University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations School of Social Policy and Practice Spring 5-19-2015 A CHAIR BASED YOGA WORKSHOP FOR SELF-CARE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Aileen J. McCabe-Maucher University of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2 Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation McCabe-Maucher, Aileen J., "A CHAIR BASED YOGA WORKSHOP FOR SELF-CARE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS" (2015). Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations. 69. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2/69 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2/69 For more information, please contact [email protected]. A CHAIR BASED YOGA WORKSHOP FOR SELF-CARE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS Abstract ABSTRACT This dissertation is a continuing education unit (CEU) course that teaches social workers and other mental health professionals how to cultivate resiliency and enhance self-care through the ancient practice of yoga. The course explores emerging research that reveals how yoga and other mindfulness-based practices can positively impact neurochemistry and brain biology. Most of the yoga positions and breathing exercises are practiced from a chair and can be adapted to any level of flexibility and fitness level. Designed to make yoga accessible for everyone, the techniques are gentle and available to individuals with various physical abilities, including participants who may be in a wheelchair. The program is experiential in nature but also includes power point slides and traditional classroom style instruction. The literature review clearly demonstrates that mindfulness is an established theoretical orientation rather than a simple technique. Additionally, the dissertation compares and contrasts social work values and ethics with ancient yoga philosophy to establish the compatibility of the two disciplines. Furthermore, the course compares and contrasts the eights limbs of yoga with the seven core values of The Sanctuary Model, an established and evidence based organizational paradigm that is used to promote resiliency and prevent burnout among social service and mental health/ healthcare professionals in agencies worldwide. In conclusion, implications for social work practice and areas of potential research are identified and discussed. Once mastered, the chair based yoga skills that are taught may be used by social workers in clinical practice to help clients reduce anxiety and enhance self-care. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Social Work (DSW) First Advisor Carolyn Walter, Ph.D. Second Advisor Andrew Newberg, MD Third Advisor Leela Mata, RYT-500 Keywords self-care, self care, yoga, social work ethics, mindfulness, meditation, stress management, burnout, compassion fatigue, chair yoga, hatha yoga, NASW Code of Ethics Subject Categories Social and Behavioral Sciences | Social Work This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations_sp2/69 A CHAIR BASED YOGA WORKSHOP FOR SELF-CARE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS By Aileen McCabe-Maucher, RN, LCSW A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Social Work School of Policy and Social Practice University of Pennsylvania July 2015 1 A CHAIR BASED YOGA WORKSHOP FOR SELF-CARE AND STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR SOCIAL WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS © 2015 Aileen McCabe-Maucher, RN, LCSW 2 Dedication “To be deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” -Lao Tzu I dedicate this dissertation to my father and hero, John V. McCabe, who died after a protracted battle with five brain tumors caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his service in the Vietnam War. I am eternally grateful for the way you taught me to live and love without restriction and bitterness, despite the fact that your own life was severely limited. Thank you for always encouraging me to pursue my dreams and for being a true example of perseverance, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Carpe diem! ii Acknowledgements “Even after all this time, the sun never says to earth, “You owe me.” Look what happens with a love like that. It lights up the whole sky.” -Hafiz I am deeply grateful for the wisdom, patience and dedication of many people. Dr. Carolyn Walter, thank you for supporting and nurturing me throughout this entire process. I am forever grateful for your wisdom and guidance. Dr. Andrew Newberg, I am honored and thankful for your support and your groundbreaking work. Leela Mata, you are a Divine soul and I am deeply touched by your grace and knowledge. Dolly McCabe, my paternal grandmother and first yoga teacher, thank you for introducing me to this practice in 1977 and always allowing me to do the postures in my own way. I extend deep gratitude to all of my yoga teachers over the past 38 years, especially, Dolly McCabe, Leela Mata, Darshanie Radha, Dawn Mehan, Lori Valentino, Alison Smith Driscoll, Lakshmi Voelker, and Prajna Ginty. Thank you, Rebecca Warren, for your beautiful editing work. My husband Michael and my daughter Vivian, mere words cannot express my love and gratitude for you both. Lastly to my mother, Colleen McCabe, I love you to the moon and back; you are my rock and my inspiration. iii ABSTRACT This dissertation is a continuing education unit (CEU) course that teaches social workers and other mental health professionals how to cultivate resiliency and enhance self-care through the ancient practice of yoga. The course explores emerging research that reveals how yoga and other mindfulness-based practices can positively impact neurochemistry and brain biology. Most of the yoga positions and breathing exercises are practiced from a chair and can be adapted to any level of flexibility and fitness level. Designed to make yoga accessible for everyone, the techniques are gentle and available to individuals with various physical abilities, including participants who may be in a wheelchair. The program is experiential in nature but also includes power point slides and traditional classroom style instruction. The literature review clearly demonstrates that mindfulness is an established theoretical orientation rather than a simple technique. Additionally, the dissertation compares and contrasts social work values and ethics with ancient yoga philosophy to establish the compatibility of the two disciplines. Furthermore, the course compares and contrasts the eights limbs of yoga with the seven core values of The Sanctuary Model, an established and evidence based organizational paradigm that is used to promote resiliency and prevent burnout among social service and mental health/ healthcare professionals in agencies worldwide. In conclusion, implications for social work practice and areas of potential research are identified and discussed. Once mastered, the chair based yoga skills that are taught may be used by social workers in clinical practice to help clients reduce anxiety and enhance self-care. iv Table of Contents Dedication………………………………………………………………………….ii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………..iii Abstract……………………………………………………………………………iv Table of Contents………………………………………………………………….v Introduction………………………………………………………………………..1 Chapter 1: Mindfulness and Clinical Social Work Practice………………….....3 Chapter 2: Yoga and The Sanctuary Model: Burnout in Social Work………..20 Chapter 3: Comparing and Contrasting Yoga Philosophy and Social Work Philosophy……………………………………………………………………….....35 Chapter 4: Yoga and the Brain…………………………………………………..79 Chapter 5: Discussion……………………………………………………………...92 Chapter 6: Chair Yoga Guidebook………………………………………………101 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….117 References…………………………………………………………………………123 v Introduction For my dissertation, I have created a continuing education unit (CEU) course that teaches social workers how to cultivate resiliency and enhance self-care through the ancient practice of yoga. T his engaging program will explore emerging research that demonstrates that yoga and other mindfulness-based practices can positively impact neurochemistry and brain biology. Most yoga positions and breathing exercises will be practiced from a chair and can be adapted to any level of flexibility and fitness level. The class is gentle and the exercises are designed to make yoga accessible and comfortable for everyone, including participants who may be in a wheelchair. This CEU program will be experiential in nature but will also include power point slides and traditional classroom style instruction. In the literature review, I will compare and contrast social work values and ethics with ancient yoga philosophy. Additionally, the literature review will compare and contrast the eights limbs of yoga with the seven core values of The Sanctuary Model, an established and evidence based organizational paradigm that is used to promote resiliency and prevent burnout among social service and mental health/ healthcare professionals in agencies worldwide. This workshop will also include relevant research about yoga related to stress reduction and trauma, race-based traumatic stress, and an extensive meta-analysis of yoga based mental health research. Once mastered,