Why do people do yoga? Examining motives across different types of yoga participants

ABSTRACT

Yoga is a holistic movement practice offering physical exercise and opportunities for mind–body integration and spiritual growth. Therefore, participation motives in yoga may vary depending on whether participants perceive yoga as a physical exercise, a psycho-spiritual discipline, or both. This study aimed to (1) identify subgroups of yoga participants based on their perceptions of yoga and level of immersion in yoga’s psycho-spiritual principles and (2) determine the motives that best differentiate the identified subgroups. A total of 546 yoga participants, 18–73 years old (M = 40.00, SD = 11.85), completed an online survey, which included sections measuring perceptions of yoga, participation motives, yoga immersion, and practice characteristics. Using a two-step cluster analysis, three subgroups of yoga participants were identified: (1) Exercisers, (2) Yogis, and (3) Postural Yogis. MANCOVA indicated significant differences in motives across yoga participant subgroups. Follow-up discriminant function analyses revealed that spirituality, mind–body integration, and coping/stress management contributed the most in distinguishing the three participant subgroups. Results showed that identifiable subgroups exist among yoga participants, with varying motives for participation. Yoga-related studies and promotional messages need to consider how yoga is understood by the intended participants and highlight the motives that match the target subgroups to encourage participation.

KEYWORDS:

• Yoga
• holistic movement practices
• spirituality
• typology
• participation motives

Disclosure statement

The lead author is a yoga practitioner and teacher affiliated with some yoga studios in the Philippines and Australia. He declares these as potential conflicts of interest. The other authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Notes

1 Data were collected at the onset of the 2020 COVID 19 pandemic restrictions. Participants were therefore asked to consider their practice behaviours before the government lockdowns and social distancing measures were put in place.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Southern Queensland [Physical Activity and Health PhD Scholarship] and the University of the Philippines: [Faculty Development Grant].