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| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2019 |
Volume
: 12 | Issue : 2 | Page
: 91-95 |
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The psycho-linguistic effects of yoga: A lexical analysis of shifts in positivity, agency, and creativity
Robin Blades, David MacFadyen
Department of Comparative Literature, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
Correspondence Address:
Robin Blades
1141 Walnut St., Berkeley, California 94707
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_45_18
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Introduction: Yoga is understood in the scientific community as a powerful de-stressor. Reduced stress has been linked to improved mood, increased agency, and enhanced creativity. Objective: This study investigates these potential psychological effects of yoga by comparing two lexical data sets, composed of nearly 3000 words collected before and after yoga classes. Methods: Each word is scored along three dimensions: positivity, agency, and creativity. Positivity is calculated using SentiWords Sentiment Dictionary 1.0; agency is determined by grammatical categorization; and creativity is viewed as a function of the set distribution. Results: Analysis reveals a shift toward more positive and less agentful self-reporting after practice. No significant difference is found in creativity.Conclusion: This study provides insight into how yoga alters thought processes and affects the mental health of practitioners.
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