Reduce stress and the risk of burnout by using yoga techniques. Pilot study

Abstract

Introduction
This article examines the effectiveness of yoga in managing stress, with a particular focus on work-related stress. Yoga combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation, and has gained recognition for its potential to relieve stress.

Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the motivating factors behind individuals adopting yoga exercises and to assess the effects of regular yoga practice, with a particular focus on age-related differences. Additionally, we aimed to compare participants’ expectations with the actual results of their yoga practice.

Methods
To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive survey using an online form, which was completed by 520 yoga practitioners. Participants were surveyed about their motivation, the effects they experienced, and the type of yoga they practiced.

Results
The results showed that the most common motivation for individuals practicing yoga was stress reduction. Additionally, the analysis of the effects of regular yoga practice demonstrated a significant reduction in stress levels, with experienced practitioners reporting lower stress levels compared to beginners. In conclusion, the study suggests that regular yoga practice can be an effective way to reduce stress levels.

Conclusion
Dynamic forms of yoga, which incorporate fluid movements and synchronized breathing techniques, are highly effective approaches to stress management and relief. These findings highlight the value of yoga as a tool for individuals of all ages seeking stress relief and overall well-being. Another advantage of yoga practice is its affordability and lack of negative side effects.

Full text

Frontiers in Public Health 01 frontiersin.org
Reduce stress and the risk of
burnout by using yoga
techniques. Pilot study
AgnieszkaZok
1*, MonikaMatecka
2, ArturBienkowski
1 and
MagdalenaCiesla
1
1 Department of Philosophy of Medicine and Bioethics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences,
Poznan, Poland, 2 Department of Occupational Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences,
Poznań, Poland
Introduction: This article examines the eectiveness of yoga in managing stress,
with a particular focus on work-related stress. Yoga combines physical postures,
breath control, and meditation, and has gained recognition for its potential to
relieve stress.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the motivating factors behind individuals
adopting yoga exercises and to assess the eects of regular yoga practice, with a
particular focus on age-related dierences. Additionally, weaimed to compare
participants’ expectations with the actual results of their yoga practice.
Methods: To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive survey using an
online form, which was completed by 520 yoga practitioners. Participants were
surveyed about their motivation, the eects they experienced, and the type of
yoga they practiced.
Results: The results showed that the most common motivation for individuals
practicing yoga was stress reduction. Additionally, the analysis of the eects of
regular yoga practice demonstrated a significant reduction in stress levels, with
experienced practitioners reporting lower stress levels compared to beginners.
In conclusion, the study suggests that regular yoga practice can bean eective
way to reduce stress levels.
Conclusion: Dynamic forms of yoga, which incorporate fluid movements and
synchronized breathing techniques, are highly eective approaches to stress
management and relief. These findings highlight the value of yoga as a tool
for individuals of all ages seeking stress relief and overall well-being. Another
advantage of yoga practice is its aordability and lack of negative side eects.
KEYWORDS
yoga, stress, occupational stress, burnout, wellbeing
Introduction
In modern society, individuals are exposed to numerous stressors. In the European
Region, approximately 50% of workers consider stress as a common occurrence. Occupational
stress is a chronic condition that cannot becured with a single treatment. To address this
condition, it’s essential to understand its history or epidemiology. Once you have a clear
understanding of the problem, youcan explore various alternatives for protection, prevention,
and intervention (1). Occupational stress is one of the most common work-related health
OPEN ACCESS
EDITED BY
Apar Avinash Saoji,
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana
Samsthana, India
REVIEWED BY
Praerna Bhargav,
National Institute of Mental Health and
Neurosciences, India
Sriloy Mohanty,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India
*CORRESPONDENCE
Agnieszka Zok
agzok@ump.edu.pl
RECEIVED 14 January 2024
ACCEPTED 01 March 2024
PUBLISHED 02 April 2024
CITATION
Zok A, Matecka M, Bienkowski A and
Ciesla M (2024) Reduce stress and the risk of
burnout by using yoga techniques. Pilot
study.
Front. Public Health 12:1370399.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370399
COPYRIGHT
© 2024 Zok, Matecka, Bienkowski and Ciesla.
This is an open-access article distributed
under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution License (CC BY). The use,
distribution or reproduction in other forums is
permitted, provided the original author(s) and
the copyright owner(s) are credited and that
the original publication in this journal is cited,
in accordance with accepted academic
practice. No use, distribution or reproduction
is permitted which does not comply with
these terms.
TYPE Original Research
PUBLISHED 02 April 2024
DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370399

