thesis statement for yoga essay

Essay on Yoga

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Yoga, an ancient practice that has its roots in India, transcends beyond just physical postures and breath control; it is a holistic approach to achieving harmony between the body, mind, and spirit. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and lifestyle diseases predominate, yoga emerges as a beacon of holistic health and mental well-being. This essay explores the essence of yoga, its types, benefits, and the profound impact it has on practitioners, making it an invaluable practice for individuals of all ages.

The Origins and Philosophy of Yoga

Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit word “Yuj,” means to unite or integrate. This ancient discipline, dating back over 5,000 years, was developed with the aim of unifying the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness, leading to a state of eternal bliss and liberation (Moksha). The foundational text of yoga, “The Yoga Sutras,” compiled by the sage Patanjali, outlines the eight limbs of yoga, guiding practitioners towards a disciplined life, ethical conduct, and spiritual enlightenment.

The Eight Limbs of Yoga

• Yama (Ethical Standards) : Yama emphasizes moral virtues such as non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-covetousness.
• Niyama (Self-Discipline and Spiritual Observances) : This includes purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender to a higher power.
• Asana (Postures) : Physical postures that enhance the body’s strength, flexibility, and health.
• Pranayama (Breath Control) : Techniques aimed at mastering the respiratory process while recognizing the connection between the breath, the mind, and the emotions.
• Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses) : Detachment from external stimuli to focus inward.
• Dharana (Concentration) : Narrowing down the focus on a single mental object.
• Dhyana (Meditation) : Uninterrupted flow of concentration, leading to a meditative state.
• Samadhi (Liberation) : Merging the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness, achieving a state of bliss and enlightenment.

Types of Yoga

Yoga encompasses various styles, each catering to different preferences and objectives:

• Hatha Yoga : Focuses on physical postures and is perfect for beginners, aiming at body and breath control to calm the mind.
• Raja Yoga : Also known as “Royal Yoga,” it emphasizes meditation and strict adherence to the eight limbs of yoga.
• Bhakti Yoga : The path of devotion, expressing love and devotion towards a personal deity.
• Karma Yoga : The yoga of action, focusing on selfless service and actions without attachment to the results.
• Jnana Yoga : The path of knowledge and wisdom, involving deep study and intellectual inquiry.
• Kundalini Yoga : Aims to awaken the dormant energy at the base of the spine through specific sets of exercises, breathing techniques, and meditations.

Benefits of Yoga

The benefits of yoga extend far beyond physical fitness. It is a comprehensive practice that improves mental health, emotional stability, and spiritual growth:

Physical Benefits:

• Improved Flexibility: Yoga involves a variety of poses and stretches that can help increase flexibility by loosening and lengthening muscles and improving joint mobility.
• Enhanced Strength: Many yoga poses require you to support your body’s weight, which helps build and tone muscles, particularly in the core, legs, arms, and back.
• Better Posture: Yoga promotes awareness of body alignment and encourages good posture, which can reduce strain on the spine and improve overall body mechanics.
• Pain Relief: Yoga can help alleviate chronic pain conditions, such as lower back pain, arthritis, and migraines, by improving muscle strength, flexibility, and relaxation.

Mental Benefits:

• Stress Reduction: Practicing yoga often incorporates relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation, which can reduce stress and promote a sense of calm and well-being.
• Improved Concentration: Yoga involves mindfulness and concentration, which can enhance focus, attention span, and cognitive function.
• Mood Enhancement: Regular yoga practice is associated with increased levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which can help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms and promote a more positive mood.
• Better Sleep: The relaxation techniques in yoga can improve sleep quality and help with insomnia by reducing stress and calming the mind.

Emotional Benefits:

• Increased Self-Acceptance: Yoga encourages self-compassion and self-acceptance, promoting a positive self-image and self-esteem.
• Stress Management: Yoga teaches tools and techniques for coping with stress and life’s challenges, leading to improved emotional resilience.
• Enhanced Mindfulness: Yoga fosters mindfulness, allowing individuals to be more present in the moment and less preoccupied with worries about the past or future.
• Greater Emotional Stability: Regular yoga practice can help individuals become more emotionally stable and less reactive to external stressors.

