MindfullySTRONG: Attention, Awareness and Flow

Innovation Showcase
Donna L Woodhouse,  Dave Hembrough,  Peter Olusoga  

MindfullySTRONG is an integrated mindfulness and strength training programme designed for people who wish to become both physically and mentally fitter. Each session begins with a mindful movement warm up, followed by a strength circuit scaled to suit ability, before ending with cool down and meditation. The programme includes peer support, with participants encouraged to help each other throughout their journey. Colleagues from coaching, psychology and sociology are involved in the evaluation of this pilot programme which can be adapted to suit specific client groups. In week one, mass, blood pressure, resting heart rate, body composition and predicted VO2Max are recorded. Participants also complete questionnaires to assess flourishing, level of mindfulness, perceived stress and quality of life. Participants keep a journal (written, audio or audio visual) to record their reflections on the programme In week 12, the measures are retaken to assess impact. Another assessment after 3 months measures whether improvements are being sustained. A number of participants are also interviewed post programme to add more qualitative depth to the evaluation of the programme.