Introduction: University students' motivators and preferences for yoga as their course of study can influence their future as yoga instructors and therapists.
Materials and methods: Six hundred and thirty-six students of both genders (251:385, male: female) from four North Indian universities offering graduate and postgraduate courses in yoga were the respondents to a convenience sampling survey about their preferences and motivators.
Results: The three most common reasons why students chose to study yoga were (i) "I can help many people through knowledge of yoga" (32.2%), (ii) "I will become a better person by studying yoga" (21.9%), and (iii) "I find yoga interesting" (18.9%). After completion of the course, most students wished (i) "to study another course in yoga" (28.8%), (ii) "to work in yoga and education in a university" (17.5%), and (iii) "to work in yoga and research" (14.3%). Students appreciated positive effects which they attributed to yoga (e.g. good health, feeling peaceful, and positive behavior changes).
Conclusion: Students did not like regulations such as early wakening and dietary restrictions. The available information about the scope, benefits, safety considerations, and requirements of yoga can help student aspirants make an informed choice about their future careers. Students of yoga can be further motivated by evidence informed interactive sessions.
Keywords: Aspirations; motivators; preferences; university students; yoga.
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