The evaluation of the sexual satisfaction, body awareness and life satisfaction of the people who practice yoga

Objectives: This study addresses the question of whether there is a difference in sexual satisfaction, body awareness and life satisfaction among the participants who practice yoga and who not. Methods: This study consist of yoga practitioners group and non yoga participants group (Control Group). The total sample size of this study was 94, 42 of them participated in the yoga group, and the rest of the participants (52 people) were in the control group. The sample of this study was determined by the way of convenience sampling. Control group consist of volunteers who did not practice yoga or any sport and whose socio-demographic features matched with the yoga group. Yoga group consisted of volunteers who practice yoga for at least 3 months and participated 1 hour yoga 2 times a week and over. During the data collection phase, The Socio- demographic Characteristics and Information Form, Golombok- Rust Sexual Satisfaction Inventory, Body Image Quality of Life Inventory and Body- Cathexis Scale were used. Results: In this research, any difference was not observed in socio-demographic characteristics between the groups. The research showed that there was a significant difference in sexual satisfaction, life satisfaction and body awareness between the yoga group and control group. The yoga subjects reported greater results in the area of sexual satisfaction, life satisfaction and body awareness than the non- yoga participants. While the relationship between the duration of yoga and body awareness was found, there was not relationship that found between the duration of yoga and sexual satisfaction and life satisfaction. According to this result, subjects who practice yoga 12 months and over had better body awareness than those who had less than 12 months of yoga practice. There was a positive correlation between body awareness and life satisfaction among yoga participants, but there were not relationship between sexual satisfaction and life satisfaction, sexual satisfaction and body awareness. Conclusion: According to research findings, it can be said that the yoga practitioners are better than the participants who do not practice yoga or any sport, in terms of sexual satisfaction, life satisfaction and body awareness. Also, when yoga practitioners are evaluated among themselves, it can be asserted that the body awareness of those who practice yoga for a long time are better. In addition, it can be said that there is a positive relationship between goodness in body awareness and life satisfaction among yoga practitioners. Longitudinal studies are suggested for further studies.