Psycho-linguistic Effects of Yoga
Abstract: Yoga is understood in the scientific community as a powerful de-stressor. Reduced stress has been linked to improved mood, increased agency, and enhanced creativity. This study investigates these potential psychological effects of yoga by comparing two lexical data sets, composed of nearly 3000 words collected before and after yoga classes. Each word is scored along three dimensions: positivity, agency, and creativity. Positivity is calculated using SentiWords Sentiment Dictionary 1.0; agency is determined by grammatical categorization; and creativity is viewed as a function of the set distribution. Analysis reveals a shift toward more positive and less agentful self-reporting after practice. No significant difference is found in creativity. This study provides insight into how yoga alters thought processes and affects the mental health of practitioners.