Before we start the ASICS MOVEMENT FOR MIND trial in May 2020, we wanted to put it to the test.
So, in December 2019 we asked our own ASICS employees to help us shape the programme by taking part in an eight-week feasibility study run by Dr Brendon Stubbs. Sixty employees volunteered. They all completed an initial online assessment before being assigned randomly to either take part in ASICS MOVEMENT FOR MIND sessions or be part of the control group.
The feasibility study gives us an opportunity to test our ideas and get lots of feedback before going into the trial phase. And it has proven to be incredibly valuable.
For the last six weeks, groups of ASICS employees have been going out for 30 minutes at lunchtime to test a simple routine to give their minds a break. They have been guided by coaches, who have helped to test all sorts of different techniques to see what works and what doesn’t in practice.
It’s been cold, wet and very, very windy, but we’ve carried on. ASICS employees have braved the elements and patiently tried different breathing and mindfulness techniques as they briskly walked or ran for 30 minutes.
We still have two weeks of the Feasibility Study to go, but we have already learnt so much that will shape the final programme. Some of the more general things that keep coming back through feedback are:
- People really like variety. Mixing things up and keeping things fun is key.
- Coaches are crucial. Having a team who really believes in the programme is so important.
- You need to manage expectations. Giving people an idea of what to expect from the start is an important element.
- Not everyone will love everything. And that is okay.
But by far the biggest thing we have learned is that people really do value getting away from their desks and going outside, even just for 30 minutes, twice a week. That has come back loud and clear from pretty much everyone taking part. Which in the end, is what it’s all about, isn’t it?
With everything we’ve learnt, we’re excited for the full trial, which begins in May, with over 300 participants across 15 sites in the Netherlands and the UK.
