Unrolling the Mat: A Mixed-Methods Study of Yoga Awareness, Perceptions, and Barriers to Daily Practice Among MBBS Students

Introduction Yoga, rooted in Indian tradition, is recognized for its holistic health benefits. With a growing global emphasis on preventive health, yoga has gained attention for its capacity to mitigate stress, improve concentration and enhance general well-being. Burdened with academic pressures, irregular routines and sedentary lifestyles, medical students represent a group that could significantly benefit from incorporating yoga into their daily lives. This study aims to bridge this gap by evaluating MBBS students' awareness, perceptions, readiness to adopt yoga and the practical challenges they face, along with their views on integrating structured yoga sessions into their curriculum. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at AIIMS, Nagpur, among MBBS students, with a total of 155 students (100%) from the 2019 to 2023 batches. A structured, pre-validated questionnaire (Cronbach's α=0.973) was administered electronically using a Google Form link shared via student WhatsApp groups. The survey comprised five sections: awareness about yoga, perceptions about its preventive role in lifestyle disorders, readiness to integrate it into daily life, barriers to practice and preferences regarding formal integration of yoga practice in the MBBS curriculum. Responses were recorded on 5-point Likert scales. Data analysis was performed using Python (Jupyter) for cleaning, statistics and reliability testing, and Jamovi (v2.3.28) for non-parametric tests due to non-normal distribution. Results The findings revealed a high awareness among participants, with an average awareness score (87.6%), high agreement on yoga's role in stress reduction (4.45%) and overall health (4.63%). Perception of yoga as preventive and therapeutic for lifestyle disorders was strong (mean=84.0%). Batch-wise differences were noted in yoga awareness scores (p<0.001), and interns were more likely to endorse yoga as a complementary therapy (p=0.037). The readiness score was 68.2%, with only a 3.41/5 average agreement on willingness to integrate yoga daily. A significant gender-based difference was observed for perceived physical preparedness (p=0.035) and preference for educational content in yoga, with males scoring higher. Major barriers included time constraints (112, 72.2%), inconsistency (93, 60%) and lack of motivation to wake up early (84, 54.54%). Overall, 140 (90.3%) agreed that yoga practice should be part of the MBBS curriculum. Most preferred physical sessions (116, 74.84%), held three days a week (63, 40.65%), for 20-30 mins (93, 61.59%), with a focus on postures, breathing, meditation and stress relief. Some students preferred sessions to be optional and scheduled flexibly around academic hours. Conclusion This study highlights a significant gap between high levels of awareness and relatively low readiness to incorporate yoga into daily life among MBBS students. Despite recognizing its benefits, students face notable practical challenges, especially time management and consistency. However, the overwhelming support for integrating structured yoga sessions into the medical curriculum presents an actionable opportunity. Addressing identified barriers through flexible scheduling, optional participation and an emphasis on stress management may enhance adoption. These findings underscore the potential of yoga not just as a wellness tool but as an integral component of medical education aimed at fostering personal resilience and long-term professional well-being.