172054 Yoga, leisure behavior, and quality of life

Monday, October 27, 2008

Brandon Eggleston, MPH , Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Susan E. Middlestadt, PhD , Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
The purpose of this study was to examine yoga as a form of serious leisure behavior. Serious leisure behavior is a voluntary activity that provides a sense of meaning and purpose in individuals' lives. Data analysis identified that a higher serious leisure scale score is significantly correlated with a higher frequency of practicing yoga. Individuals that attend more yoga classes and practice for more years have higher levels of satisfaction with life and well-being. Overall regular yoga practice was found to be an activity that provided an increased level of quality of life, a sense of meaning and purpose, and thus a serious leisure activity.

Learning Objectives:
Recognize yoga as a form of serious leisure behavior. Evaluate yoga's relationship with subjective well-being.

Keywords: Mental Health, Quality of Life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I directed all areas of this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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