Overall Well-being:

• Better Circulation: Yoga can improve blood circulation, leading to better oxygenation of tissues and improved overall cardiovascular health.
• Detoxification: Certain yoga poses and breathing exercises are believed to aid in the detoxification of the body by stimulating lymphatic drainage and promoting the elimination of waste products.
• Weight Management: While not primarily a weight loss practice, yoga can promote mindful eating habits and help maintain a healthy weight by reducing stress-related overeating.
• Improved Digestion: Yoga poses and breathing techniques can enhance digestive functions and alleviate common gastrointestinal issues.

Incorporating Yoga into Daily Life

Incorporating yoga into one’s daily routine can seem daunting at first, but it begins with small, consistent steps. Starting with simple asanas and gradually incorporating pranayama and meditation can make the practice more approachable. It is not about perfection but about progress and personal growth. Finding a qualified teacher or joining a yoga community can provide support and guidance on this journey.

Yoga for Students

For students, in particular, yoga offers numerous benefits. It enhances physical health, making them more active and energetic. It improves concentration and memory, crucial for academic success. Moreover, yoga teaches discipline, patience, and perseverance, valuable life skills for personal and professional development.

In conclusion, Yoga is not merely a physical exercise; it is a profound science of achieving harmony between the body, mind, and spirit. Its holistic approach to health and well-being makes it an essential practice for individuals seeking a balanced life. By embracing yoga, one embarks on a transformative journey towards self-discovery, inner peace, and universal harmony. As we continue to navigate the challenges of modern life, the timeless wisdom of yoga offers a beacon of light, guiding us towards a healthier, more fulfilled existence.

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The History of Yoga Essay

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The origins of yoga are now traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization that existed during the period between 3300 and 1300 before the Common Era (Clark 3). This argument is based on archeological findings, namely the depictions of postures that resemble some of positions that are now used in yoga (Clark 3).

However, the first textual mentioning of this word appears only in the Vedic period. This evidence can show that yoga was a combination of mental, spiritual, and spiritual practices that could help a person improve his/her health and achieve liberation from many worldly desires. The classical works about this method were written during the rule of the Maurya Empire (Wasserman 7).

The classical period can be distinguished because the main principles of this teaching were established during this time. For instance, one can speak about the idea of five abstentions or pratyahara which can be translated as the withdrawal of a person’s senses (Wasserman 7). At that stage, the practitioners of yoga did not separate spiritual and physical exercises. So, this period is an important landmark that can be identified.

Moreover, one can speak about the Middle Ages which were marked by the emergence of many yoga schools. For instance, it is possible to mention Bhakti Movement, Tantra, Hatha Yoga, and many others. To a great extent, these schools of yoga continue to play an important role nowadays.

In particular, much attention should be paid to Hatha Yoga which is very popular in the United States. On the whole, one can say yoga remained a primarily Indian cultural practice before the nineteenth century. At that time, many westerners began to take interest in the culture of India. Yoga appealed to many people because they were willing to find an alternative to Western cultures.

For instance, one can mention Karl Kellner who established one of the first schools of yoga (Vad 157). However, the boom of yoga in western countries can be traced back to the early eighties when various practitioners were able to highlight the health benefits of yoga (Vad 157). Yet, they did not speak about the spiritual aspects of yoga. This is one of the details that one should keep in mind.

To a great extent, the increasing popularity of yoga can be explained by the increasing immigration of many Hindu people to other countries such as the United Kingdom or the United States (Vad 157). To a great extent, they contributed to the spread of their spiritual, mental, and physical practices.

This is one of the issues that can be identified. At present, yoga is practiced in countries that have different cultures, languages, economies, and so forth. Certainly, one cannot speak about the boom of yoga. However, many people regularly take interest in these teachings on physical and mental health. It is quite possible that in the future, yoga will still appeal to many people.

Overall, this discussion suggests that in the course of its history, yoga has passed through several transformations. In particular, this set of physical and spiritual exercises has become a part of the global culture. It is practiced in a great number of countries that are culturally related with India. However, these practitioners can eliminate the spiritual and mental elements of yoga. This is one of the main aspects that can be identified.

Works Cited

Clark, Mathew. The Origins and Practices of Yoga: A Weeny Introduction , Delhi: Lulu, 2010. Print.

