A comparative analysis of body awareness in women practising yoga and volleyball players

Background: In recent years, the concept of "body awareness" has emerged as a subject of scientific study in a wide range of health issues. Bodywork can include both sports participation and the practice of yoga. Therefore, the role of somatognosis is worth using to expand physiotherapists’ awareness and knowledge of the use of mental practices and psychotherapy in injury prevention and in the development of body awareness, which may be helpful during recovery. Aims: The purpose of this study was to verify the development of body awareness when practising yoga or a professional sport, to determine whether athletes should undertake mental practices outside of their sport, and how they compare to body-conscious individuals. The effects of mental practices and sports on sensitivity in experiencing emotions, needs, and non-emotional bodily processes are explored. Material and methods: The study included 64 female yoga practitioners and 64 female volleyball players. The Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and open-ended questions developed by the researcher were used to compare the body awareness of the study groups. Results: Women practising yoga showed greater body awareness in the BAQ and MAAS questionnaire when compared to female volleyball players. Yoga contributes more to developing mindful awareness and sensations unrelated to emotions. In contrast, professional sports are more likely to lead athletes to ignore physical discomfort and tension; they are more likely to associate self-awareness with self-knowledge rather than the concept of mindfulness. Conclusion: There was a noticeable consistency in the theoretical assumptions, expected outcomes, and the results reported by the subjects. 38 A comparative analysis of body awareness in women practising yoga and volleyball players Aleksandra Muda1, Alicja Długołęcka2 1Faculty of Rehabilitation; Józef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland 2Department of Ergotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation; Józef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland Correspondence to: Aleksandra Muda, email: aleksandra.muda@op.pl DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/phr.2021.111809 Received: 16.02.2021 Reviewed: 19.03.2021 Accepted: 19.03.2021