Samantha M Harden, PhD, 500 RYT
Intentional Vibrations Yoga (IVY)
In the PARCI Lab, we use scientific methods from behavioral psychology and dissemination & implementation as well as the art, practice, philosophy and science of yoga to help people live the good life, or to flourish.
We measure the Flourishing Index (a holistic measure of happiness, life satisfaction, mental and physical health) and capture people’s lived experiences through qualitative methodologies.
The communities we serve are vast—from cancer survivors to academics ourselves—and we always use a participatory approach to answer questions that are both empirically and practically meaningful.
Principal investigator
"In the PARCI lab, I have the privilege of training scientists and practitioners to impact the lives of others. As a registered yoga instructor and academic, I use science and the personal experience of clients, participants, and myself to promote that being active can change your life: You can avoid chronic disease, feel better in your body & mind, and maintain or find a better quality of life."
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Samantha M. Harden, PhD, 500 RYT
Are you an undergraduate student who wants to work in my lab? Complete this application (linked to the icon and here).
We believe
Yoga principles could be piercing academia, public health, and the healthcare system.
Our Vision
Use our talents, expertise, and passion to serve others.
We accomplish this through evidence-based adaptations, training, and evaluation to ensure the best fit intervention is adopted and sustained within practice settings.
our
Our Values:
We demonstrate our commitment to these values through
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Vulnerability and resiliency. Acknowledging and embracing when we don’t know the answer… . We ask questions, early and often.
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Flexibility and humor. Remembering that nothing is perfect, but we commit ourselves to our efforts.
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Appreciation of excellence in effort. Offer insight to each other to bring out quality in work (feedback on slides, elevator pitch, papers, etc.).
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Stability. Mentor those less senior in the lab and seek mentorship from those more senior in the lab. Ensure adequate resource allocation (time, money, personnel).
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Clear, honest communication, complete with active listening.
Frazier, PhD Student
Translational Biology, Medicine, + Health
Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program
Goofball cyclist. Food fiend. Excited about dissemination & implementation science. Enjoys sweaty yoga, waving at dogs, making playlists, finishing a good book, and playing outside. Would love to teach you basic bike maintenance.
Email: mcf712@vt.edu
Current ResearcH Personnel
Megan Pullin, M.S., 500 RYT
Yoga Therapist and Program Manager
FIRE with a dash of WHITEWATER. Yoga Therapist, Personal Trainer, and Amateur Martial Artist. Enjoys lifting heavy things, deeeeep belly laughs, kicking it with my dawgs and dogs, trail runs with hair blowing in the wind, playing harmonium, and digging in the dirt. Believes that all beings deserve the space to step into their full potential! Let's create it together!
Email: mjpullin@vt.edu
RESEARCH
Yoga poses, practices, and methodologies align with scientifically rigorous interventions for health promotion across fields such as physiology, psychology, and neuroscience. However, this work has been predominantly clinical or translational, and it has missed an opportunity to leverage community settings where people are already practicing yoga. A bidirectional, translational pipeline that equally values research and practice evidence can identify empirical gaps, support rigorous studies to close those gaps, and have partnerships with myriad individuals who are able to promote yoga as well as its influence on individual and societal health.
OUTREACH
25% of my appointment is with Virginia Cooperative Extension where I serve as the physical activity specialist of the Commonwealth. Our goal is to equip county-based agents across the Commonwealth and the nation in feeling confident and competent in selecting, adapting, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based interventions using social connection, physical activity, breathwork, and moment-to-moment awareness as pracices to promote intra-and inter-personal health.
TEACHING
My teaching and mentorship includes:
- Leadership on the RE-AIM framework
-Instructing a Dissemination and Implementation science graduate course
- Facilitating a study abroad that explores yoga and Blue Zones principles in in Nosara, Costa Rica
-Guidance for junior faculty (personal and professional)
-Overseeing incredible undergraduate and graduate scholars
Clinician Research mentees
Clinical/Translational Research Coordinator at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Current + past undergraduate research assistants
Public Health major - loves good workouts, good food, and good people
Human Nutrition, Food, and Exercise BS major and Senior Residential Well-Being Student Leader and President of Delta Epsilon Mu at the Alpha Gamma Chapter
Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise Science major. Loves cooking, staying active, and traveling!
Human Nutrition, Food, & Exercise major. Loves to run and spend time outside + is passionate about community health and wellness.
Human, Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise major with a Public Health minor. Very interested in studying all aspects of health and wellness within groups and communities. Lover of reading, the outdoors, traveling, and trying new things!
Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise major and Psychology minor. Loves plants, cooking, watching sitcoms, and playing tennis!
Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. Certified nurse assistant and a food and fitness fan! Loves to run, lift, and get outside!
Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise major and Creative Writing and Integrative Health and Wellness minors. Enjoys hikes, walks, tennis, dancing, and spike ball. Aspires to become a physician.
Oker H, Harden SM. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: A Pragmatic Exploration of Online Dissemination, Delivery, and Training During COVID-19. Translational Obesity Undergraduate Research Scholar. VT Undergraduate Research Summer Symposium. Summer 2020.
past graduate students
With Gratitude to Our Primary Funders
Project associate for the Family Nutrition Program
Extension Agent, FCS Spotsylvania County 540-507-7568 arpayne@vt.edu
Extension Agent, FCS Rappahannock County (540) 727-3435 rebes13@vt.edu
FCS Agent, York County and the City of Poquoson
Administrative Assistant, VCE State Office, Hokie Wellness Champion msbreen@vt.edu
SNAP-Ed Agent, FCS Rockbridge County (540) 463-4734 rmarlatt@vt.edu
FCS Associate Agent, Roanoke
VCE Physical activity team members
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Title: Group-based exercise intervention for endometrial cancer survivors: Exploration of physical activity and quality of life impact
iTHRIV Scholars Mentored Career Development Program (iTSP); KL2-funded
Members: Armrbuster (Carilion, PI); Harden (VT) and Zoellner (UVA) co mentors
Date: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2024
Title: Yoga Inspired Movement: A multilevel approach to improve yoga self-efficacy, yoga practice, and health outcomes
Members: Harden (VT)
Date: September 1,2021- August 31, 2026
Title: Iterative adaptations of an evidence-based healthy lifestyle program for endometrial cancer survivors and their support network
Members: Harden (VT) + Armrbuster (Carilion + McCrickard (VT)
Date: July 1, 2022-June 30, 2022
Title: Translational Obesity Undergraduate Research Scholars (TOURS) (GRANT12551118)
Members: Good (VT), Harden (VT), Evans-Hoeker (VT Carilion School of Medicine)
Date: September 1, 2018--June 30, 2023