The purpose of this study was to investigate the essential characteristics of yoga experience from the qualitative perspective. For doing so, this study focused on the subjective and immediate yoga experience in order to identify the meaning of indivi...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the essential characteristics of yoga experience from the qualitative perspective. For doing so, this study focused on the subjective and immediate yoga experience in order to identify the meaning of individual's yoga experience.
Phenomenological approach, the so-called "Experiential Description and Analysis" method based on phenomenological approach were used in this study. A phenomenological approach cleary identifies the meaning of the yoga phenomenon by the more qualitative way on the experiential description and analysis of S.Kleinman.
As a result of this study, it was showed that the yoga experience is a multi-dimensional, complex phenomenon.
In this respect, the six characteristic categories of subjective yoga experiences were identified. They were: 1) feeling of accomplishment, self-confidence, and ego-establishment, 2) escaping, stress solution, being free, and recharge, 3) satisfying, enjoying, and refreshing, 4) harmony of consciousness and body, concentration, and transcendence, 5) limited of the body(negative conception) and 6) appearance of potentiality consciousness.
These categories are interrelated, this categorization serves as a means of gaining better understanding of the significance of yoga experience. These indicate that every experience has its own validity.