iRest Yoga Nidra Research

This page shows published, upcoming and planned research projects. Please check back here on a regular basis as we will post published research articles and posters regarding iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation as they become available to the public. It takes time for each completed research project to be collated and written up, and accepted for publication, so if you don't see a particular study that you know has been completed, we're waiting its publication. 

Melinda McCormick, Yvonne Unrau, Antwinae McNeil, Stephanie Lopez

Abstract - College students with a lived history of foster care are often described in research in terms of the impacts of their life experiences related to foster care. At the same time, however, they have developed strengths that have helped them to gain entry to college. Taking a more holistic...

Helané Wahbeh, ND, MCR, Melissa Nelson, CATC

Abstract - Older adults, a rapidly growing population in the United States, have fewer physiological reserves and are more likely to be affected by stress, making them especially susceptible to depression symptoms. Meditation offers promising potential as an effective treatment; however, few studies...

Livingston, Eva, RN, BSN, Collette-Merrill, Katreena, PhD, RN

This article examines the effectiveness of Integrative Restoration (iRest) Yoga Nidra meditation on mindfulness, sleep, and pain in health care workers. As health care workers provide emotional support to patients, it is not uncommon for workers to experience both physical and mental exhaustion. One...

Barbuto, Isabel

This study explored the effects of a 10-step protocol of iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation on perceptions of stress in workers. The research hypothesized that the completion of a 4-week iRest protocol would decrease perceived stress in working participants, and that the use of a take home CD or mp3 would...

Sharon A. Gutman, Kristin A. Gregory, Megan M. Sadlier-Brown, Marcy A. Schlissel, Allison M. Schubert, Lee Ann Westover, Richard C. Miller

Although sleep intervention is within the domain of occupational therapy, few studies exist supporting practice.

Inman, A., Vriend, C., Young-McCaughan, S., Rose, M. E., Miller, R.

Currently being written up for publication.

Thomas H. Nassif, PhD, Deborah O. Norris, PhD, Karen L. Soltes, LCSW, Friedhelm Sandbrink, MD, Marc R. Blackman, MD, Julie C. Chapman, PsyD

Pain conditions are the most frequently reported health concern in Veterans who served in Afghanistan (OEF) or Iraq (OIF) (1,2) and are highly comorbid with traumatic brain injury (TBI) (3). However, availability of specialized pain care is limited and few treatment options have been found to be effective for long-term management of chronic pain (4). This pilot study examined the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation (MM) for managing chronic pain in OEF/OIF Veterans who sustained a TBI during deployment.

Pamela G. Pence, Lori S. Katz, Cristi Huffman, Geta Cojucar, MA

This pilot study examines iRest, a form of guided mindfulness meditation, and its ability to reduce symptoms associated with sexual trauma, including military sexual trauma (MST), in a sample of women seeking psychotherapy services at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center.

Hartman, Courtney

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the experiences of women who had complex histories of trauma, with an 8-week Integrative Restoration (iRest) intervention. The secondary objective of this study was to evaluate relationships between lifelong trauma exposure and perceived therapeutic gain using a phenomenological approach.

Heather Eastman-Mueller, PhD, CSE, CHES, Terry Wilson, M.Ed, RN, CHES, Ae-Kyung Jung, MA, Andrea Kimura, M.Ed, Jeff Tarrant, PhD, BCN

Objectives: There is evidence that yoga practice is associated with dec reased stre ss, worry, and depre ss i on, and with improved mindfulness-based skills. These findings had not been previously replicated for a sample of college students. This study evaluated whether iRest yoga-nidra practice was associated with reduced perceived stress, worry, and depression, and increased mind fulness in a sample of college students.

Thomas H. Nassif, PhD, Deborah O. Norris, PhD, Karen L. Soltes, LCSW, Marc R. Blackman, MD, Julie C. Chapman, PsyD, Friedhelm Sandbrink, MD.

This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation (MM) for managing chronic pain in U.S. military veterans who have sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during deployment to Afghanistan (OEF) or Iraq (OIF). Musculoskeletal pain conditions are the most frequently diagnosed health condition in this military cohort, exceeding any other medical or psychological concern (1, 2).

Jennifer R. Shearin, Kim Anderson, PhD, MSW, LCSW, Terry Wilson, M.Ed., R.N., C.H.E.S

METHOD © This research single-subject design tested the feasibility of iRest – Integrative Restoration Yoga Nidra an evidence based form of meditation—as an intervention for trauma recovery for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and/or stalking.

