African-American (AA) women are the segment of the population that experiences the highest mortality from\nmetabolic syndrome (MetS). Yoga decreases risk of MetS, yet there have been no yoga studies of AA women with or\nat risk for MetS. The purpose of this 4-week study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored,\nInternet-based intervention, yogic dance (YD), using digital videos in a sample of AA women (ages 35-64) at risk\nfor or with MetS. The investigators examined the rates of accrual, attrition, and reasons for attrition; the feasibility of\nusing the Internet to deliver the intervention; the acceptability of the intervention as structured; and any other benefits\nand/or limitations of YD. The study used a single-group, mixed-methods design underpinned by social constructivist\ntheory and Pender's Health Promotion Model. Twenty-four women provided consent to enroll in the study. After\ncompleting in-person semi-structured interviews and Internet-based measures, including the Physical Activity\nReadiness Questionnaire, and the modified International Physical Activity Questionnaire, consented participants\nengaged in 4-weeks of the yogic dance intervention via daily video-based instructions located on the study Web site.\nAfter the intervention, four women participated in focus groups to voice their perceptions of barriers to and benefits\nfrom YD and the acceptability of using the YD intervention. The investigators analyzed focus group data using\ncontent/thematic analysis and validated themes with baseline semi-structured interviews. The majority of the women\n(79%) found YD acceptable. Themes that emerged from the descriptive data include: (1) Culture is an important\naspect of yogic dance; and (2) Increased social support would enhance yogic dance participation. The integrated\nresults from this feasibility study will inform research exploring the complex correlates that influence health behaviors\nin AA women.
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