The Effects of In-Person and Online Hatha-Based Iyengar Yoga Programs on Physical Fitness, Perceived Stress, Perceived Health, and Yoga Self-Efficacy Among Young Healthy Adult Women

Date

2025-7

Author

Aslan, Özlem

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Following the COVID-19 pandemic, online yoga practices became increasingly popular. This study employed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design to compare the effects of in-person and online Hatha-based Iyengar yoga on physical fitness (strength, balance, flexibility, body composition), perceived health, perceived stress, yoga self-efficacy, and one-year adherence with participants’ subjective experiences and perceptions among healthy women aged 18–30 In the quantitative phase, 57 participants (19 per group) completed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with 24 participants from the in-person and online groups to explore participants’ subjective experiences and perceptions. Quantitative data were analyzed statistically, while qualitative data were examined through inductive thematic analysis. Significant between-group differences were found in balance (p=.005), perceived stress (p=.02), and perceived health (p=.036). Yoga self-efficacy scores (body, breath, mind, total) also showed significant group differences. Within-group analysis revealed significant improvements in strength (p=.003), flexibility (p=.001/.03), balance, and perceived stress (in-person: p=.006; online: p=.02) in intervention groups. The control group showed no such gains. A significant association was found between group type and one-year yoga adherence (p=.04). Participants from both groups reported enhanced physical and psychological well-being, increased self-awareness, and more favorable views toward yoga. Instructional quality, motivation, and environment shaped their experiences. While both formats were beneficial, the in-person format fostered stronger long-term adherence, and the online format was appreciated for convenience and accessibility. Integration of findings confirmed the effectiveness of both yoga approaches in promoting health and self-efficacy.

Subject Keywords

iyengar yoga, online yoga, in-person yoga, physical fitness, self-efficacy

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/115155

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis