The culture of yoga retreats, active followers and peripheral associates of new religious movements: wellness enterprises promoting well-being. Issue 5 (28th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pandya, Samta
• Is Part Of: Mental health, religion & culture. Volume 21:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 443
• Page End: 457
• Publication Date: 2018-05-28
• Subjects: Yoga retreats -- new religious movements -- active followers -- peripheral associates -- wellness -- flourishing -- thriving; Mental health -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Religion and culture -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Religious aspects -- Periodicals; Mentally ill -- Pastoral counseling of -- Periodicals; 306.461
• DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2018.1424812
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-4676

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the wellness effects of yoga retreats on Indian guru-led new religious movements' (NRMs) fellowship. The two-year repeated-measures study included 3658 active followers and 3658 peripheral associates as the comparison group. Two measures assessed wellness: the Flourishing Scale (FS) and the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT). Phase 1 scores of both groups were not significantly different. Active followers who attended yoga retreats scored higher at phase 2 on the FS and the CIT than the peripheral associates. Within the active followers' cohort, women, upper class, Hindus and never married/widowed had higher phase 2 FS and CIT scores. Active followers who attended retreats for meditation and reflection, practiced yoga, prayer and personal study during retreats, and regularly maintained the spiritual routine after retreats, acquired several psychological resources and strengths. Hence, active and serious followers of the Indian guru-led NRMs psychologically gain as a result of experiencing yoga retreats.