Yogic Breathing Exercise and Meditation for People With Spinal Cord Disorders

The goal of the study is to understand how well yogic breathing exercise and meditation improves breathing, fatigue, emotional well-being and quality of life in people with spinal cord disorders. Aim 1. Evaluate the efficacy of an 8-week, virtual, coach-guided yogic breathing and meditation (YBM) program on QoL and mental health in people with spinal cord disorders. This study will include completing several questionnaires 3 times, 8 weeks of participating in 2 sessions per week of yogic breathing exercise and meditation via Zoom and being interviewed once at the completion of the 8-week program.

Inclusion Criteria: * spinal cord disorders * community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 18 years * able to follow simple, three-step verbal instructions (e.g., close your eyes, open your mouth, close your mouth) * access to the internet and an electronic device with videoconferencing capability * able to set up virtual sessions with/without caregiver assistance * sufficient English language proficiency to provide consent for study participation and complete self-report questionnaires Exclusion Criteria: * suicidal intent requiring emergency care * bedridden with continuous use of noninvasive ventilation * participating in weekly pulmonary PT, psychological therapy, or a clinical trial that could affect proposed study outcomes.