A change in perception: a hermeneutical inquiry into the experiences of women who practice yoga and their perceived body image
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This hermeneutic-phenomenological study explored the experiences of women who practice yoga and their perceived body image and self-esteem. Women in North America often struggle with body image issues because of the intense focus our society has on unrealistic beauty standards for women. Women's relationships with their bodies are complex and can be affected negatively by many different things. As such it was important to explore how yoga might affect women's perceptions of their bodies, and explore if yoga could be a positive influence in women's lives and their relationship with their bodies. The study found five themes (Experiencing a change in self-esteem and/or body image; Reflecting on the media's representation of the female body; Yoga as a way to balance life; Mind-body wholeness; and Formation and change in identity) and seventeen sub-themes which emerged from interviews that were conducted with five participants. Implications for counsellors are discussed.
Description
Bibliography: p. 142-153
Keywords
Citation
Fiebig, L. (2009). A change in perception: a hermeneutical inquiry into the experiences of women who practice yoga and their perceived body image (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/2746