Ji Hye Lee; Sun Mi Chae

doi:10.16952/pns.2014.11.2.132

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Lee and Chae: Korean Adolescents’ Experience of Yoga Class: “Healthy Habits Beyond Exercise”

Original Article

Perspectives in Nursing Science 2014;11(2):132-143.

Published online: 21 October 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16952/pns.2014.11.2.132

Korean Adolescents’ Experience of Yoga Class: “Healthy Habits Beyond Exercise”

Ji Hye Lee¹, Sun Mi Chae²

¹Graduate Student, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

²Associate Professor, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Lee, Ji Hye College of Nursing, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, Korea. Tel: +82-2-740-8851, Fax: +82-2-765-4103, E-mail: ljh33333@snu.ac.kr

Received 14 August 201419 September 2014 Accepted 2 October 2014

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to explore adolescents’ experience with yoga class in South Korea.

Methods

Qualitative data were collected by focus group interviews from February to March 2014. Eleven adolescents who experienced yoga class were recruited from two different schools. The interview questions investigated adolescents’ experience with yoga regarding expectations before yoga class, positive changes after yoga, and advice for future yoga classes.

Results

Three primary themes from the qualitative content analysis include 1) motivation to join a yoga class, 2) perceived benefits after class and 3) suggestions for school-based yoga. We found that high school students had intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to join yoga classes, and the perceived benefits included physical, psychological, cognitive and social aspects. The students also indicated the need for support by person, yoga with fun and information, yoga tailored by individual goal, simple and easy class.

Conclusion

These results suggest that yoga could be an appropriate intervention for holistic health care, and school-based yoga should be applied by focusing on the various situational needs of adolescents’. Furthermore, when yoga leads to healthy habits compared to just simple exercise, a balanced development of adolescents can be achieved.

Keywords: Yoga, Adolescent, School health service, Health behavior, Focus groups

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Table 1.

Interview Questions

Section	Questions
Warming up	․ Freely talk about your experience with participating in yoga classes.
Warming up	․ Tell me about any regrets you have about any previous yoga classes.
Expectations before yoga class : Motivations for joining yoga class (Theme 1. derived)	․ Who recommended to you taking a yoga class?
	․ What were your expectations when you first joined the yoga class?
Experience of yoga class : Perceived benefits after yoga class (Theme 2. derived)	․ Let us discuss the effects of yoga practice on high school students.
	․ What changes have you experienced in your body and mind after taking yoga class?
	․ What is the most stressful thing in your daily school life?
Advice for future yoga classes : Suggestions for a school-based yoga class (Theme 3. derived)	․ Please give us your best suggestions for a school-based yoga class.
	․ What's the strategies for promoting participation in the yoga class
	․ Please recommend a method for maintaining yoga in your daily life
Closing statements	․ Are there any other thoughts about yoga that you would like to share with us?
Closing statements	․ Thank you for your time. If you have any questions, please contact me at any time.

Table 2.

General Characteristics of the Participants

ID	Gender	Age	Grade	Type of school	First Yoga class	Location of Yoga class	Will join a Yoga class again?	Body Mass Index	Weight group	Wants to gain/lose weight	Perception of health	Stress (0~10)∗
A1	F	16	10th	General	10th	School	Yes	21.8	Normal	Lose	Good	3
A2	M	16	10th	General	8th	School	No	18.9	Normal	Gain	Good	7
A3	F	16	10th	General	6th	School	Yes	25.9	Obese	Lose	Bad	8
A4	F	16	10th	General	10th	School	Yes	21.3	Normal	Lose	Bad	7
B5	F	16	11th	General	10th	School	Yes	19.0	Normal	Lose	Bad	6
B6	F	16	11th	General	8th	School	Yes	22.8	Normal	Lose	Moderate	4
B7	F	16	11th	General	9th	Community	y Yes	20.0	Normal	Lose	Bad	2
C8	F	17	12th	Vocational	5th	School	Yes	18.4	Normal	Lose	Bad	6
C9	F	17	12th	Vocational	8th	Community	y Yes	27.6	Obese	Lose	Good	4
C10	F	17	12th	Vocational	8th	Community	y Yes	18.7	Normal	Lose	Moderate	4
C11	F	17	12th	Vocational	11th	School	Yes	20.0	Normal	Lose	Moderate	5

^∗ (0~10): Not at all–Very much so; Mean stress level: 5.1.

Table 3.

