Using a West-African Informed Mind-Body Movement practice to promote flourishing in minoritized students: A feasibility study.

This feasibility study called STREAM (Students who are Resilient, Empowered, Self-Aware, and Moving) used a randomized controlled design to explore the feasibility of Embodiology®, a mind-body movement practice, as a tool to manage stress, promote flourishing and resilience in racial/ethnic minoritized health science students. Guided by both the Human Flourishing Model and Healing Centered Engagement Approach, the STREAM Study was created to evaluate the impact of employing a West African informed flourishing intervention using an online learning system for racial/ethnic minoritized students. An eight-week virtual program grounded in Embodiology®, a mind-body movement practice derived from West African expressive knowledge practices, was tested. Forty-nine students were enrolled and assigned to the intervention, which received synchronous and recorded Embodiology® sessions, or control group which received usual care such as campus stress management resources. Measures included feasibility, acceptability and relevance, as well as perceived stress, emotional style, collective resilience, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Results showed Embodiology® was viewed as relevant and meaningful, with participants reporting increases in self-awareness, breathing capability, body connection and self-confidence. Retention was higher in the control group (78%, n = 21) than the intervention group (55.5%, n = 12), pointing to challenges with engagement in an online format. Preliminary results suggested reductions in perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, as well as improvements in emotional style and resilience among Embodiology® participants. Embodiology® may offer a feasible, culturally grounded approach to support the well-being of racial/ethnical minoritized health science students however further refinement is needed to ensure intervention engagement and retention.