Vad, Vik. Six Months in India: Yoga in Its Original Context , Delhi: Austin Ashram, 2010. Print.

Wasserman, Nancy. The Weiser Concise Guide to Yoga for Magick , New York: Weiser Books, 2007. Print.

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• Essay On Yoga

Essay on Yoga

500+ words essay on yoga.

Yoga is an Art and Science of healthy living. It is a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. The holistic approach of Yoga brings harmony to all walks of life. Yoga is also known for disease prevention, promotion of health and management of many lifestyle-related disorders. Through this Essay on Yoga, students will get to know the importance and benefits of performing yoga. By going through this essay , students will get different ideas on how to write an effective Essay on Yoga in English to score full marks in the writing section.

Meaning of Yoga

The word yoga literally means “to yoke” or “union”. More than just a practice of physical exercises, Yoga is the coming together of the individual self or consciousness, with the infinite universal consciousness or spirit. Yoga is a method of inquiry into the nature of the mind, which emphasises practice and direct experience. Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonising system for development of the body, mind, and spirit. Yoga signifies the ‘integration of personality at the highest level. It includes various practices and techniques mentioned in the yogic literature and is collectively referred to as ‘Yoga’.

Importance of Yoga

Yoga encourages a positive and healthy lifestyle for the physical, mental and emotional health of children. Yoga helps in the development of strength, stamina, endurance and high energy at the physical level. It also empowers oneself with increased concentration, calm, peace and contentment at a mental level leading to inner and outer harmony. With the help of yoga, you can manage daily stress and its consequences.

Yoga brings stability to the body and the wavering mind. It increases the lubrication of joints, ligaments, and tendons of the body. Studies in the field of medicine suggest that Yoga is the only form of physical activity that provides complete conditioning to the body because it massages all the internal organs and glands. It reduces the risk of many diseases. Yoga can create a permanently positive difference in the lifestyle of anybody practising it on a regular basis.

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a perfect way to ensure overall health and physical fitness. The physical building blocks of yoga are posture (asana) and breath. Through meditation, and breathing exercises (called pranayama), you can banish all your stress and lead a healthy life. In fact, it is one of the best remedies known to humankind, for curing chronic ailments that are otherwise difficult to be cured by other medications. People suffering from backaches and arthritis are often suggested to do asanas that concentrate on the exercise of the muscles at strategic locations. Pranayamas are the best breathing exercises to increase the capacity of the lungs.

A series of poses held in time with breathing, helps every part of the body. Yoga increases strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. It increases the ability to perform activities, provides more energy and gives a restful sleep. Performing yoga daily helps in building muscular strength. The different asanas make the body more flexible. Moreover, yoga prevents cartilage and joint breakdown, increases blood flow, and lowers blood sugar. The most important benefit of yoga are its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality. Yoga works as an immunity booster and gives peace of mind.

The amazing thing about Yoga is that its positive effects on the health and mind are visible over time. Another speciality about Yoga is its wide choice of asanas. Depending upon your stamina and overall health, you can choose from mild pranayamas and asanas to high-intensity asanas. It is a medication without the actual use of medicines. Moreover, no visible side effects are associated with the practice of Yoga on a regular basis. All you need to know is the most appropriate asanas according to the ability and structure of your body. Also, you need to learn the right way of performing the asanas because any wrong attempt can cause sprains and injuries.

Yoga practice is safe and can bring many health benefits to practitioners. The beauty of Yoga is that it can be practised by anyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what shape you are in. Yoga increases an individual’s physical coordination and promotes better posture. It helps stimulate the circulatory system, the digestive process as well as the nervous and endocrine systems. Yoga is dynamite to make you feel younger, refreshed and energetic.

Yoga is the perfect example of holistic health because of its combination of mind and body. It has become more popular than ever, with celebrities, politicians, business people, and people from every walk of life currently practising. Yoga is a multidisciplinary tool extremely useful to purify the mind and body and gain control over our minds and emotions. It is the most popular means for self-transformation and physical well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay on Yoga

Why is yoga important.

Regular Yoga practice can help in body relaxation and flexibility. Relieves chronic stress and releases mental distress.

What are the benefits of Yoga?

Yoga makes the body flexible and improves breathing patterns. It can help build muscle strength and regulate blood flow. Practising yoga regularly thus helps keep diseases away and improves immunity

Mention a few easy Yoga poses.

