Reflections beyond the mat: an inquiry into the implications of yoga practice on wellbeing : a qualitative study

Abstract

The paradigm shift in therapy towards the appraisal of wellbeing, and the rise in popularity of complementary and alternative therapies triggered the inquiry into the implications of yoga practice, as the most popular CAM on psychological wellbeing. This study investigates possible links of yoga practice to wellbeing and the avenues as to how that contribution is made. This qualitative study builds upon previous literature studying features of wellbeing as related to yoga practice, organised under Diener’s (1984) constructs of subjective wellbeing. Maltese yoga practitioners were subjected to semi-structured interviews to answer the research questions from self-reported perceptions. The results suggest that yoga practice does contribute to wellbeing, both through direct assertions by interviewees and through the increase of features falling under positive affect and quality of life, and decrease of features falling under negative affect.