Zok et al. 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370399
Frontiers in Public Health 02 frontiersin.org
problems worldwide (1–7). Occupational stress is a well-documented
issue that poses risks to both physical and mental health. According
to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress-related diseases are
the leading cause of premature death in European countries. Work-
related stress incurs high costs for workers, employers, and society. It
is important to address this issue to promote a healthier and more
productive workforce (8). Occupational stress is a signicant modern
health and safety challenge. e causes of occupational stress can
benumerous, ranging from the fear of losing one’s job, to job burnout,
lack of support, and mobbing. Whatever the cause, occupational stress
not only signicantly reduces the quality of life (9, 10) and leads to
various diseases and disorders (10, 11), including cancer (12–14). An
association between occupational stress and sleep quality has been
also documented (15–18) A study involving a substantial cohort of
reghters revealed a correlation between heightened occupational
stress and increased global suicide risk, lifetime suicide threats, and
current suicidal intent. Furthermore, these associations were found to
bediminished as self-reported distress tolerance increased (19).
Occupational stress can result in types of stress: behavioral (e.g.,
absenteeism), physical (e.g., headaches), and psychological (e.g.,
depressed mood) (20). Furthermore, this stress is associated with
constant staying ready (ght-or-ight response) (21, 22). is can
result in a variety of disorders, such as mental disorders (e.g.,
depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder), job dissatisfaction,
maladaptive behavior (e.g., substance abuse), cardiovascular disease,
and musculoskeletal disorders (23).
A landmark study by the World Health Organization and the
International Labor Organization found that exposure to long working
hours, theorized to result from increased psychosocial stress at work,
is the occupational risk factor with the highest burden of disease,
ocially estimated to have caused the deaths of some 745,000 workers
from ischaemic heart disease and stroke in 2016 (24). Work-related
stress is also a problem of work-life balance, as shown by the Work,
Family, and Health Study (25). Although the problem of work-related
stress is not a new issue, the instability of today’s labor and employment
market exacerbates it. Studies have shown that occupational stress is
a cause of depression and anxiety states (26, 27). In addition, chronic
stress signicantly reduces the quality and productivity of work.
Above all, however, it should be remembered that physiological
responses to stress can accurately reect health (28–30). Stress-related
disorders are a group of increasingly diagnosed diseases worldwide
(30–32). Unfortunately, conventional pharmacotherapy treatments are
not always feasible (33–35). Other activities that positively impact the
patient’s well-being can also support conventional therapy. Physical
activity, including yoga, is a frequently recommended form of welfare
support. Yoga is a unique form of physical activity because of the
multifaceted nature of the practice. ere is evidence that yoga has
mood-enhancing properties, likely related to its inhibitory eects on
physiological stress and inammation, oen associated with aective
disorders (13, 36, 37). Yoga practice has already been described as an
eective and safe intervention for people with depression, anxiety
disorders, or PTSD (38–40). ese ndings have provided valuable
insights into the potential benets of yoga in managing these
conditions. However, despite the existing evidence, there remains a
need to explore the motivations and eects of yoga practice more
comprehensively. Previous research suggests that health concerns,
improved wellbeing, and stress reduction are the main motivations for
starting a yoga practice (41–43). e British study also showed that
the practice of yoga is used as a form of physical activity to complement
the rehabilitation process (42).
e aim of this study was to investigate the motivations and eects
of yoga practice among a group of randomly selected Polish yogis. e
aim was to explore the role of yoga in reducing stress and improving
overall well-being by understanding the perspectives and experiences
of these practitioners. Specically, the study analyzed survey responses
from individuals who practice yoga with the explicit aim of reducing
stress. Our research has the potential to provide valuable insights that
can guide healthcare professionals and individuals seeking alternative
approaches to stress management and mental health improvement.
Materials and methods
e study was approved by the Bioethics Committee at
PUMS 391/20.
Participants
Yoga practitioners from dierent regions of Poland took part in
this study. Participants were recruited from the yoga community
through popular social media platforms such as Facebook and
Instagram. A wide range of yoga styles were represented among the
participants. e selection of these specic social media platforms
aimed to include individuals within a specic age range.
e primary criterion for participation in the study was
maintaining a consistent and regular yoga practice. Individuals who
did not maintain a regular practice were excluded from the analyses.
Table1 shows the basic characteristics of these respondents, including
their age, level of education, and place of residence. By completing the
questionnaire, respondents explicitly conrmed their informed
consent to participate in the study.
Questionary form
e survey was created using Google Forms and distributed to
participants through a link on leading yoga-focused websites. e
form consisted of two parts. e rst part was about the experience of
practicing yoga, and the second was a metric.
e survey design allowed at most 5 min to complete. e
questions sought answers to issues related to motivation to practice.
In addition, the practice results were checked to see if they reected
the motivations.
Statistic
e lled questionnaires were downloaded and saved in “xlsx”
format. Statistical analysis and visualization of the collected data were
conducted in the statistical soware environment “R” (version 4.1.2),
utilizing additional libraries. e xlsx les were imported into R using
the “openxlsx” library (44). e number of response options given to
the respective questions and the corresponding percentages were
calculated. e resulting gures were displayed in tables or visualized
using the ggplot2 library (45).

