Ioga e qualidade de vida em pessoas idosas

This study aimed to verify the association between the practice of Yoga and quality of life in elderly people. A cross-sectional, correlational study was carried out in a non-random sample of 40 elderly people of both sexes, aged between 55 and 80 years, non-institutionalized, living in different municipalities of the district of Faro, divided into 2 groups: yoga practitioners and non-practitioners. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview that included questions about sociodemographic variables and the validated versions of the Quality-of-Life Questionnaire, the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, in Portuguese. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 28. No statistically significant differences were found between yoga practitioners and non-practitioners, except in opinions about yoga. Regardless of previous experience with yoga, participants generally indicate that yoga can help during the aging process. For participants, a satisfactory quality of life means being healthy, physically active, being autonomous but having good social support, having the opportunity to actively participate in social life and maintaining psychological well-being. To analyze the existence of changes in quality of life and well-being associated with Yoga, future investigations should follow a longitudinal design, with a more comprehensive and larger sample.