Methodology
To certify a broad scan of literature available on the emerging topic of yoga as a practice method to support humanitarian relief efforts from mass trauma, the University of Calgary Library electronic search engine was accessed. To warrant an ‘integrative’ review – I ensured an exploration of three themes: a) yoga as an intervention for post-traumatic stress for mass population; b) international agency interventions for post-traumatic stress; and c) globalization of yoga. There was no specific database used because the literature reached across disciplines, supporting diverse perspectives. The databases accessed were – ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Elsevier Saunders, Routledge, Academic One File, Sage, Pergamon, and PubMed. Articles selected were published between the years 1999 and 2012 – articles were excluded if published prior to 1999 or if they could not be accessed online through the library’s electronic system.
a) Yoga as an intervention for post-traumatic stress for mass populations
Finding initial articles was challenging. Throughout the search, terms were diversified except for the key word - yoga. The initial search for “yoga” brought up thousands of summons therefore, to locate specific articles I entered “yoga therapy”. Once again this term was too broad in nature and was refined to “humanitarian aid yoga, post-traumatic stress yoga, disaster relief yoga, post-conflict populations yoga, and traumatized population’s yoga”. The diversity key words yielded a number of suitable articles however the scope of literature was small. The selection process for articles started with a review of the abstract and keywords (if available) for terms such as yoga, mind-body practice, trauma, post-traumatic stress, natural disaster, humanitarian relief, or war. Over time I started searching for works referenced within the readings I found relevant. This proved useful and I saturated literature on this topic when articles started referencing one another - a final article reviewed the 10 articles related to this topic that I found – 8 were research articles based in empirical evidence, 1 article was a review of articles, and 1 was an interview with a trauma specialist discussing yoga and post-traumatic stress disorder.
b) International agency interventions for post-traumatic stress
To ensure review of literature speaking to the top down approach of dealing with post-traumatic stress, I searched key words – “pathologizing post-traumatic stress/mental health, humanitarian aid post-traumatic stress/mental health, and disaster relief post-traumatic stress/mental health". Initially there was a challenge finding articles directly relating to post-traumatic stress. Upon reviewing ‘Health Topic’ within the WHO (http://www.who.int/topics/en/), I realized that post-traumatic stress is not a topic largely discussed within the agency. Mental health appeared to be the relevant term discussed at length at http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/. Upon navigation of this website, there was no mention of post-traumatic stress. Thereafter, I used the key term “mental health” in future searches. Articles were selected based upon authors referencing one another and key terms such as disaster, mass trauma and mental linked together within article titles. All 6 relevant articles were grouped together based on their emphasis on critiques and considerations of mental health in international disaster situations.
c) Globalization of yoga
In order to locate yoga, a Hindu practice originating from India, it was necessary to review literature exploring the transnational nature and globalization of this practice. In addition it was important to access a broad definition, identifying if it is in fact appropriate for the practice to cross borders. I used key words – “social change yoga, globalization yoga, contemporary yoga, and world yoga”. 5 relevant concept and historical articles were included based on key words – locating yoga, world of yoga, modern yoga, production of yoga. There are few authors writing in peer reviewed academic journals about this topic, leading to a small scope of literature.
Overall 21 articles were reviewed from electronically sourced academic journals. Additionally, relevant material was accessed on different agency websites such as the UN and the WHO.
To certify a broad scan of literature available on the emerging topic of yoga as a practice method to support humanitarian relief efforts from mass trauma, the University of Calgary Library electronic search engine was accessed. To warrant an ‘integrative’ review – I ensured an exploration of three themes: a) yoga as an intervention for post-traumatic stress for mass population; b) international agency interventions for post-traumatic stress; and c) globalization of yoga. There was no specific database used because the literature reached across disciplines, supporting diverse perspectives. The databases accessed were – ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, Elsevier Saunders, Routledge, Academic One File, Sage, Pergamon, and PubMed. Articles selected were published between the years 1999 and 2012 – articles were excluded if published prior to 1999 or if they could not be accessed online through the library’s electronic system.
a) Yoga as an intervention for post-traumatic stress for mass populations
Finding initial articles was challenging. Throughout the search, terms were diversified except for the key word - yoga. The initial search for “yoga” brought up thousands of summons therefore, to locate specific articles I entered “yoga therapy”. Once again this term was too broad in nature and was refined to “humanitarian aid yoga, post-traumatic stress yoga, disaster relief yoga, post-conflict populations yoga, and traumatized population’s yoga”. The diversity key words yielded a number of suitable articles however the scope of literature was small. The selection process for articles started with a review of the abstract and keywords (if available) for terms such as yoga, mind-body practice, trauma, post-traumatic stress, natural disaster, humanitarian relief, or war. Over time I started searching for works referenced within the readings I found relevant. This proved useful and I saturated literature on this topic when articles started referencing one another - a final article reviewed the 10 articles related to this topic that I found – 8 were research articles based in empirical evidence, 1 article was a review of articles, and 1 was an interview with a trauma specialist discussing yoga and post-traumatic stress disorder.
b) International agency interventions for post-traumatic stress
To ensure review of literature speaking to the top down approach of dealing with post-traumatic stress, I searched key words – “pathologizing post-traumatic stress/mental health, humanitarian aid post-traumatic stress/mental health, and disaster relief post-traumatic stress/mental health". Initially there was a challenge finding articles directly relating to post-traumatic stress. Upon reviewing ‘Health Topic’ within the WHO (http://www.who.int/topics/en/), I realized that post-traumatic stress is not a topic largely discussed within the agency. Mental health appeared to be the relevant term discussed at length at http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/. Upon navigation of this website, there was no mention of post-traumatic stress. Thereafter, I used the key term “mental health” in future searches. Articles were selected based upon authors referencing one another and key terms such as disaster, mass trauma and mental linked together within article titles. All 6 relevant articles were grouped together based on their emphasis on critiques and considerations of mental health in international disaster situations.
c) Globalization of yoga
In order to locate yoga, a Hindu practice originating from India, it was necessary to review literature exploring the transnational nature and globalization of this practice. In addition it was important to access a broad definition, identifying if it is in fact appropriate for the practice to cross borders. I used key words – “social change yoga, globalization yoga, contemporary yoga, and world yoga”. 5 relevant concept and historical articles were included based on key words – locating yoga, world of yoga, modern yoga, production of yoga. There are few authors writing in peer reviewed academic journals about this topic, leading to a small scope of literature.
Overall 21 articles were reviewed from electronically sourced academic journals. Additionally, relevant material was accessed on different agency websites such as the UN and the WHO.