Table 2.
Themes and sample quotes.
| Theme | Number of participants with quotes falling under the theme |
Sample Quotes |
|---|---|---|
| Code Category: Notable Elements of Yoga Class | ||
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| Non-competitive, non-judgmental, accepting atmosphere | 14 participants, all positive | “It was comfortable, non-competitive, reassuring + encouraging all at the same time.” |
| “I liked the tone set by the instructors – the attitude of not judging or comparing yourself to others.” | ||
| “There was no pressure to ‘do well’ at it.” | ||
| Relaxing | 11 participants, all positive | “The time I spent doing yoga in class really did calm me down” |
| “I loved feeling relaxed at the end.” | ||
| Postures | 10 participants, all positive | “I liked the way the yoga person tells you what each position does for you.” |
| “I enjoyed learning about yoga and learning the different postures.” | ||
| “I liked the way the instructors helped me to change a pose to a way I would be getting the same effect and it was comfortable to me.” | ||
| Theme, concept, spiritual element, or central idea for class | 7 participants; 1 critical comment | (What did you like about the program?) “Positive words incorporated in yoga” |
| (What did you like about the program?) “Repetitive messages” | ||
| “I also did not like when there was no ‘theme’ to the practice, just clear your mind which made my mind wander instead of centering it.” | ||
| Physical activity | 6 participants; all positive | “I liked the exercise.” |
| “I liked the physical-ness of the class, the stretching.” | ||
| Level of difficulty | 6 participants; including 3 with critical comments | “Challenging poses yet good for beginners” |
| “I loved the easy, introductory way yoga was presented.” | ||
| “I liked that the class was beginner based.” | ||
| “Didn’t work with my physical limitations. Needed more ‘baby’ step techniques. I am aware that I need to go beyond my comfort level but trying to do things way beyond my ability is disheartening.” | ||
| “Some poses were hard on injured joints – i.e., shoulders or knees.” | ||
| “I could not fully participate because of my physical limitations.” | ||
| Meditation, concentration, mindfulness | 5 participants; all positive | “I enjoyed the breathing and meditation” |
| “I loved how the instructors had us stop and reflect on how we were feeling at certain points in the classes.” | ||
| Breathing | 5 participants; 1 critical comment | “I loved the focus on breathing. |
| “I liked when the yoga instructors tied the poses and the breathing to a concept like thinking about control, or judgment, or courage.” | ||
| “My only problem was the breathing doing certain ones and remembering to breathe into certain postures.” | ||
| Comfortable environment | 5 participants; all positive | “I felt very comfortable” |
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| Code Category: Important Instructor Characteristics | ||
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| Non-specific comments on the quality of the instructors | 24 participants; all positive | “Great instructors” |
| “The teachers were all wonderful.” | ||
| “The right leaders for someone like me – giving encouragement.” | ||
| Individualized attention and modifications | 16 participants; 1 critical; 2 participants with a mix of critical and positive comments | “I liked the way the instructors helped me to change a pose to a way I would be getting the same effect and it was comfortable to me.” |
| “The moves were explained clearly and in versions were offered or blocks to make the moves easier.” | ||
| (What did you not like about the program?) “Sometimes instructors talk too much/ they should go around + make sure each of us are in correct position.” This participant also said: “If I couldn’t do a move it was changed for me and then I could.” | ||
| “I did not like when certain instructor would stay in front of the class and did not know people’s names or give any individual feedback.” This person also said: “I also liked when the yoga teacher would help an individual with a pose, giving feedback to each participant so I could know if I needed to adjust a pose or if I was doing the pose well.” | ||
| “I could not fully participate because of my physical limitations and more focus could have been put on ability levels” | ||
| Knowledge, helpfulness, or competence | 12 participants; all positive | “Instructors also were very knowledgeable + were great at answering questions.” |
| (What did you like about the program?)” Helpfulness of instructor.” | ||
| Pleasantness, kindness, warmth | 11 participants; all positive | “The teachers were very courteous and non-judgmental” |