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Analysis of multiple-answer questions
e question regarding expectations of yoga practice was in the
form of a multiple-choice question. e responses were segregated
into distinct age categories (<18–24, 25–30, 31–35, 36–40, 41–45,
46–50, 56–60, 61–65>) to exhibit changes in expectations according
to the age of the participants. e total number of responses,
percentage per response, and percentage per responders population
were calculated using the “multiResponse” function from the “user-
friendly science” package (46).
To identify the trend of changes in expectations toward yoga with
the age of respondents, pre-calculated values of percentage per
response were used and a regression curve was calculated using a
linear model. In addition, beta values, which quantify how strongly
changes from one age category to the subsequent one aects the
percentage response to a specic expectation, and R2 values, which
measure the goodness of t to the regression line, were obtained and
presented in relevant gures.
Cluster analysis
e multiple-choice questions were analyzed using the Ward
hierarchical clustering method (47). Firstly, the answers were
transformed into a binary matrix. Each column represented one
possible answer option, and each row represented the answers given
by one respondent. Next, the optimal number of clusters was
determined by repeatedly calculating the sum of squared error (SSE)
measurement with an increasing number of clusters. e result of
dividing respondents’ answers into dierent clusters was presented as
a heatmap, which was generated using the “Complexheatmap”
package (48). Next, the selected questions were analyzed by dividing
the respondents into groups obtained by assigning them to the
corresponding clusters. e results with the percentage distribution
were presented on bar charts.
e analysis of the relationship between motivation for practicing
yoga and the eects of yoga practice.
e responses to the question about motivation for practicing
yoga were grouped into subsets based on the frequency of each
response. Next, in each subset, the number of responses and the
percentage per response was calculated concerning the eects of yoga
practice. Finally, the results were presented as a heatmap in which the
percentage per response values were shown, assuming that the sum of
the percentage per response equals 100 for each row (motivation).
Results
e survey included 520 yoga practitioners. Women predominated
among the respondents, accounting for 93.65% (487 people), while
men accounted for 6.15% (32 people). One person declared himself
non-binary without indicating his gender. Yogis were asked which
style of yoga they most oen practice. e vast majority of people,
41.6%, practice vinyasa yoga; 22.12% said they practice Ashtanga
Yoga; however, the Iyengar method is practiced by 18.85%. 6.54 people
declared the practice of spine and yin yoga by 5%. Another style than
those mentioned is practiced by 5.96% of respondents. Regarding the
place of practice, almost half of the respondents (49.62%) choose to
practice at a yoga studio. 19.81% practice independently at home,
while 16.15% use online instructors. 9.42% choose gyms. 5% of
respondents began practicing during the covid-19 pandemic.
Weasked respondents about internship placement (the duration of
their practice). ose practicing yoga for less than a year prevailed,
accounting for 23.85% of the group. From 1 to 3 years, 38.27% of
respondents have been practicing. ose practicing for over 10 years
accounted for 12.5% of the group. e largest group, 35%, were yogis
aged 36–45. ose aged 25–35 made up 31% of those surveyed.
Residents of large cities with higher education predominated among
those surveyed (Table1).
Correlations were calculated between respondents’ stated
expectations of yoga practice and their age. Among the motivating
factors, stress reduction, body stretching, and personal growth were
predominant. As yogis advanced in age, the frequency of citing
specic health needs as a motivation for their practice increased. On
the contrary, the need to strengthen the body decreases with age.
However, the inclination to seek stress reduction through yoga
remained consistent across all age groups except for those over 60.
Individuals in this age group, more so than younger yogis, reported
practicing yoga primarily due to specic health needs (Figure1).
Multiple-choice question answers regarding motivation to take up
yoga practice in relation to stress reduction were preliminarily
analyzed and visualized using alluvial plot (Figure 2). e chart
depicts the number of respondents whose motivation for practicing
yoga included stress reduction (T, blue color), as well as those who did
not indicate stress reduction as one of the possible answers (N, red
color). Approximately 50% of all participants indicated that their
TABLE1 The socio-demographic characteristics of polish yogis based on
the results of a survey question and answers, including the number of
respondents (N) and the corresponding percentage distribution (%).
Question Variant of
answer
N (%)
Gender Female N = 296, (89.16%)
Male N = 36, (10.84%)
Age 14–17 N = 1, (0.3%)
18–24 N = 18, (5.42%)
25–35 N = 54, (15.96%)
36–46 N = 86, (25.3%)
47–57 N = 96, (28.92%)
58–69 N = 64, (18.98%)
70–80 N = 12, (3.61%)
81–90 N = 1, (0.3%)
Education Higher education N = 217, (65.36%)
Primary education N = 5, (1.51%)
Secondary education N = 95, (28.61%)
Vocational N = 15, (4.52%)
Residence A city of over 100,000. N = 160, (48.19%)
City of 10–25 thousand. N = 36, (10.84%)
City under 10,000. N = 22, (6.63%)
City up to 100,000. N = 61, (18.37%)
Village N = 53, (15.96%)

