Evaluating Emotional Well-Being after a Short-Term Traditional Yoga Practice Approach in Yoga Practitioners with an Existing Western-Type Yoga Practice.
The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of a traditional yoga practice approach (morning daily practice, TY) compared to that of a Western yoga practice approach (once-twice weekly, evening practice, WY) on determinants of emotional well-being. To that end, in a pre/posttest between-subject design, measures of positive (PA) and negative affect (NA), mindfulness, perceived stress, and arousal states were taken in 24 healthy participants (20 women; mean age: 30.5, SD = 8.1 years) with an already existing WY practice, who either maintained WY or underwent a 2-week, five-times-per-week morning practice (TY). While WY participants maintained baseline values for all measures taken, TY participants showed significant beneficial changes for PA, NA, and mindfulness and a trend for improved ability to cope with stress at the completion of the intervention. Furthermore, TY participants displayed decreased subjective energy and energetic arousal. Altogether, findings indicate that the 2-week TY is beneficial over WY for improving perceived emotional well-being. The present findings (1) undermine and inspire a careful consideration and utilization of yoga practice approach to elicit the best benefits for emotional well-being and (2) support yoga as an evidence-based practice among healthy yoga practitioners.
Department of Organizational Psychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Netherlands.
Maxi
0000-0001-9422-4141
M
Meissner
Centre for Special Educational Needs and Youth Care, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, University of Groningen, Netherlands.
Marja H
0000-0003-4569-1856
MH
Cantell
Sport- und Rehamedizin Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Germany.
Ronald
R
Steiner
Department of Medical and Sport Sciences, University of Cumbria, Lancaster, UK.
Xavier
0000-0002-3498-0276
X
Sanchez