Yoga after Stroke: A Qualitative Study on how Yoga Affects Stroke Survivors’ Perceived Self

Abstract

Stroke affects many aspects of people’s functioning and lives, and at the deepest level, it can change individuals’ sense of self and identity (Ownsworth 2014). Individuals often describe having a negative perception of self following stroke, experiencing mind-body disconnection, and seeing their body as unknown and altered (Garrett et al. 2011). After stroke, often special attention is devoted to the body, neglecting other aspects such as one’s sense of self and identity (Pallesen and Roenn-Smidt 2015). Yoga is a holistic approach that is considered to treat the person as a whole and can be used for stroke survivors to address both psychological and physical health (Andrews et al. 2020). Yoga encourages self-acceptance, mind and body awareness and promotes mindfulness, hence yoga will be used to explore stroke survivors’ sense of self and identity. Purpose: To explore the experiences of stroke survivors on their perceived sense of self and identity after participating in a yoga program.