Examining the Effects of Recreational Yoga Training on Individuals’ Quality of Life

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effects of recreational yoga training on individuals’ quality of life and to explore their perceptions of leisure and yoga participation.

Method: A qualitative research design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 voluntary participants (13 women, 2 men) practicing yoga for recreational purposes in Bursa, Türkiye. Criterion and snowball sampling methods were used. Data were analyzed using content analysis, and findings were supported with descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage).

Results: Ten main themes emerged: sleep patterns, work–yoga relationship, leisure activities, perception of leisure, reasons for practicing yoga, emotional experiences during yoga, perceived changes in quality of life, strategies to improve quality of life, participation in other recreational activities, and perceptions of yoga and recreation. Participants emphasized improvements particularly in psychological and emotional well-being (100%), physical health (80%), and social interaction (53.33%).

Conclusion: Recreational yoga training contributes positively to physical, psychological, and social dimensions of quality of life. Yoga functions as a holistic leisure activity that supports overall well-being.

Keywords

• Yoga
• Recreation
• Leisure
• Quality of Life
• Well-being

Bireylerin Rekreatif Amaçlı Yaptıkları Yoga Eğitiminin Yaşam Kalitesine Etkilerinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Buçalışmanın amacı, rekreatif amaçlı yoga eğitiminin bireylerin yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemek ve bütüncül bir iyilik hali çerçevesinde boş zaman ve yoga katılımına ilişkin algılarını ortaya koymaktır.

Yöntem: Araştırmada nitel araştırma deseni benimsenmiştir. Veriler, Bursa ilinde rekreatif amaçla yoga yapan15 gönüllü katılımcıdan (13 kadın, 2 erkek) yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Katılımcılar ölçüt ve kartopu örnekleme yöntemleriyle belirlenmiştir. Veriler içerik analizi yöntemiyle analiz edilmiş, bulgular frekans ve yüzde değerleri ile desteklenmiştir.

Bulgular: Analiz sonucunda on ana tema belirlenmiştir: uyku düzeni, iş–yoga ilişkisi, boş zaman aktiviteleri, boş zaman algısı, yoga yapma nedenleri, yoga sırasında yaşanan duygusal deneyimler, yaşam kalitesindeki algılanan değişimler, yaşam kalitesini artırma stratejileri, diğer rekreatif faaliyetlere katılım ve yoga ile rekreasyon kavramlarına yönelik algılar. Bulgular, katılımcıların özellikle psikolojik ve duygusal iyilik hali (%100), fiziksel sağlık (%80) ve sosyal etkileşim (%53,33) boyutlarında belirgin iyileşmeler bildirdiğini göstermektedir.

Sonuç: Elde edilen sonuçlar, rekreatif amaçlı yoga eğitiminin yaşam kalitesinin çok boyutlu yapısına olumlu katkılar sağladığını göstermektedir. Yoga, özellikle psikolojik iyilik halini destekleyen, bütüncül ve içsel motivasyona dayalı bir boş zaman etkinliği olarak değerlendirilebilir.

Keywords

• Yoga
• Rekreasyon
• Boş Zaman
• Yaşam Kalitesi
• İyilik Hali

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