Effect of eight weeks of yoga program on Psychological well-being of the seminarians

Abstract

Introduction According to the Schaeffer Institute, the ministry of a pastor is perhaps the single moststressful and frustrating working profession, more than medical, legal, or political careers. Thestudy has shown over 70% of pastors are so stressed and burned (Gauger & Christie, 2013) .Further a study on burnout and depression among Catholic priests in Southern India, shown thatdiocesan/secular priests experienced significantly more burnout and depression than did religiousorder priests. This indicates that the structure and administrative systems can lead to burn-outand depression. The findings highlighted the need of identifying problems, to encouragereorientation of their lives towards the spiritual and psychological well-being among priests andseminarians (Raj & Dean, 2005). The young people who aspire to join the seminary are comingfrom environment where they may not have been inline to discipline at interior life andpersonality (Keating, 2012). Hence a basic and substantial training is essential to imbibe thehuman, spiritual and intellectual formation given in the seminary formation. In the current system, the seminarians are subjected to psychological analysis andguidance on a long-term or short-term basis to prepare them initially for the formation(McCarthy, 2012). However real help from psychology for formation there is limited. It ismainly used during admission and formation of the candidate (Miller, 2010). In this juncture, thischallenging task of education and formation of seminarians for the future needs to be done in such a way that it will holistically lead to a spiritually matured and psychologically balanced personality (Godfried Danneels, 2014). At the same time,person must be able to experience the real truth in himself and impart it to others (Sebastian Francis, 2015). Yoga as a science can play a great role in the formation of the seminarians. Yoga has already scientifically proven its impact on the person’s holistic way of life. Yoga influences the person physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually (Mccoy, 2002). Yoga may helpseminary formation to realize the truth and to stay in a physical, spiritually and mentally balanced personality. When these are established correctly in the person with full conviction the other formative aspects like human, spiritual and intellectual formation will take place appropriately. It will help them to a deeper personal experience of God (Frost, 2014). The Objective of seminarians’ training is to prepare them to be teachers, leaders and pastors. Further, yoga a holistic approach gives an ample foundation for such a kind of preparation and training. Evidence has shown the requirement of holistic training of seminarians. This will help them to cope with the demanding situations as future priests and religious. Hence current study evaluates the effect of yoga based intervention on psycho-spiritual wellbeing of seminarians.