Improvements in Physical Tension, Mental Tension, Anxiety, and Mental Sharpness/Focus Were Reported after Participating in 20-Minute HORA® Trance Fit and HORA® Trance Sport Training
- 1 Practice HORA USA, Wilmette, IL, USA
- 2 Practice HORA USA, Wilmette, IL, USA
Abstract
The effects of vigorous exercise on human cognitive function, including memory function, as people age, have been the subject of many studies and investigations. Other studies have tried to identify what human capabilities afford “getting into a zone” and staying there, on the assumption that “in the zone” is linked to the idea of being “in the flow”. Such research has been carried out mostly on students in university labs and/or through employee surveys. In an attempt to reduce employees’ burnout, a few other studies have pointed to root causes, such as overloading of the most capable, together with collaboration overload, which has an impact on long-term retention. However, these studies are limited by several factors, such as: 1) Testing cognitive functions after exercise in the lab setting rather than in a naturalistic environment; 2) Focusing on a single human function such as cognition; 3) Attributing human burnout to an organization’s work culture. To our knowledge, there are no studies comparable to the study we report here, which was done under the <i>real-life</i> conditions of work, school, home or office (i.e., a non-lab environment), and with pre- and post-measures reported from within these naturalistic environments. The present study asked how a specific exercise method, HORA Trance Fit/HORA Trance Sport (HTF/HTS) developed by Alexandr V. Atayan in 2011 , impacts four dimensions of human health (physical tension, mental tension, anxiety level and sharpness of focus). We compared participant reports of these dimensions of health before and after exercise completed in real work and/or study environments. Participants completed these surveys before and after each 20-minute session of HTF/HTS, over the course of several weeks. The results revealed that participants reported statistically significant and positive change in those four dimensions (physical tension, mental tension, anxiety level, and sharpness of focus) immediately following their participation in HTF/HTS during their active workload days.
- American Psychological Association (2022). What’s the Difference between Stress and Anxiety? https://www.apa.org https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/anxiety-difference
- American Psychological Association (2023). Stress Effects on the Body. https://www.apa.org https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
- Atayan, A. (1991). Practice HORA in the USA. https://practicehora.us/
- Atayan, A. (2011). HORA Trance Fit/HORA Trance Sport. https://horatrancefit.us/
- Basso, J. C., Shang, A., Elman, M., Karmouta, R., & Suzuki, W. (2015). Acute Exercise Improves Prefrontal Cortex but not Hippocampal Function in Healthy Adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 21, 791-801. https://doi.org/10.1017/S135561771500106X
- Bazargan-Hejazi, S., Zamani-Alavijeh, F., Hindman, D., Mohamadi, E., & Bazargan, M. (2013). How Do Motorcyclists Manage Mental Tensions of Risky Riding? BMC Public Health, 13, Article No. 865. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-865
- Brassey, J., Van Dam, N., & Coates, K. (2019). Seven Essential Elements of a Lifelong-Learning Mind-Set. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/seven-essential-elements-of-a-lifelong-learning-mind-set
- Carmichael, A., Dillon, R., Ferraris, E., & King, J. (2023). Supporting Resilience and Preventing Burnout in Nonprofits. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/social-sector/our-insights/supporting-resilience-and-preventing-burnout-in-nonprofits
- Garton, E. (2021). Employee Burnout Is a Problem with the Company, Not the Person. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2017/04/employee-burnout-is-a-problem-with-the-company-not-the-person
- Lifevif Team & Franco, J. C. (2024). History of Tai Chi (Origins): From the East to the West. Lifevif. https://www.activif.com/a-complete-history-of-tai-chi-from-the-east-to-the-west/
- Montgomery, S. A. (1978). Montgomery and ?sberg (MADRS) Depression Rating Scale. Fulcrum Press. https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline/montgomery-asberg-scale.pdf
- Thiele, A., & Bellgrove, M. A. (2018). Neuromodulation of Attention. Neuron, 97, 769-785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2018.01.008
- Vivar, C., Peterson, B. F., Pinto, A., Janke, E., & Van Praag, H. (2023). Running Throughout Middle-Age Keeps Old Adult-Born Neurons Wired. ENeuro, 10, ENEURO.0084-23.2023. https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0084-23.2023