Yoga tourism – a catalyst for transformation?

Yoga tourism has experienced increased interest and relevance in recent years due to the changing landscape of spirituality in the western world. However, research addressing this phenomenon is scarce. This study explored yoga tourism though a priori dimensions of positive psychological well-being. Deductive thematic analysis was used to analyse 12 semi-structured interview transcripts. Findings revealed the existence of five a priori dimensions related to positive psychological well-being and their relationship with transformative experiences. Evidence from this study indicated that yoga tourism provides the environment for yoga tourists to experience positive psychological well-being during their trip as well as post-trip. Results suggest that yoga tourism has the ability to transform the lives of participants on varying levels. Future research exploring these findings within a larger wellness tourism context is warranted.