Benefits, barriers, and cues to action of yoga practice: a focus group approach.

OBJECTIVES To explore perceived benefits, barriers, and cues to action of yoga practice among adults. METHODS Focus groups were conducted with persons who had never practiced yoga, practitioners of one year or less, and practitioners for more than one year. The Health Belief Model was the theoretical foundation of inquiry. RESULTS All participants acknowledged a variety of benefits of yoga. Barriers outweighed benefits among persons who had never practiced despite knowledge of benefits. Positive experiences with yoga and yoga instructors facilitated practice. CONCLUSIONS Newly identified benefits and barriers indicate the need for quantitative research and behavioral trials.