| “The teachers were all great! They were gentle, non-judgmental, helpful, loving, caring.” | ||
| “I felt ‘cared for.’” | ||
| Clarity of instructions | 7 participants; all positive | “They took their time to explain and show us the right way to do the exercises.” |
| “I liked the following about the program: … -thorough explanations and demonstration” | ||
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| Code Category: Effects of Yoga | ||
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| Learned to use breathing techniques or how to focus on the breath | 17 participants; all positive | (What is the most important thing you learned?) “learning how to breathe” |
| “The most important thing I learned was when I feel overwhelmed or anxious or fidgety that I can take a minute and just focus on my breathing -- can help relax me and make me feel more focused and less overwhelmed.” | ||
| “the different breathing techniques were helpful for diffusing everyday challenges.” | ||
| Learned to focus, concentrate, be in the present moment | 15 participants; all positive | (What is the most important thing you learned?) “Live in the present. Everything starts to look more manageable from this perspective.” |
| “To relax and tune in with my physical and emotional self. To stay in the moment.” | ||
| “Concentration to get more in tune with the moment” | ||
| “How to be at peace with self and learn to focus more.” | ||
| Learned relaxation skills | 12 participants; all positive | (What is the most important thing you learned?) “how to be at peace with myself.” |
| “The yoga taught me to relax.” | ||
| “Yoga can help me feel calmer.” | ||
| Experienced improved physical health, strength, and flexibility | 12 participants, all positive | “I found that it has helped tremendously with somatic symptoms I have had in the past year.” |
| “Physically, I feel stronger and more balanced.” | ||
| “I also gained more flexibility.” | ||
| Experienced improved mental health or mood | 10 participants; all positive | (What did you like about the program?) “Working my body, stretching it and such helped me to work it so that I was not so sad all the time.” |
| “It felt good to my physical and emotional body.” | ||
| Learned self-acceptance; to be non-judgmental about self; built self-esteem | 10 participants; all positive | (What is the most important thing you learned?)”to be kinder to yourself” |
| (What is the most important thing you learned?)”to accept my limitations” | ||
| (What is the most important thing you learned?) ”My body is not my enemy, and that physical strength and emotional strength are connected.” | ||
| Learned to be more self-aware or aware of their bodies | 8 participants; all positive | “I liked the exercise and getting more in touch with my body.” |
| (What is the most important thing you learned?) Learning how to “feel” my body + learning how to listen to it. | ||
| (What is the most important thing you learned?) To be aware of myself in the world, my breath, feelings, sensations, etc. | ||
| Experienced self-efficacy | 10 participants; all positive | “I have been encouraged by my progress in yoga and feel that it has given me a new source of self-esteem.” |
| “I’m physically more competent that I realized.” | ||
| Developed a healthier attitude or way of coping with negative thoughts | 8 participants; all positive | “I felt it helped me with… looking at things in a better way.” |
| (What is the most important thing you learned?) “…How to change negative thought patterns (though it is still difficult to do, but at least I have the skills and can continue building on them” | ||
| Learned how to quiet or clear one’s mind, slow thoughts down | 7 participants; all positive | (What did you like about the program?) “learning how to breathe and relax, clear your mind” |
| “I learned that doing a “practice” can be a place to put your mind for a while. That if the practice is a healthy physical activity it will improve your body + clear your mind” | ||
| “I felt it helped me with slowing my thoughts.” | ||
| Learned to center or ground myself | 5 participants, all positive | “I learned more about balance, centering.” |
| “Physically, I fell in much better shape and more grounded and connected to my body.” | ||
| Learned to decrease negative reactivity | 5 participants, all positive | (What is the most important thing that you learned?) How to channel my feelings and breathe step back and look at the situation without feeling overwhelmed |
| (What is the most important thing that you learned?) “Being self aware & letting things go” | ||