reduce dependence on opioid medications.
Conclusion: The iRest for Pain group program presents a personally therapeutic and innovative mind-body intervention, which could be offered at various phases from primary to tertiary specialised pain care.
Keywords:
iRest and pain
Yoga nidra and pain
Meditation and pain
Complementary and integrative pain
management
Psychological management of pain
Trauma and pain
Pilot trial
Lived experience