Exploring Wellbeing Profiles, Mindfulness, Compassion and Personality Traits in Regular Ashtanga Yoga Practitioners: A Cluster Analysis

Abstract

Objective: Studies describing wellbeing, mindfulness, and personal characteristics of long-term yoga practitioners are uncommon, yet helpful for understanding the benefits stemming from yoga. This study investigated Ashtanga Yoga practitioners’ (AYPs) wellbeing profiles to identify potential similarities and differences depending on practitioners’ personal characteristics and their level of expertise with yoga. Method: A purposeful sample (n = 199) of regular AYPs was selected from a broader online survey assessing wellbeing, health, yoga, and personal traits. Hierarchical and k-means clustering were used to explore and define clusters. Results: Statistical analysis identified six distinct clusters characterising AYPs. Practitioners from all clusters experienced high levels of wellbeing, believing that their yoga practice had a positive impact on it. The six clusters differed in practitioners’ engagement with physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of the Ashtanga yoga practice, in their levels of wellbeing, and in which dimensions of wellbeing were perceived as being most influenced by their yoga practice. Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that beyond years of practice and asana sequence, the engagement with different aspects of the yoga practice relates to varying wellbeing outcomes. This shines a light on how to leverage specific aspects of the yoga practice to consolidate changes based on the type of practitioner. Further examination of the mechanisms of yoga is needed in future research. Preregistration: This study was not preregistered.