Yoga-based interventions are increasingly promoted for enhancing student well-being, yet their impact is shaped by both individual experience and program context. This study examined the effects of the Isha Yoga Inner Engineering program on a cohort of 100 first-year college students, conducted on campus under controlled conditions. The program included Surya Namaskar, Asanas, Sakthi Chalana Kriya, Shambhavi Maha Mudra, and Shoonya meditation, delivered through a seven-day initiation by trained Isha volunteers. After completion, participants provided detailed qualitative responses to open-ended survey questions about their bodily, emotional, and cognitive experiences. Thematic coding of the data identified six central themes: inner transformation and self-awareness, embodied sensory awareness, emotional shifts and energy dynamics, engagement versus resistance to practice, social and structural feedback, and lack of change or ambivalence.
Findings revealed a spectrum of student experiences. Many participants reported mental clarity, emotional balance, reduced stress, and heightened mindfulness, linking these outcomes to breathing and meditation practices. Others described increased sensory awareness, feelings of vitality, and optimism. At the same time, disengagement, discomfort, and social anxiety were common among students who perceived the compulsory nature of the program as restrictive or misaligned with their needs. Reports of physical strain, boredom, and resistance to spiritual framing also emerged. These heterogeneous responses underscore that while yoga can foster resilience, concentration, and well-being, effectiveness depends heavily on autonomy, delivery style, and cultural context.
This study demonstrates that large-scale yoga interventions in higher education can generate both transformative and resistant experiences. The findings highlight the importance of voluntary participation, flexible structures, and culturally sensitive facilitation to maximize benefits. Future research should integrate quantitative and longitudinal assessments to evaluate sustained outcomes and compare delivery across academic and community contexts, advancing understanding of yoga's potential for promoting psychological and social development among young adults.