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FIGURE1
Analysis of motivation for practicing yoga in relation to the age of respondents. (A) Percentage distribution of responses [%] regarding motivation for
practicing yoga in dierent age categories. (B) Analysis of changes in the frequency of specific responses to the question concerning motivation for
practicing yoga in dierent age categories. The chart displays a regression line, including the beta value (indicating the magnitude of change during the
transition from one age category to another) and R2- the degree of fit of the data to the linear regression line.
FIGURE2
Alluvial Plot depending on the response indicating motivation for taking up yoga practice as stress reduction (blue lines, T- true) and in the case when
respondents indicated motivations other than stress reduction (red lines, F-false). N- number of respondents. The x-axis represents all possible answer
choices regarding motivation for taking up yoga practice.

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motivation for taking up yoga practice was stress reduction. Some of
these individuals also selected the need for building strength and the
need to stretch the body.
Next, a detailed analysis was conducted to investigate the
motivation behind taking up yoga practice. Prior to the analysis,
respondents were divided into appropriate subgroups using the Ward
hierarchical clustering method. Data analysis involved the repeated
calculation of the sum of squared errors (SSE) to determine the
optimal clusterization. e results indicated that dividing the data into
six clusters, as shown in Figure 3, provided the most optimal
clusterization. Each respondent was then assigned to their respective
cluster. Respondents assigned to the rst cluster mostly practiced yoga
due to “other motivations” not mentioned in the analyzed question.
Individuals classied into the second cluster primarily chose the
responses “need for personal growth” and “spiritual needs”. e third
cluster consists mainly of people practicing yoga for specic health
needs. e fourth cluster was assigned to people expecting stress
reduction and body stretching. ose assigned to the h cluster
practiced stretching the body and building strength. In this cluster,
yogis also declared a desire for personal growth and stress reduction.
Finally, those supplementing other activities with yoga were assigned
to cluster 6.
A detailed analysis of responses
regarding style, age, practice duration,
and yoga values among survey
participants assigned to respective
clusters
Style of yoga practice
Participants whose motivation to practice yoga is mainly stress
reduction (cluster 4) mainly practice the Vinyasa Yoga style.
Compared to the other groups, those aiming to reduce stress also
practiced Yin yoga and Spinal yoga. ose belonging to cluster 4
practiced Ashtanga yoga signicantly less oen (12.3%) concerning
participants classied in the other clusters (20.5–27%) (Figure4A).
Age of yoga practitioners
Cluster 4 was dominated by people between 25 and 60 years of
age. Yogis over 60 years of age predominated in cluster 3in which the
main motivation for undertaking yoga practice was based on specic
health needs. e youngest participants in the study are most
represented in cluster 6in which they mainly see yoga as a complement
to other sports (Figure4B).
Length of regular yoga practice
It was noted that the motivation for stress reduction was
predominantly expressed by practitioners with short-term experience
(those practicing for no more than 2 years accounted for over 51% in
cluster 4). Yogis with many years of training were much more likely to
attribute their practice to specic health needs or other motivations
(Figure4C).
Value of yoga practice
We asked respondents which aspect of yoga practice they valued
the most. For the vast majority, combining physical practice with
spiritual elements is important. Many also value yoga as a physical
activity e fewest number of people attend classes because of the
spiritual aspects (Figure4D).
Does the motivation for practicing yoga is
reflected in the outcomes achieved
outcomes?
In order to answer this question, the data from the question on
motivation and the eects of yoga practice were analyzed as a two-way
frequency table in Figure5. e percentage distribution of the individual
response from the question on motivation in relation to the eects of
yoga practice is presented as a heatmap. e eect of yoga practice as
improving body exibility was the most frequently selected in each group
however, the motivations for undertaking yoga practice overlapped with
the achieved eects of yoga practice. ose whose motivation was stress
reduction most oen indicated that the eect of yoga practice was stress
relief (17%). ose motivated by the need to stretch the body indicated
improving body exibility as an eect of the practice.
FIGURE3
Cluster analysis based on multiple-choice questions related to
motivation to take up yoga practice. The number of clusters is
marked according to the color scale on the right side. The results of
each survey respondent are presented in rows. The green color on
the heatmap indicates the selection of a specific answer by the
survey respondent.

