Yoga for everyone: a qualitative study of a community yoga class for people with disability

ABSTRACT

Background and Objective: People with mobility impairments face increased barriers to physical activity. The study aimed to understand the lived experiences of individuals with disability who are regular participants in the Yoga for Everyone class to inform future research, intervention and community programs.

Methods: A phenomenological qualitative approach utilized semi-structured interviews and class observations. Data was analyzed through iterative inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Six people of varied mobility limitations participated. Thematic analysis revealed themes on influential environmental and personal factors, a holistic-focused class environment, physical improvements, mental/emotional impact, and a sense of belonging to community.

Conclusion: The Yoga for Everyone class fostered multi-faceted outcomes for people with diverse movement impairments. Focusing on community-clinical partnerships, utilizing a class structure with volunteers, and fostering an ongoing inclusive social environment are potential strategies for success in other community programs for those with disability.

KEYWORDS:

• Yoga
• community program
• qualitative
• disability

Declaration of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by the University of South Carolina (USC) Behavioral-Biomedical Interface Program (National Institute of General Medical Sciences/NIH-T32 2T326M081740-11A1) and a 2019 American Heart Association Pre-Doctoral Fellowship.