My Happy Body – Harmonie durch Bewegung e.V.

Organization: My Happy Body – Harmonie durch Bewegung e.V.

Program: Movement for Mind and Body (Bewegung für Seele und Körper)

City: Cottbus

Sport/Exercise: Zumba, Drums Alive, Tai Chi / Qi Gong, Yoga, Progressive Muscular Relaxation (PMR) from Jacobson

Programme information, aims and objectives: My Happy Body - Harmonie durch Bewegung e.V. is a non-profit sports association focused on people with chronic illnesses and disabilities (with a limited fitness area). The association has a health studio in Cottbus main station. The focus of its activities is on health prevention and outpatient rehabilitation.

A special field of activity is prevention and rehabilitation of mental illnesses. The corresponding program is called "Movement for Mind and Body". It aims to improve mood, promote relaxation and increase concentration, all within a socio-educational learning process. With the combination of mood stabilization and mindful movement, the main goal is for participants to gain more control over their symptoms. With a philosophy that takes into account the mental, spiritual, physical and social aspects of health promotion, the institution offers social worker support for the programme. For example, participants are advised in individual conversations as needed, accompanied at work and in everyday life, and get in touch with psychotherapeutic and social services.

Participants: Outpatient rehabilitation:People with diagnosed mental conditions participate voluntarily in the "Movement for Mind and Body" programme, whereby the costs are covered by statutory health insurance funds or the German pension insurance. A doctor's prescription is a prerequisite for the assumption of costs. Most participants are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders and addictions.

The groups consist of 5 to 15 participants of different ages and sexes. The sports programme consists of 120 units 1 - 2 times a week and lasts 1.5 - 3 years (depending on the regularity of participation).

Prevention:is financed by the statutory health insurance funds or by some employers (within the framework of workplace health promotion). People who feel that they are under stress take part in courses on "Stress management and relaxation", where a doctor's prescription is not required. The group size is also around 5 to 15 participants. The duration of a course is approximately 2.5 months: 10 sessions once a week. As a rule, health insurance companies finance 2 prevention courses per year - but this is possible again every year (unlimited). The financing by workplace health promotion often goes over the whole year (also unlimited - always continuous).

Sessions: Outpatient rehabilitation: "Movement for Mind and Body" is divided into two complementary units per week. The first weekly unit "Happy Body" aims at regulating the psycho-physiological activation level and improving the mood (Zumba® formats in different difficulty levels or Drums Alive® groups). The aim of the second unit "Harmony through Movement" is to strengthen concentration and promote relaxation through Tai Chi / Qi Gong or Yoga. By combining the goals of both sessions, the main goal is to attain joy in movement (as an important part of self-care) through better control over one’s own symptoms - as an alternative to destructive stress management strategies. The participants are guided in their learning process by trainers who are specially qualified for psychiatry in sport. The sessions are offered in the morning, afternoon and evening and last 45 - 60 minutes. The training intensity varies between low and medium, depending on the physical condition of the participants and the daily activity.

Prevention: Within a 10-week prevention course, either psycho-physiological activation (a Zumba® format) or relaxation training (PMR) is possible. In addition, a prevention course is offered which is specifically aimed at stress-reducing behavioural changes (cognitive training of mental resilience). The courses are also conducted by trained prevention course leaders in the field of "stress management and relaxation".

Evaluation/Measurement of outcomes: Patient evaluation is carried out by treating doctors, who usually report an improvement after a cycle in "Movement of Mind and Body". The continued recommendation of new patients by their doctors speaks of positive results of the "movement for mind and body". In general, participants report improved mood and motivation in various activities and positive changes in their family and professional situation.

Further Information: www.my-happy-body.de