Objective: This study examined the effects of a comprehensive mind-body program on sense of nondual awareness and spiritual awakening.
Design and intervention: The study compared the effects of participation in an intensive 6-day Ayurveda-based mind-body program that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual domains as compared with a control condition.
Setting: Resort setting.
Subjects: Participants were 69 healthy women and men (mean age 53.9 years; range 32-86).
Outcome measure: The primary outcome was the Nondual Embodiment Thematic Inventory (NETI).
Results: A significant group by time interaction (p = 0.029) indicated that after the intervention, participants in the mind-body program showed a significant increase in NETI scores (p < 0.03), which was sustained 1 month later (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Findings suggest that an intensive program providing holistic instruction and experience in mind-body practices can lead to a significant and sustained shift in perception of self-awareness, one that is likely favorable to well-being.
Keywords: Ayurveda; awareness; consciousness; mind–body; nondual; spirituality.