In this chapter, yoga is positioned as an embodied practice that has the potential to encourage positively embodied experiences, characteristics, and practices in an upward spiral. We propose a model whereby initial yoga practice cultivates state embodied experiences (e.g., moment-to-moment mindfulness and body appreciation) and when these moment-to-moment embodied experiences are repeatedly encountered over time through consistent yoga practice, become more stable within a person (e.g., higher trait mindfulness, higher trait body appreciation). Higher levels of these stable embodied characteristics then encourage a person to engage in additional attuned practices, such as intuitive eating and mindful self-care. Of course, variables such as the yoga context (e.g., instructional focus) as well as practitioners’ social identities (e.g., body size, physical abilities), social and personal histories (e.g., trauma), and personality traits and motives (e.g., internalization of appearance ideals, tendency to engage in body comparison), could impact the strengths of the relationships presented in this model. The model can be used to organize current research findings and formulate additional research directions for investigating the connections between yoga and positive embodiment variables.

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Mechanisms of Change in Yoga-Based Embodied Mindfulness Research

  • Anne E. Cox,
  • Tracy L. Tylka,
  • Maryam Nourollahimoghadam

摘要

In this chapter, yoga is positioned as an embodied practice that has the potential to encourage positively embodied experiences, characteristics, and practices in an upward spiral. We propose a model whereby initial yoga practice cultivates state embodied experiences (e.g., moment-to-moment mindfulness and body appreciation) and when these moment-to-moment embodied experiences are repeatedly encountered over time through consistent yoga practice, become more stable within a person (e.g., higher trait mindfulness, higher trait body appreciation). Higher levels of these stable embodied characteristics then encourage a person to engage in additional attuned practices, such as intuitive eating and mindful self-care. Of course, variables such as the yoga context (e.g., instructional focus) as well as practitioners’ social identities (e.g., body size, physical abilities), social and personal histories (e.g., trauma), and personality traits and motives (e.g., internalization of appearance ideals, tendency to engage in body comparison), could impact the strengths of the relationships presented in this model. The model can be used to organize current research findings and formulate additional research directions for investigating the connections between yoga and positive embodiment variables.