Effects of Iyengar yoga on anxiety and physical fitness of badminton players

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of Iyengar yoga on mental and physical performance of badminton players. The sample consisted of youth badminton athletes aged between 9 – 18 years who play badminton for their province level clubs. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups; (1) the experimental group; and (2) the control group. The experimental group practiced Iyengar yoga three times a week, for 8 week while the control group practiced badminton on regular training program. The procedure of collection data was divided into three periods; e.g., pre-test period, mid-test period  (4^th week) and post-test period (8^th week). Thai version of Competitive State Anxiety Inventory- 2 revised (CSAI-2R; Pan-U-Thai, 2009) which included somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety and self-confidence sub-disciplines was employed for anxiety level measurement. A physical test for physical related-fitness performance, e.g. lung capacity, agility, leg strength and dominant arm strength, was also conducted. The statistical methods used for data analysis were a repeated - measures ANOVA: one between – subjects and within – subject variables.

The statistical analysis revealed that Iyengar yoga did not significantly reduce badminton players’ levels of anxiety but their levels of confidence significantly increased. Physical fitness of these young badminton players was significantly improved during the period of 8 week study. In conclusion, although Iyengar yoga did not significantly decrease the level of anxiety in this study, but it did significantly increase self-confidence and physical fitness.