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FIGURE4
Comparison of response frequencies based on assignment to respective clusters. The percentage values of each response declaration are indicated on
the x-axis, divided according to the previous assignment of yogis to their respective clusters. The color represents one of the possible answers to the
given question, with their corresponding values presented in the legend. (A) Style of yoga practiced by participants classified into clusters; (B) Age of
participants assigned to clusters; (B) Length of practice; (C) Significant values for yoga practitioners described according to clusters.
FIGURE5
two-way frequency table heatmap showing the frequency dependence of responses to individual motivations for yoga practice in relation to the
eects of yoga practice. The data in the heatmap shows the percentage distribution of responses to the motivation question.

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Discussion
Although the causes of occupational burnout remain unclear, in
the last few decades, there has been much interest in occupational
stress in health sciences (49–52). Research shows that professional
work is increasingly becoming a cause of chronic stress, which can
lead to occupational burnout and consequently to deterioration of
health, quality of life and the development of such diseases and
disorders as depression, PTSD, anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders,
cardiovascular diseases; and the development of maladaptive behavior.
rough the release of stress hormones, induction of inammation,
and suppression of immunity, chronic stress can encourage
tumorigenesis and oncogenesis (tumor formation). In addition,
chronic stress causes the neuroendocrine system (hypothalamus-
pituitary–adrenal axis) and sympathetic nervous system to become
activated, producing stress hormones that can promote tumor growth
and control the tumor microenvironment (53). Chronic stress and
high glucocorticoid levels alter the brain’s structure and function,
particularly the hippocampus, a crucial component of the limbic
system that is essential for cognitive processes like learning and
remembering (54).
According to the World Health Organization (WHO),
occupational burnout is a syndrome resulting from chronic work-
related stress, with symptoms characterized by “feelings of energy
depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or
feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced
professional ecacy”1.
Although the ICD-11 classication does not include occupational
stress, it can beclassied as a 6B4Y, i.e., other specied disorders
specically related to stress. However, it should beremembered that
occupational burnout is a consequence of long-term work-related
stress. e most common causes of work-related stress include
routine, uncomfortable working conditions, long working hours,
competitive, conicted work environment, pressure, control and lack
of trust from the employer, unstable employment conditions, and
mobbing. Chronic stress that causes professional burnout can have
negative eects, not only at the individual level, e.g., deterioration of
health and quality of work, but also at the organizational and social
level (55).
Our research showed that in the group of people predisposed
by age to work, the dominant factor in deciding to start yoga
practice was the desire to reduce stress (Figure1). It should benoted
that the upward trend of this factor appears already in the group of
people aged 25–30, i.e., when most people start their rst
professional job. is tendency signicantly intensies in people
over 30, indicating the rst signs of occupational stress. is trend
continues throughout the entire period of active professional work.
Attention is drawn to the fact that stress reduction is no longer the
key motivating goal for people entitled to retirement. It is rare for
individuals with age-related pension entitlements to begin a yoga
practice due to stress, which supports the thesis that work is the
