An Exploration into Pathways, Motivations, Barriers and Experiences of Yoga among Middle-aged and Older Adults

The aim of this thesis was to explore potential differences in yoga practices between middle-aged (40 to 54) and older adult yoga students (55+). A social learning/health belief model was used to frame this research. A mixed methods approach was used. For the quantitative analyses, a convenience sample, of 452 participants, was collected through an on-line questionnaire. For the qualitative analyses, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 of the participants. Results of the mixed methods approach showed several unique differences between the age groups in terms of motivations and barriers, but not pathways. Implications for health promotion programs that target older adults were discussed.