The role of yoga in shaping intrinsic motivation for a healthy lifestyle among higher education students
Nataliia Volovyk, Olena Pidvalna, Bohdan Antonevych
Scientific Journal of National Pedagogical Dragomanov University Series 15 Scientific and pedagogical problems of physical culture (physical culture and sports) March 25, 2026 DOI: 10.31392/udu-nc.series15.2026.03k(203).18 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Intrinsic motivation Obligation Cognition Control management Physical activity Neglect Habit Health psychology Cognitive psychology Higher education Volition linguistics Flexibility engineering Physical education Consciousness Mental health Developmental psychology |
| Key points | Argues that yoga transforms physical activity from an external obligation into an internal need by fostering interoceptive awareness, stress modulation, cognitive control, and satisfaction of psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. |
Abstract
Yoga is a form of integrative health that combines a person's physical, mental, and spiritual health through body movements, conscious breathing, and meditation. Purpose of the article is to analyze and substantiate the role of yoga in shaping intrinsic motivation for a healthy lifestyle among higher education students. The study focuses on the psychological and physiological mechanisms that facilitate the transition from controlled to self-determined engagement in physical activity. Methods include theoretical analysis, synthesis, comparison, and systematization of current scientific and methodological literature related to motivation, self-determination theory, and the impact of mind-body exercises on health-promoting behaviors. Results show that traditional approaches to physical education often neglect the psycho-emotional components of health, leading to low long-term adherence among students. Yoga, as a mind-body practice, addresses this by integrating physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. The research highlights three main pathways of yoga's influence: the development of interoceptive awareness, which shifts control from external to internal regulation; stress modulation via the HPA axis, which reduces cortisol and enhances executive functions; and the improvement of cognitive control through neuroplastic changes in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, yoga satisfies the universal psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, which are fundamental for intrinsic motivation according to Self-Determination Theory. Biological markers, such as increased levels of GABA and BDNF, create a positive feedback loop that promotes habit formation. Conclusions indicate that yoga transforms physical activity from an external obligation into an internal need. By fostering a sense of well-being and self-efficacy, yoga environment supports sustainable health-promoting behaviors that extend beyond the classroom, making it a highly effective technology for health preservation in modern higher education.