primary cause of stress for individuals between the ages of 25 and
60. Jarvelin-Pasanen et al. have previously suggested that the
1 Burnout an “occupational phenomenon”: International Classification of
Diseases. WHO. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-01.
criterion of working age predisposes individuals to occupational
stress (56). Our research results align with the conclusions of
Shoman et al. and Maslash, who conclude that work stress is
positively related to occupational burnout and reinforces the
concept that occupational burnout is a response to excessive stress
at work (51). Researchers dealing with the problem of occupational
stress of employees in the health care system are coming to similar
conclusions (57–59). Chen etal. have shown that burnout facilitates
the relationship between occupational stress and symptoms of
depression and anxiety in young nurses (60).
Yoga is one of the forms of mindfulness techniques, both in its
dynamic form (focusing on movement and breathing) and in the form
of relaxation techniques. e regular practice of mindfulness is,
among other things, linked to the functioning of various areas of the
brain, including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). People who
meditate regularly show greater activity in the ACC area, which is
responsible for self-regulation and drawing conclusions based on
experience, thereby aiding optimal decision-making (has an essential
role in both learning and using extended action-outcome histories to
optimize voluntary choice behavior) (17, 60).
It also comprises such stress-reducing methods as stretching
techniques and social support (61). In research on the eectiveness
of mindfulness interventions, Kimberly notes that online
mindfulness interventions seem practical and eective in decreasing
employee stress while improving resiliency, vigor, and work
engagement, thereby enhancing overall employee well-being (62).
Green and Kinchen came to similar conclusions, indicating that
mindfulness training prevents professional burnout in nurses and
helps to deal with dicult situations (63). Reduced burnout,
perceived stress, and increased mindfulness were demonstrated in
a study on a group participating in a four-hour mindfulness
workshop (64). Cabat-Zinn observed that mindfulness-based stress
reduction (MBSR) might cause brain alterations that make it easier
to deal with unpleasant emotions when under stress. ese
modications persisted for at least 4 months following the
operation. Yoga practice does not always have to beassociated with
spiritual aspects, which was conrmed by our respondents
(Figure3). Yoga and physical therapy help reduce perceived stress
in low-income persons with chronic low back pain (cLBP),
according to Berlowirtz etal. Moreover, physical exercise was more
ecient than educational intervention (65). e study (a systematic
review and metanalysis) by Wand et al. found that yoga
interventions can help manage sleep problems in women when
compared to non-active control conditions (60).
A meta-analysis by Pascoe etal. indicates that the physical practice
of yoga can positively impact human well-being. As a result of the
study, they also claim that yoga asanas are associated with improved
regulation of the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic–
pituitary–adrenal system in various populations (36, 66, 67). is
study also showed that yoga signicantly reduces cortisol measured in
saliva during wakefulness and sleep, which is extremely important
because long-term elevated cortisol levels are a predisposing factor for
depression (68, 69). Cortisol levels can belowered with properly
planned physical activity (70–72), whereas intense exercise raises
stress hormone levels (36). In the analysis of Pascoe etal., they make
no distinction in terms of styles of yoga practice. Nevertheless, every
yoga practice begins with calming the breath (pranayama) and ends
with relaxation. All yoga styles also include mindfulness elements in