Representative Quotations of Motivations for Joining a Yoga Class

Categories	Subcategories	Representative quotations
Intrinsic motivation	a) Exercise for the body	․ "I place emphasis on the exercise part, just for weight loss." (A1)
		․ "I thought signing up for yoga.… would help alleviate my headaches." (A2)
		․ "I have scoliosis…I did ir for my back pain first." (A3)
		․ "In high school, my body has become unfit because my physical activity level is
		low. I thought by having something to do, I would physically move more." (A4)
		․ "I started because I heard that my body shape would get better." (B2)
	b) Exercise for the mind	․ "Sitting down all day long to study puts a lot of stress on me. Physical education
		class is very short, at only two hours a week. It was too stuffy so I applied for a
		yoga class after school." (A3)
		․ "Other after school classes were about literature and science but there was only
		yoga class for my mind…I simply thought that it would help because I have
		personal stress." (A4)
	c) Exercise for study	․ "I was in a position to study, but playing soccer made me too tired and sleepy.
		I did not want my exercise to have too much of an impact on my studies…that is
		why I chose yoga in order for me to be able to do both exercise and study. " (A2)
Extrinsic motivation	a) Exercise with friends	․ "I attended an international school in India for 6th grade. I just liked meeting new
		people in yoga. I joined yoga class to meet new friends." (A3)
		․ "It was good to take a class with my friends because it is easy to give up when I
		practice yoga alone." (A4)
	b) Exercise recommended by others	․ "My mum made me start yoga." (A2)
		․ "I did it with my friend based on his recommendation. My gym and class teacher
		also recommended saying it is good for the waist." (A3)
		․ "The doctor recommended yoga for blood circulation." (B3)
		․ "I started because a trainer in a private gym recommended yoga." (C4)

Table 4.

Representative Quotations of Perceived Benefits after Yoga Class

Categories	Subcategories	Representative quotations
Physical aspects	a) Weight control	․ "I lost a lot of weight in my lower body."(B3)
	a) Weight control	․ "I definitely lost a lot of weight doing yoga. About 5kg then."(C3)
	b) Improvement in flexibility	․ "I also felt like I became very flexible. I could not bend forward. After doing yoga, I
	b) Improvement in flexibility	was able to reach down to touch my toes."(A2).
	c) Correct body shape	․ "After yoga, I could see that my body line was better."(B3)
	c) Correct body shape	․ "Yoga has a lot of straightening postures. I felt my back straighten out."(C1)
	d) Pain relief	․ "My headaches got better at that time."(A4)
	d) Pain relief	․ "Yoga helped with my shoulder pain a lot."(C1)
	e) Fatigue relief	․ "I liked doing yoga. It relieved my fatigue before studying at night."(A2)
	e) Fatigue relief	․ "Meditation relieved my fatigue although it was only for 10 minutes."(B2)
	f) Muscle relaxation	․ "It definitely relaxes my shoulders and back muscles."(C1)
	f) Muscle relaxation	․ "My whole body felt refreshed because my tense muscles were relaxed."(C2)
	g) Improvement in circulation	․ "I swallowed easily the next day, but now my face does not swallow in the morning.
	g) Improvement in circulation	I think my blood circulation is better."(B3)
Psychological aspects	a) Stress reduction	․ " Doing yoga movements after school relieves my stresses."(B1)
	a) Stress reduction	․ "A lot of stress from studying and preparing for college was relieved."(B2)
	b) Increase in patience and calmness	․ "I had better patience because there is a lot of holding postures in yoga. So, I do not get angry easily."(B2)
	b) Increase in patience and calmness	․ "My personality was more stable and calm in my everyday life."(A2)
	c) Deep sleep	․ "I fell into a deep sleep only after 5 min. It is really amazing."(A3)
	c) Deep sleep	․ "Meditation is like a really short nap; it feels like a long time."(B2)
	d) Refreshment	․ "I feel more refreshed and that feeling persists even after yoga."(A4)
	d) Refreshment	․ "After sweating from doing yoga, I felt fresh."(C3)
	e) Happiness	․ "I feel so happy when I come out of the shower."(C3)
	e) Happiness	․ "There was a happy and pleasant feeling from doing yoga."(C4)
Cognitive aspects	a) Self-reflection	․ "It's a time for self- reflection."(A2)
		․ "I can think about myself. I might be able to reorganize and reflect upon myself and
		find my inner peace like student A2 said."(A4)
	b) Insight of possibility	․ "I know my body has changed. It shows me the possibilities."(A3)
	b) Insight of possibility	․ "You know how you lie down and put your feet over your head. I could not do that, but after practicing, I can do it now."(C2)
	c) Increase of concentration	․ "When meditating, I close my eyes and concentrate on my body"(B2) ․ "I just focus on the movements without any miscellaneous thoughts."(C2)
	d) Academic performance	․ "I am less tired because of a clear mind and I get to think deeply while meditating and
	d) Academic performance	this helps me to study."(A3)
Social aspects	a) Joyfulness with friends	․ "We did yoga with students in other class, so I got to make more friends."(A3)
		․ "I did not know the students from the other classes well. But many students come here. We became close by encouraging each other when we did hard movements
		together and now we go exercise together."(B1)
	b) Intimacy with teacher	․ "I get to spend more time with the teacher than during a usual semester. So being closer with the gym teacher was a positive experience."(A1)

Table 5.

