Final Presentation Assignment, PSY492 Undergrad...

1. The Effect of the Practice of Nia Dance On Sustained Periods of Psychophysiological Coherence; HRV:
A Literature Review
A proposal in light of relevant research
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2. Introduction:
• The commonalities held between achieving a high state psychophysiological coherence and the healing arts included in
foundation of Nia dance center around the concept of awareness. Psychophsyiological coherence can be assessed through the
measure of heart rate variability, and is defined as a global state of optimal function (McCraty, 2008).
• This optimal well-being is shares a correlation with the ability of an individual to emotionally self-regulate, and replace
negative emotions, (which, are physiologically caused by ineffective and imbalanced metabolic function) with positive
emotions (being characteristic of optimal metabolic rate and ratio.
• Nia includes healing arts such as Feldenkrais and Alexander Techniques, Yoga, T’ai Chi, and more.
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3. Yoga:
• Yoga emphasizes the stretching of the musculature and the maintaining of balance while assuming a variety of postures, or
asanas, that condition a combination of flexibility, strength and focused attention. Yoga has demonstrated through research to
result in a longer period of psychophysiological coherence than meditation and supine rest alone (Sarang & Telles, 2006).
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• The reason that the practice of Yoga supports psychophysiological coherence is unknown. It is that practices such as yoga, T’ai
Chi, and the Alexander and Feldenkrais techniques that regulate and place breath may be involved.

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Alexander and Feldenkrais:
• The Feldenkrais theory suggests that an individual has access to each of the seventy-two trillion cells composing the human
body, and that alleviation of pain, a more effective lifestyle, and greater sense of well-being can be crafted through
sensorimotor self-exploration (Buchanan & Ulrich, 2001).
• This sensorimotor self-exploration manipulates behavioral patterns by method of providing experiential insight into the
development of a correct body map, or cognitive schema of personally effective and pleasurable movement (Peterson,
2008).
• One of the purposes of Nia is to invite self-exploration through movement and sensation.
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5. T’ai Chi:
• T’ai Chi is heavily focused on breathing, stretching and balancing. It also requires a certain amount of cognitive control
control as it encompasses a particular method of meditation and the use of empty space for physical support.
• Studies of elderly adults in Hong Kong have correlated a longer expected lifespan with the practice of T’ai Chi. It has been
hypothesized that this is due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the maintaining of balance and special
awareness throughout the aging process, the social aspect of T’ai Chi classes in groups, and the strengthening and
conditioning of musculature (Kwai-Sang, 2002).
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6. Rationale & Discussion:
• The largest obstacle in analyzing themes in existing literature is simply the fact that the HeartMath Technique and the
associated equipment are in a relatively infantile stage of development. Although biofeedback practices have been used in the
mainstream since the 1980’s, a more complex theoretical orientation of the principles, foundations, and results of biofeedback
exercises have been explored in more recent years.
• Theory now suggests that the physiological component of biofeedback therapy is far more than a relaxation technique that
relieves tension, but also results in the regulation of neurotransmitter activity, which, can be brought to an optimum level that
sustained over time through the regular practice of biofeedback exercises that create a strengthened system neural pathways
that promote optimum psychophysiological function.
• Examining the proclivity for the maintenance of a sustained period of psychophysiological coherence before and after a period
of Nia dance execution provides a holistic approach for studying several different systems regarding a variety of types of
corporeal awareness, in effect, contributing to answering the question of whether or not physical movement correlates with
physiological effectiveness.
Hypothesis:
• If a subject is exposed to ten minutes of practice of the HeartMath Technique for achieving physiological coherence before
participating in a sixty minute Nia Dance session, and then spends another ten minutes repeating the initial HeartMath
Technique exercise via use of the HeartMath EmWavePC, the period of time spent in HeartMath Technique following the Nia
Dance session will yield a higher percentage of time spent in the psychophysiological coherence state. More simply stated, the
practicing of the centering exercises in Nia will yield a greater proclivity toward maintaining a state of psychophysiological
coherence.

7. References
Buchanan, P., & Ulrich, B. (2001, December). The Feldenkrais Method: a dynamic approach to
changing motor behavior. / La Methode Feldenkrais: une approche dynamique pour
changer le comportement moteur. Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport, 72(4),
315-323. Retrieved September 11, 2009, from SPORTDiscus with Full Text database
Kohatsu, N.D. (2008, April 9). Preventative medicine physician interviews. Retrieved from
http://www.amsa.org/preventive/kohatsu.cfm
Kwai-Sang Yau, M., & Packer, T. (2002, April). Health and well-being through T'ai Chi:
perceptions of older adults in Hong Kong. Leisure Studies, 21(2), 163-178. Retrieved
September 11, 2009, doi:10.1080/026143602110138850
McCraty, R. (2008, Spring2008). From Depletion to Renewal: Positive Emotions and Heart
Rhythm Coherence Feedback. Biofeedback, 36(1), 30-34. Retrieved September 11,
2009, from Academic Search Complete database.
Peterson, P. (2008, May). Alexander Or Feldenkrais: Which Method Is Best?. Choral Journal,
48(11), 67-72. Retrieved September 11, 2009, from Academic Search Complete
database
Sarang, P., & Telles, S. (2006, November). Effects of two yoga based relaxation techniques
on heart rate variability (HRV). International Journal of Stress Management, 13(4),
460-475. Retrieved September 11, 2009, doi:10.1037/1072-5245.13.4.46