Zok et al. 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370399
Frontiers in Public Health 08 frontiersin.org
their technique, such as focusing on the breath, body scanning or
other forms of mindfulness techniques.
Among all yoga styles, our respondents most oen chose
vinyasa yoga, and their decision was motivated by the desire to
reduce stress levels. However, our respondents indicated that in
yoga, they value the combination of the physical and spiritual
aspects, which mindfulness techniques can establish. Signicantly
few people indicated that spiritual motivation is the main reason for
exercise (Figure4). Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic style characterized
by the diversity that allows practitioners to choose the intensity of
the practice according to their needs and abilities (37, 73, 74). e
impact of vinyasa yoga practice on reducing stress and reducing
problems with falling asleep has already been shown in a study on
a group of oncologists who declared an improvement in well-being
aer 3 months of practice (37). Notably, in clusters 4 and 5
(Figure3), the respondents to whom the desire to reduce stress
through yoga practice was assigned were predominantly those with
a short history of the practice allowing us to assume, as conrmed
by the results of other researchers, that yoga has a positive eect on
stress management role (67, 75, 76). Respondents who have been
practicing for years are less likely to report a need for stress
reduction (Figure 4). Balakrishnan et al. link this to a better-
developed parasympathetic nervous system in yogis. e
parasympathetic predominance demonstrated in the yoga group
suggests that hatha yoga practitioners may beat a lower risk of
stress-related comorbidities (77). Akdeniz concludes his research
with the recommendation that yoga should bestarted at a young
age and practiced regularly, as it provides a simple solution to
signicant problems such as pain, anxiety, sleep and stress that
negatively aect our daily lives (41).
It is worth noting that the respondents achieved the expected
results through yoga practice, as presented in Figure4.
It should benoted that chronic stress has been widely described
as a cause of many severe diseases and disorders, including
cardiovascular diseases (78–82). e impact of physical activity on
well-being and chronic stress is increasingly described in literature
(84–87); its importance was noticed both in the group of healthy
people and those struggling with diseases (83–86). Yoga combines
physical, breathing, and mindfulness exercises and may benet HF
patients and those struggling with the aective disorder (33, 87, 88).
Research results have shown that yoga practice signicantly
reduces physiological stress and inammation, improves well-being
and sleep quality, and practice is safe, meaning it can beused not only
as a prophylaxis but also as a support to conventional treatment of
diseases caused by occupational stress.
Conclusion
Occupational stress contributes to many diseases and psycho-
somatic disorders. Yoga practice can eectively neutralize
occupational stress.
Yoga combines the benets of physical activity and mindfulness,
making it possible to take care of both physical and mental health.
Yoga practice is an inexpensive and side-eect-free way to improve
human well-being. However, research should be conducted to
understand the mechanisms of the exercises.
Limitations
While acknowledging that work-related stress is a signicant issue
in modern society, it’s imperative to recognize the limitations of this
study. Notably, despite the widespread use of the Internet and social
media among working individuals, it’s crucial to bear in mind that not
everyone maintains accounts on platforms like Facebook or Instagram.
Additionally, a limitation arises from the underrepresentation of
individuals of retirement age, who typically have minimal engagement
with online resources.
Another aspect to consider is the deliberate use of a custom survey
form. is choice was made due to prior research indicating the
positive impact of yoga on enhancing life quality and managing stress-
related eects. Our specic aim was to scrutinize the intricate
correlation between various yoga practices, motivational factors,
exercise eects, and the age demographics of the participants. is
depth of analysis wasn’t feasible using existing standardized methods.
We acknowledge the inherent constraints associated with this
survey format. Nevertheless, our objective was to design a form that
could accurately align the type of yoga practice with the practitioners’
specic needs. Our intent is to tailor future assessments more precisely
to better cater to the requirements of yoga practitioners.
Data availability statement
e original contributions presented in the study are included in
the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can bedirected
to the corresponding author.
Ethics statement
e studies involving humans were approved by Komisja
Bioetyczna przy Uniwersytecie Medycznym im. Karola
Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu ul. Bukowska 70, pok. A204 60–812
Poznań. e studies were conducted in accordance with the local
legislation and institutional requirements. e ethics committee/
institutional review board waived the requirement of written informed
consent for participation from the participants or the participants’
legal guardians/next of kin because Participants completed the
questionnaire using an online form, which made it impossible to sign
the consent in person. e consent form was attached to the
questionnaire, and participants were informed that completing the
questionnaire meant participating in the study. In addition,
participants had to conrm their consent by selecting the
appropriate answer.
Author contributions
AZ: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis,
Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Visualization,
Writing – original dra, Writing – review & editing. MM: Formal
analysis, Resources, Writing – review & editing. AB: Data curation,
Writing – review & editing. MC: Data curation, Writing – review &
editing.

Zok et al. 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370399
Frontiers in Public Health 09 frontiersin.org
Conflict of interest
e authors declare that the research was conducted in the
absence of any commercial or nancial relationships that could
beconstrued as a potential conict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors
and do not necessarily represent those of their aliated
organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the
reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or
claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or
endorsed by the publisher.
Supplementary material
e Supplementary material for this article can befound online
at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1370399/
full#supplementary-material
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