THE EFFECTS OF MINDFULNESS, FLOW EXPERIENCE AND TRANSCENDENTAL EXPERIENCE ON SATISFACTION IN YOGA TOURISM
Alina Bazarkul, Reyhan Arslan Ayazlar
Veredas do Direito Direito Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentável March 10, 2026 DOI: 10.18623/rvd.v23.4468 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 293 |
| Population | Yoga tourists voluntarily attending yoga retreat centers in Akyaka, Turkey |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Tourism Popularity Conceptualization Structural equation modeling Context archaeology Life satisfaction Transcendence philosophy Applied psychology Well-being Nonprobability sampling Customer satisfaction Impermanence Hospitality |
| Key findings | Mindfulness has a direct positive impact on experience satisfaction and life satisfaction, and indirectly contributes to these outcomes through flow and transcendence experiences. |
Abstract
Yoga tourism is gaining popularity among individuals worldwide who are increasingly prioritizing well-being. Yoga retreat centers serving this purpose offer participants a holistic experience with wellness programs that include yoga, meditation, and breathing practices. This study examines the impact of participants' mindfulness on satisfaction during yoga retreats. It also examines the indirect impact of mindfulness on satisfaction through flow and transcendence experiences. The study utilizes structural equation modeling for data analysis. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from yoga tourists. Data were collected from 293 individuals who voluntarily attended various yoga retreat centers in Akyaka, Turkey. The findings indicate that mindfulness has a direct positive impact on both experience satisfaction and life satisfaction. Furthermore, mindfulness indirectly contributes to these outcomes through its influence on flow and transcendence experiences. These results highlight the potential benefits of systematically incorporating mindfulness-based and flow-inducing practices into yoga tourism programs to enhance participant satisfaction and long-term well-being. Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature by extending the conceptualization of customer satisfaction within the context of yoga tourism, integrating the constructs of mindfulness, flow, and transcendence experience. Practically, the findings offer valuable insights for yoga retreat centers, wellness facilities, and destination managers aiming to improve tourist satisfaction and overall experience quality.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |