Appendix Table 1: 6-week standardised protocol for

Appendix Table 1: 6-week standardised protocol for group yoga classes for individuals with chronic stroke hemiparesis. Yoga Practices (Postures, Breathing and Meditation)

Theme

Focus

Class progression of yoga practices by weeks

Classes with posture

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Introduction, self-care, non-competition, modification of practice Familiarization with practices, instruction on movement (no breath or direction of awareness)

What is yoga?

Value of the breath

Internal awareness

Importance of stillness

Meditation in practice

Feeling direct awareness Movement with breath Internalization: closing of Movement and stillness: to body, slow movement awareness: inhalation and eyes, directing practices the interplay and for attention but no exhalation inward counterpose of dynamic breath co-ordination and still asanas

Movement and stillness: the interplay and counterpose of dynamic and still asanas

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes

Yes

Postures Corpse pose Yes Seated base position (mat or chair) Yes Ankle rotation Yes Knee Bending Yes Hand-clenching Yes Elbow-bending Yes Neck movements Yes Palm tree pose (mat, standing or chair) Yes Toe Bending Shoulder socket rotation Waist rotation Ankle bending Wrist bending Squat and raise Cycling (mat, standing or chair) Pulling the rope Rowing the boat Cat stretch One-legged prayer pose (standing and supported) Breathing Natural breath Yes Abdominal breath Yes Breath sensing Thoracic breath Tracing of breath to eyebrow center Alternate nostril breath Meditation Yoga Nidra in corpse pose Yes

Yes Yes

Yes

Yes Yes

Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

6 5 5 2 6 2 4 6 1 2 2 1 1 4 4 3 2 2 1

Yes Yes

Yes

Yes Yes

Yes Yes

3 5 4 2 3 2

Yes

Yes

6

Note: Practices have been previously described by Swami Satyananda Saraswati31, 32. Participants were provided with a range of practice modification options to suit their abilities, needs and preferences. This included for example: chair-based asana, pranayama and meditation; unilateral yoga asana; reduced range of motion; mental imagery of the yoga asana posture or movement.

Appendix Table 2: 6-week standardised protocol for home yoga practice for individuals with chronic stroke hemiparesis. Yoga Practices (Postures, Breathing and Meditation) Week 1 Theme

Focus Postures Corpse pose Seated base position (mat or chair) Ankle rotation Knee Bending Palm tree pose (mat, standing or chair) Swaying palm tree pose Shoulder socket rotation Waist rotation Wrist bending Squat and raise Rowing the boat Breathing Natural breath Abdominal breath Alternate nostril breath Meditation Yoga Nidra in corpse pose

Possible home practice session with posture

Progression of home yoga practices by weeks Week 2

Week 3

Introduction, self-care, What is yoga? Value of the breath non-competition, modification of practice Working alongside the weekly practice and to establish safe home practice. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes

Yes

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Internal awareness

Importance of stillness

Meditation in practice

Progression of home practice inline with weekly classes. Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes

36 36 36 18 36 18 18 36 18 18 18

Yes Yes

18 36 18

Yes

36

Yes Yes Yes

Note: Practices have been previously described by Swami Satyananda Saraswati31, 32. Participants were provided with a range of practice modification options to suit their abilities, needs and preferences. This included for example: chair-based asana, pranayama and meditation; unilateral yoga asana; reduced range of motion; mental imagery of the yoga asana posture or movement.