학술논문

Practice and proficiency of Isha Yoga for better mental health outcomes: insights from a COVID-19 survey
Document Type
article
Source
Frontiers in Public Health, Vol 12 (2024)
Subject
COVID-19 pandemic
Yoga
meditation
Isha Yoga
mental health
perceived stress
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Language
English
ISSN
2296-2565
Abstract
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unparalleled suffering on a global scale, affecting both physical and mental well-being. In such challenging times, it becomes crucial to identify interventions that can alleviate negative mental health outcomes, such as stress, while promoting positive mental health outcomes, like well-being. We report the effectiveness of a mind–body practise, Isha Yoga, in promoting well-being.MethodsWe conducted an online survey, during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Yoga practitioners (n = 1,352) from the Isha Yoga tradition in Karnataka, India. We evaluated stress and well-being attributes using conventional psychometric questionnaires. Subsequently, we requested the Isha Yoga practitioners to share another survey with their friends and family members, assessing similar outcomes. From the respondents of this shared survey (n = 221), we identified individuals who currently did not engage in any form of Yoga or meditation, constituting the non-Yoga control group (n = 110). To enhance the reliability and validity of our study and minimize the limitations commonly associated with online surveys, we adhered to the CHERRIES guidelines for reporting survey studies.ResultsIsha Yoga practitioners had significantly lower levels of stress (p