Utilization of Breathwork Meditation in Improving Wellness in Trainees of Speech-Language Pathology: A Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose: Stress is common in speech-language pathology. While sources of stress cannot be eliminated overnight, lifestyle changes such as learning tools to be resilient can be implemented. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of an evidence-based breathwork meditation program (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga Breath Meditation [SKY]) on the well-being of trainees in speech-language pathology. Method: Twenty-two trainees in speech-language pathology participated in a 9-hr SKY program online. Data collection occurred pre- and post-SKY and included eight wellness-related measures. We used a linear mixed-effect model to analyze longitudinal changes in pre- and post-intervention for different outcome measures in the data set. Results: Results demonstrated significant population-level linear time trends on several outcomes that pointed to considerable improvements over the longitudinal follow-up period, even after multiplicity adjustments. Stress levels, depressive symptoms, anxiety, negative emotion, and loneliness showed a significant reduction, while scores on meaning and overall wellness resulted in significant improvement after SKY, even after multiplicity adjustments. Conclusions: SKY effectively enhanced different aspects of health and well-being among speech-language pathology trainees significantly. Optimizing health and wellness in trainees in health-related programs will likely reduce their current level of stress and equip them with self-care tools as future professionals.