“Making It Okay”: Professionals in High-stress Environments Construct Their Understanding of the Impact of a Yoga-based Retreat Designed to Build Resilience

Background: While there is growing evidence for resilience building programs, to date research has not explored how professionals construct their understanding of program impact. Methods: : Using a qualitative exploration of reflections on a yoga-based retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, nested in a larger study, the current inquiry aims to explore long-term perceptions of an occupation-oriented program designed to improve resilience. Called RISE (resilience, integration, self-awareness, engagement) , the immersion program was a 5-day professional development for professionals in high-stress jobs. Through a grounded constructivist lens, inductive coding and iterative thematic analysis was employed Results: : Semi-structured interviews of 17 adult professionals who attended RISE, conducted 3 months after completion of the program, illustrated two integrated perceptions woven through five themes. Persistent threads of experiential learning and sense of permission provided structure for themes found. Five interrelated themes related to psychological health and workplace dynamics were: (1) use of acquired behavioral skills and practices; (2) lived mindfulness; (3) resilience to stress and emotion regulation (4) self-care and self-compassion, and (5) sharing with others. Conclusion: Findings provide meaningful interpretation of previously reported program efficacy by contextualizing perceived benefits within participants constructed understanding of change. Specifically, environmental, social, and experiential considerations have suggested implications for resilience building programs.