A Comparative Study on the Level of Optimism of Yoga Practitioners and Non-Practitioners

Optimism is a mental attitude characterized by hope and confidence in success and a positive future. Studies have reported the influence of yoga in promoting optimism. This study was carried out among 50 yoga practitioners (experimental group) attending a yoga class at Patanjali Yoga Research Centre, Kozhikode, Kerala, India and the control group of 50 people who were not practicing yoga. Data was collected using a questionnaire containing the measure of the level of optimism and the characteristics of yoga practitioners, namely, sex, age, marital status, whether did yoga before joining the present class, months of yoga practice in this class, and whether they were having any psychological problem at present. There exists statistically significant difference between the comparatively higher mean total optimism score of yoga practitioners and the lower score of the non-practitioners, indicating that yoga practitioners are more optimistic than those who do not do yoga. Statistically significant difference exists in the total optimism score of yoga practitioners based on sex, age, marital status, whether they did yoga before joining the present yoga class, and whether they are having psychological problem at present. Males get higher score than females, comparatively younger yoga practitioners get more score than those in the higher age group, unmarried yoga practitioners get higher score than married people, those who have done yoga before joining the present yoga class get higher score than those who have not done it before, and those who have psychological problem at present get lower score than those who do not have the problem. Majority of the yoga practitioners have experienced most of the optimism related feelings to a good extent, compared to most of the non-practitioners, who have experienced them to a lesser extent only. The effect of yoga in helping the practitioners to achieve better optimism in their life, compared to those who have not done yoga is evident from this study.