Research Area
Yoga resets my inner peace barometer
Research Title
Yoga resets my inner peace barometer: A qualitative study illuminating
Introduction
Over the past few years, the mind-body practice of yoga has gained increasing interest from both the general population and the scientific community. While modern yoga classes in the West can be heavily fitness oriented (lacking some elements of traditional practice), yoga is traditionally founded on a combination of breathing, physical postures, meditative components, and ethics, which together facilitates the union of the body, mind, and spirit for health and wellbeing. Mindfulness cultivated through yoga (regardless of style) may help individuals to better connect to oneself and to others leading to enhanced health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Yet, little is known on the relational influences and pathways of yoga to attain health and wellbeing.
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was twofold: to better understand how yoga practitioners perceive intra- and interpersonal outcomes of their yoga practice, and to develop a conceptual model of yoga effects on intra- and interpersonal outcomes that may underlie the “relational” influences of yoga.
Conclusion
Findings demonstrate the promise yoga holds to improve one’s relationship to oneself (intrapersonal) through mindfulness and self-compassion, and to others (interpersonal), through the enhancement of compassion and social connectedness, which may potentially lead to enhanced health and wellbeing outcomes. Further empirical testing of the model is warranted.
