--- title: Breathwork reduces stress and anxiety nct_id: NCT06581523 phase: NA status: RECRUITING sponsor: Nova Southeastern University study_type: INTERVENTIONAL canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06581523" clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06581523" last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:02:25.216Z" source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)" --- # Breathwork reduces stress and anxiety **Goal (in five words):** Breathwork reduces stress and anxiety **Official Title:** A Feasibility and Efficacy Study of a Breathwork and Meditation Intervention (SKY Breath) on the Psychophysiological Well-Being of Individuals With Parkinson's Disease (iPD) and Their Care Partners **Trial ID:** [NCT06581523](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06581523) ## Key Facts - **Phase:** NA - **Status:** RECRUITING - **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL - **Sponsor:** Nova Southeastern University - **Target Enrollment:** 40 participants - **Start Date:** 2024-10-19 - **Completion Date:** 2026-04-30 - **Conditions:** Parkinson's Disease - **Interventions:** SKY Breath and Meditation - **Intervention Types:** BEHAVIORAL ## Summary For Families The goal is to reduce stress, anxiety, and improve overall psychophysiological well-being for people with early to mid-stage Parkinson's and their unpaid care partners. The approach teaches SKY Breath, a structured breathwork and meditation program that uses guided rhythmic breathing and relaxation to shift the autonomic nervous system toward more parasympathetic activity, improve heart rate variability, and lower stress and mood symptoms. It is a non-drug intervention, so it does not pharmacologically interact with levodopa, though the study will look at whether the practice helps coping and daily function alongside usual medications. The study is looking for adults 18 to 75 with Parkinson's stage 1 to 3 who can follow and remember the breathing steps, read and speak English, attend online sessions and an in-person training, and also seeks their unpaid care partners; people with advanced PD, certain psychiatric or seizure disorders, uncontrolled hypertension, or active substance use are excluded. ## Eligibility - **Minimum age:** 18 Years - **Maximum age:** 75 Years - **Sex:** ALL ### Full Criteria ``` Inclusion Criteria: Individuals with Parkinson's Disease (iPD) Inclusion Criteria: An individual with a formal diagnosis of iPD that: * are in stages 1, 2, or 3 * are at least 18 years of age * are no older than 75 years of age * can understand, read, write and speak English at a 5th grade level * that have access to zoom sessions online via laptop, ipad or other mobile device * are able to secure reliable transportation for themselves. Care Partner of the individuals with Parkinson's Disease (iPD) Inclusion Criteria: Individuals who: * are a care partner for an individual with Parkinson's Disease but are not paid professional givers of care * are at least 18 years of age or older * are able to secure reliable transportation for themselves and for the Individual with Parkinson's Disease * can understand, read, write and speak English at a 5th grade level * has access to zoom sessions online via laptop, iPad or other mobile device. Exclusion Criteria: Individuals with Parkinson's Disease (iPD): An individual who * has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease that is in stages 4 or 5 of the disease * is younger that age 18 or older than age 75 * has bipolar disorder * has seizure disorder * has schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder * has active substance use * has uncontrolled hypertension * has cognitive impairment that prevents them from memorizing (remembering) the steps to complete the daily breath and meditation practice or completing the survey instruments, or has difficulty following sequential directions of the breathing practice * cannot understand, read, write and speak English at a 5th grade level * does not have access to zoom sessions online via laptop, iPad or other mobile device * can not secure transportation to the site for the training of the breath and meditation practice Care partner of the Individuals with Parkinson's Disease (iPD): Individuals who: * are paid professional givers of care * are under the age of 18 * an emancipated minor * have bipolar disorder * have seizure disorder * have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder * have active substance use * have uncontrolled hypertension * are not able to secure reliable transportation for themselves * cannot understand, read, write and speak English at a 5th grade level * does not have access to access to zoom sessions online via laptop, iPad or other mobile device. ``` ## Locations (3) - Raw Kickboxing and Fitness, Coral Springs, Florida, United States _(26.2712, -80.2706)_ - Mark Barker, BA — (CONTACT) — 954-575-6000 - Allie Barker — (CONTACT) — 954-309-7814 - David Posnack Jewish Community Center, Davie, Florida, United States _(26.0629, -80.2331)_ - Scott Ehrlich, MA — (CONTACT) — 954-420-6197 — sehrlich@dpjcc.org - Bonnie Rayman, MEd — (CONTACT) — 954-420-6197 — brayman@dpjcc.org - Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States _(26.1223, -80.1434)_ - Rania Massad, BA, DPT — (CONTACT) — 305-505-5465 — rania@nova.edu - Venetia Bennett, BA, MS, PhD — (CONTACT) — 954-263-6535 — vb64@nova.edu - Venetia Bennett, BA, MS, PhD — (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR) - Rania Massad, BA, DPT — (SUB_INVESTIGATOR) - Sharon C Siegel, DDS, MS, MBA — (SUB_INVESTIGATOR) - Ronnie Newman, BA,CA, EdM — (SUB_INVESTIGATOR) ## Central Contacts - Venetia Bennett, BS, MS, PhD — (CONTACT) — 954-263-6535 — vb64@nova.edu - Sharon C Siegel, DDS, MS, MBA — (CONTACT) — 410-935-8857 — scsiegel@nova.edu --- *Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06581523* *HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT06581523* *Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06581523*