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Flourishing and Satisfaction with Life in Older People Practicing Yoga

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Gerontechnology (IWoG 2019)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1185))

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Abstract

We live in a time when the increase in life expectancy is reality. In many cases, life expectancy can exceed 100 years. Therefore, there is a real concern that the elderly have the right to enjoy well-being and quality of life. The present study is part of the field of psychogerontology and positive psychology, whose main objective is to understand well-being (happiness) and increase the amount of human flourishing (positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and achievement, as determinants for achieving happiness). It would be ideal if the elderly could find happiness and full bloom in their lives. This is an exploratory, cross-sectional study of quantitative and qualitative methodology, focused on four dimensions: flourishing, satisfaction with life, perception of flourishing and implications of the practice of yoga for the welfare of the elderly. We count on the participation of twelve elderly, regular yoga practitioners, divided into two groups, from Spain and Portugal.

Evidence has shown that yoga practitioners are people who are characterized by a high level of flourishing and satisfaction with life, however, exhibit some fragility in optimistic disposition. Based on the results obtained, an intervention project “Senior Flourishing & Yoga” was designed, whose main objective is to improve the well-being, the successful ageing and the health skills of the elderly population through yoga.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatory of the Dynamics of Aging in Alentejo, Polytechnic Institute of Beja, Beja, Portugal

    Sandra Lozano & Maria Cristina Faria

Authors
  1. Sandra Lozano
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  2. Maria Cristina Faria
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sandra Lozano or Maria Cristina Faria .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain

    José García-Alonso

  2. University of Évora, Évora, Portugal

    César Fonseca

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Lozano, S., Faria, M.C. (2020). Flourishing and Satisfaction with Life in Older People Practicing Yoga. In: García-Alonso, J., Fonseca, C. (eds) Gerontechnology. IWoG 2019. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1185. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41494-8_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41494-8_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-41493-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-41494-8

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