Yoga and psychological wellness, physical wellness, and subjective well-being

Abstract

This survey-based observational study was designed to study an individual's Yoga experience as it relates to psychological wellness, physical wellness, and subjective well-being. Men and women ages 18–85 were recruited though Yoga studio participation and through word of mouth. They answered demographic question as well as items from four differential scales. Dependent variables included physical wellness, life satisfaction, mindfulness, and subjective vitality. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. Results indicated that Yoga participants perceive higher levels of mental wellness, physical wellness, and subjective well-being. Additionally, Yoga participants, as compared to non-Yoga participants, were more likely to perceive higher levels of perceived wellness, in almost all domains tested, than exercisers versus nonexercisers. The results of this study bring merit to Yoga participants' perception of wellness. Further studies could investigate a variety of topics. Understanding how long it takes a Yoga participant to feel higher levels of perceived wellness may be useful in designing intervention studies. Additionally, looking at different styles of Yoga, specifically āsana, meditation, and pranayama techniques, and implementation (home versus studio) would be useful in the design of future research studies. Anecdotally, most Yoga participants would agree that practicing Yoga benefits their overall wellness. This study offers empirical evidence that Yoga participants experience higher levels of perceived wellness than non-Yoga participants. This research is significant as it validates the role Yoga plays in the health and well-being of participants. Keywords: Yoga, Wellness, Well-Being, Quantitative, Observational, Life Satisfaction, Mindfulness, Survey.