Effect of Yoga on Personality and Health
Author Information
Author(s): Deshpande Sudheer, Nagendra H R, Raghuram Nagarathna
Primary Institution: Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bangalore, India
Hypothesis
Does yoga improve personality traits and general health in healthy adults compared to physical exercise?
Conclusion
Both yoga and physical exercise improved personality traits and general health, but yoga had a greater effect on increasing Sattva.
Supporting Evidence
- Yoga improved Sattva scores significantly more than physical exercise.
- Physical exercise significantly reduced Rajas scores compared to yoga.
- Both interventions improved general health as measured by the GHQ.
Takeaway
Yoga helps people feel calmer and happier, while exercise can make them less restless and more active.
Methodology
226 healthy adults were randomly assigned to yoga or physical exercise groups for eight weeks, with assessments before and after using personality and health questionnaires.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in self-reported measures and participant selection.
Limitations
The study was limited to a specific population in Bangalore and may not generalize to other groups.
Participant Demographics
87 participants in each group, aged 18-71, with a mix of genders and occupations.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001 for Sattva improvement in both groups
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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