Representative Quotations of Suggestions for a School-based Yoga Class

Categories	Subcategories	Representative quotations
Comfortable environment	a) Clean environment	․ " A clean environment is good. The yoga mattress is too dirty to lie on. The air was bad in the room. We always had to close the door in classroom because too much smoke would came in if we did not close the door."(A3)
	b) Warm place	․ "Cold temperature was a barrier. I asked for more heat because warmth stimulates blood circulation and sweating improves the effects of yoga. It is not very good to do it in the cold."(B2)
	c) Quiet and focused atmosphere	․ "I don't like hearing car sounds in yoga class. When I listen to nature's sound, I feel better during meditation."(B1)
	c) Quiet and focused atmosphere	․ "You should guarantee privacy in the classroom atmosphere and block the windows so that no one outside can glance through the windows."(C1)
Suitable structure for yoga class	a) Small class	․ "A yoga class should have less than 12 students. I would want a class of 7 to 8 students only, 9 people in 3 rows would be good."(A3)
	a) Small class	․ "It would be more comfortable with less people in the yoga class. A full class can not do yoga. You can not control a full class."(C1)
	b) Short class	․ "Short time of yoga in the morning sounds good. I would like to do it for a short while like 15 to 20 minutes rather than for approximately 40 minutes. Then it would not be boring.….even for 3 times a week."(A4)
	c) Persistent class	․ "Teaching consistently not so much all at once but instead every day. I somehow think this way will leave a deeper impression"(A1)
	c) Persistent class	․ "I think it is important to do it continuously like this. it would be better physically and mentally if it is consistent,"(A4)
	d) Cost and obligation to attend	․ "Having a cheaper price would attract many students. But if it was free, classmates would not want to do it. 50,000 won seems reasonable."(A3)
	d) Cost and obligation to attend	․ "I would come if you took attendance. I may be late if I am sick, but I would not miss the class."(A3)
Strategies for promoting participation	a) Support and encouragement by teacher or classmate	․ "I think the atmosphere is really important. Classmate do when people say that it's good so let's do it together."(A4)
	a) Support and encouragement by teacher or classmate	․ "We are still adolescents; we need to be forced in every aspect. Our class teacher told us not to do it so I was discouraged by the teacher. I am like this because our teacher is not a good role model."(A4)
	b) Achievement and challenge	․ "Setting a goal and achieving it together."(C1)
	b) Achievement and challenge	․ "Yoga should be not too easy. Yoga should be challenging. I would like some different postures every day."(B3)
	c) Yoga should have a purpose	․ "If you say you will lose weight doing yoga, a lot of students will come…and also if it is for losing weight or improving concentration."(B3)
	c) Yoga should have a purpose	․ "Doing yoga to get taller and reduce acne by improving the blood circulation rather than weight loss would attract a lot of boys."(B2)
	d) Yoga should be charming	․ "I want the yoga teacher to be pretty. My yoga teacher was really slim, curvy and pretty, I think that I could be like that."(B3)
	d) Yoga should be charming	․ "Showing a case like how a celebrity turned out by doing yoga would really motivate them. Showing photos of results from after yoga."(C1)
	e) Yoga should be fun	․ "To gather participants, it should be fun. I hope the program is fun and that is enough to make me think I want to do it again."(A4)
	e) Yoga should be fun	․ "We can have fun together. I think we can enjoy it together. There was a playful atmosphere and I liked this."(C1)
	f) Yoga should provide information	․ "There is also information about the body. Like in health education class, health education could be done with it. then, the class was not boring."(C1)
	f) Yoga should provide information	․ "It would be better if you tell us about the yoga posture we are going to do today and what they are good for, and provide more information."(C3)
	g) Individual and tailored approach	․ "I would like individualized class, everybody does a different cat posture."(A1)
	g) Individual and tailored approach	․ "By doing a physical examination before a yoga class, you could teach him the movements for his weak parts. So personalized program would be good as new yoga program."(C3)
Suggestions for sustaining in daily life	a) Simple and easy	․ "A way to do it persistently in daily life would be, do it at the desk. It would be nice if you teach, how to stretch the neck sitting in a bus."(A3)
		․ "Well, I was busy following instructions and being passive the entire time because I did not know a lot, So simple and easy yoga is better."(A2)
		․ "It is easy if you do only one movement because it is what you have been persistently learning. If it is something you can do easily while sitting, it would be effective doing it in daily life."(C3)
	b) Healthy habits	․ "I like to practice yoga frequently even it is for a short time. I think not having enough time is an excuse. We can get enough time if you save time little by little from other things. So we should do it every day rather than every other day for some amount of time. If we remind ourselves and do it every day, it will become a habit and we will be able to do some stretching that we learned while studying."(A4)
	b) Healthy habits	․ "Yoga should be done every day if it is for all the students in the school. I think we should make yoga an everyday habit for our health"(A3)

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