Korean Adolescents' Experience of Yoga Class: "Healthy Habits Beyond Exercise"

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.