https://doi.org/10.4087/WGUL4380 ">
 

Papers from the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology Conferences

Publication Date

2024

Abstract

Yoga is considered as an important and efficacious tool to overcome physical and psychological problems as a result of facing chronic stress and anxiety as well as to improve psychological strengths. Yogic visual concentration (Trataka) is a fundamental concentration method in yogic practices for enhancing concentration ability as well as healing psychological problems. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Trataka is “to gaze steadily”, suggesting gazing at a small point until tears are shed. Thus, the present study examined the effects of Trataka yogic practices on the anxiety and the concentration ability of adolescents in Sanskrit and Arabic schools (i.e., traditional schools). A sample of 100 male students (M = 17.66, SD = 1.23) was taken from Sanskrit (n = 50) and Arabic (n = 50) traditional schools (i.e., focusing on religious knowledge) because of their different cultural backgrounds. In Sanskrit school, both students and teachers belong to Hindu religion and the medium of teaching was Sanskrit. With respect to Arabic school, both teachers and students were following Islam as their religion and Arabic and Urdu are basic languages for instructions. The study was conducted by using single group pre- and post- test design. The concentration ability task and anxiety scale were used to examine the participants and introduced them to a training program by an expert. The training program was scheduled for 8 weeks and 15 minutes per day. Results revealed significant differences between pre-test and post-test of students both in the case of Sanskrit and Arabic schools, suggesting that Tatraka yogic practices reduced the level of anxiety and enhanced the concentration ability of adolescents in both Sanskrit and Arabic schools.

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