Bhogaonker, Priya

Although the efficacy of meditation-based interventions has been widely studied, research with homeless groups is minimal. Homeless people suffer from increased levels of stress, emotional distress, and negative life events that can present a complicated web of inseparable stressors.

Amy R. Borchardt, M.S., Stephen M. Patterson, Ph.D., Elizabeth K. Seng, M.S.

There are inherently different types of meditation used to manage stress. Focused attention meditation (FAM) techniques involve sustaining attention on a specific object. Open monitoring techniques (OMM) involve moment-to-moment, nonreactive, monitoring of the present experience. 

Leslie Temme, PhD

This research investigated the effect of meditation on warning signs of relapse among adults in residential treatment for chemical dependency. Results were that meditation increased participants' mindfulness, decreased negative mood, and reduced warning signs of relapse. The effect of the intervention on risk of relapse was mediated by mindfulness, the effect of which was, in turn, partially mediated by decrease in negative mood states.

Bingham, M.

As a result of the increased demand for acute care for Service Members who have sustained injuries in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, the level of perceived stress and other associated variables among military healthcare providers is even more pronounced.

Stankovic, L., MA, RYT.

This eight-week study examined the feasibility of offering weekly classes in Integrative Restoration (iRest), a form of mindfulness meditation, to military combat veterans at a community mental health agency in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants were 16 male combat veterans (15 Vietnam War and 1 Iraq War) of mixed ethnicity, aged 41 to 66 years, suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Ovitt, L.

Acquired brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem in industrialized countries that has reached epidemic proportions. There are numerous physical, neurological and psychiatric consequences of TBI that interfere with a person’s day-to-day functioning.

Birdsall, B., Pritchard, M., Elison-Bowers, P., Spann, J.

Research suggests that many counselors experience stress in the workplace. In fact, Sears and Navin (1983) reported that 14.8% of school counselors viewed counseling as “very stressful,” 50.4% rated it “moderately stressful,” and 30.1% found it “mildly stressful.” In addition, Arvay and Uhlemann (1996) reported that 16% of counselors working with trauma patients felt that they were highly psychologically fatigued. Just over a quarter (26%) reported that they were dissatisfied with their level of productivity at work, and 14% claimed to experience extreme stress levels similar to patients who have post-traumatic stress disorder.

Pritchard, M., Elison-Bowers, P, Birdsall, B.

Stress is a common occurrence in many chronically ill patients, and researchers are calling for cost-effective stress reduction interventions. Meditation techniques have demonstrated a host of benefits for chronically ill patients. The present study examined the effects of a 6-week Yoga Nidra meditation program on perceived stress in multiple sclerosis and cancer patients.

Gray, K., Lundstrom, J., Lundstrom, J, Blackman, K.

Integrative Restoration (iRest) is derived from the ancient meditation practice of yoga nidra. iRest is a guided practice that focuses on breathing techniques, body sensing, emotional relaxation, and guided consciousness meditation. Pilot studies testing the e!ect of iRest on participants with PTSD, chronic pain, asthma, emphysema, and homeless populations have shown promising results.

Vieten, C., Miller, R

Although the efficacy of meditation-based interventions has been widely studied, research with homeless groups is minimal. Homeless people suffer from increased levels of stress, emotional distress, and negative life events that can present a complicated web of inseparable stressors. Without question, food, shelter, and case management services are the first line of intervention and stabilization. However, mind-body practices such as meditation may have the potential to reduce the negative impacts on stress and quality of life that may accompany housing instability.

Malphurs, J., Birkholm, M., Miller, R.

Study has not yet been written up.

Wilson, T., Eastman-Mueller, H.

The University of Missouri Student Health Center conducted a pilot study investigating the impact of Integrative Restoration – iRest with college students during the fall semester 2007.

Engel, C., Goertz, C., Cockfield, D., Armstrong, D., Jonas, W., Walter, J., Fritts, M., Greene, R., Carnes, R., Gore, K., Miller, R.

Yoga Nidra is an ancient form of meditative inquiry used to reduce physical, emotional and mental suffering. The approach fosters deep relaxation, and is hypothesized to arouse the parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation response) through body sensing, deep breathing and other techniques.