Mindful Kala: Virtual Bharatanatyam Wellness Program for Students

Mindful Kala: Investigating the Psychosocial Effects of a 4-Week Virtual Bharatanatyam Intervention for Students

In the current study, the researchers propose to develop and pilot test a Bharatanatyam (i.e. Indian classical dance) program called Mindful Kala with the hopes of decreasing stress and increasing psychosocial well-being, mindfulness, cultural competence, and connectedness amongst a group of college students. The investigators hope that this program can help students cultivate well-being during the challenging and stressful time of COVID-19.

Objectives:

1. Evaluate the effects of the Mindful Kala program on outcomes of health-related measures such as mindfulness, stress, connectedness, and wellbeing amongst students. The investigators hypothesize that participants will experience fewer symptoms of stress, increased mindfulness, increased well-being, and increased connectedness.
2. Evaluate the effects of the Mindful Kala program on changes in measures of cultural competence. The investigators hypothesize that the level of cultural competence will increase among the students.
3. Develop and examine the feasibility and acceptability of a 4-week Mindful Kala program for college students.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Yale student
• 18 years of age or older
• Must complete all survey measures
• Is available for all of the designated Session One & Session Two dates and times
• Attends all of the designated Session One & Session Two dates and times

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not a Yale student
• Not 18 years of age or older
• Does not complete all survey measures
• Is not available for all of the designated Session One & Session Two dates and times
• Does not attend all of the designated Session One & Session Two dates and times