Participation in Yoga Knowledge Classes: Factors, Processes and Consequences

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Quran and Social Studies, Research Center for Civilizational Islam, Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

The expansion of theoretical yoga teachings in practical classes—but also the establishment of yoga knowledge classes—indicates a trend that, until properly understood and recognized, prevents well-documented commentary on the associated cultural changes, emerging spiritual needs, and new expectations people have from religion. The central question of this research is: What factors, processes, and consequences are involved in individuals' participation in yoga knowledge classes? To address this question, the grounded theory approach was employed, drawing on field data gathered through participatory observations in both physical and virtual spaces, as well as in-depth interviews. The key theoretical components of the resulting theory include the contextual conditions of participation (intervening and causal), the teaching methods and content of the classes, displacement processes, and outcomes. The primary factor driving participation is a persistent state of unwellness, which, within a context of intervening conditions, facilitates an individual's entry into the group. For the majority of participants in each cohort, the process of moving from hope to despair occurs, with the consequence of dropping out of class. However, for a smaller number of newcomers in each cohort, the process of moving from a persistently bad state to a relatively good state occurs, yielding conscious and unconscious consequences that are culturally significant.

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Strategic Research on Social Problems

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 October 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 18 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 22 April 2026
  • Accept Date: 04 October 2026
  • Publish Date: 04 October 2026

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