Padmasana (sitting pose), tadasana (mountain pose), and balasana (Child’s pose) are three examples of yoga poses.

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TechBullion

How to write an essay on the importance of yoga (with examples).

So you’ve been assigned an essay on the importance of yoga, and you probably imagine it’s effortless. Well, most academic papers look easy when actually they are not. If you submit content that the teacher has read so many times or something boring, there’s a high chance you’ll get a poor score. To ensure that doesn’t happen, here are some tips to help you write an excellent essay about yoga’s importance.

Find a Unique Angle

This is often the hardest part of writing. That’s because yoga and its importance is a broad topic. To get a good score, narrow the topic and discuss something specific. To do that, begin by clearly understanding the topic and the specific aspects to focus on. Consider the different dimensions of yoga, such as mental well-being, spiritual growth, or physical health, and decide which aspects to emphasize in your essay.

Research Extensively

Gather relevant and reliable information from reputable sources such as books, scholarly articles, research papers, and credible websites. Then explore the historical background, philosophy, and scientific research of yoga. But ensure the research is current. If you’re a student that wants to gain in-depth knowledge on yoga, a write my essay website with a subject expert will provide a quality, informative paper.

Back-Up With Evidence

Scholarly evidence is a must-have in academic papers. That’s because evidence provides credibility and establishes trustworthiness for the arguments presented in your yoga essay. When a student has evidence, it demonstrates that the claims presented are based on reliable and verifiable information rather than personal opinion or speculation. It’s also a way to acknowledge the ideas and work of others and avoid plagiarism.

So always support your statements with evidence, such as research findings, empirical data, expert opinions, scholarly references, and relevant statistics, to strengthen the arguments presented in the essay. Properly cite and reference your sources using the specified citation style to maintain academic integrity.

Understand Your End Goal

It is important to understand the requirements set by the teacher to ensure the essay is of superior quality. It is not enough to complete and submit the work, as the objective extends beyond that. Assignments serve to acquire knowledge and improve comprehension of the course and the topic being examined.

In an educational setting, essays are often assigned to evaluate a student’s comprehension, analytical skills, and ability to articulate ideas. Academic papers also allow instructors to assess students’ ability to effectively organize and express their thoughts. In this case, your end goal should be to present an informative, unique essay. 

An Outline Is a Must-Have

Create an outline that organizes your thoughts and helps structure the essay effectively. To do that, divide your content into logical sections, such as an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Outline the main points you want to cover in each section. Each paragraph in the body of your essay should also focus on a specific aspect of the importance of yoga and present a well-supported argument.

Talk About Current Issues

Yoga is a topic that has been covered extensively. Discussing current issues is essential to ensure you don’t include common knowledge. To do that, read broadly from several sources, including journals, recently published books, and articles, and listen to interviews with subject experts. Here are current topics on the importance of yoga: 

• The integration of yoga practices in sports training
• Importance of yoga in workplace settings
• As a valuable complementary therapy for physical rehabilitation
• The benefits of yoga in school settings
• Importance of inclusivity and accessibility within the yoga community
• As a tool for promoting mental well-being and its role in managing conditions such as anxiety, depression, and stress disorders
• Its role in promoting healthy aging
• Yoga as a tool for self-reflection, personal growth, and spiritual exploration
• The integration of yoga as a complementary therapy within conventional healthcare systems

You can also talk about the significance of yoga in promoting children’s physical health, emotional regulation, concentration, and overall well-being, both in educational and non-educational settings. 

Have an Intriguing Start

The first paragraph should start with a hook and end with a thesis statement that will give your writing focus. A hook could be in the form of shocking statistics, questions, or anecdotes. A good example would be:

With its roots in ancient Indian philosophy and spirituality, yoga has gained significant recognition worldwide. Recent statistics indicate that millions of people globally have embraced yoga to improve their overall well-being. In fact, a 2021 survey revealed that there are over 100,000 yoga teachers and approximately 200 million people actively engage in yoga. This growing number signifies the universal appeal and the increasing acknowledgment of its significance in promoting a balanced and harmonious lifestyle. This essay explores the importance of yoga in fostering physical health, mental well-being, and spiritual growth.

The Body of an Essay

In the body section, ensure each paragraph talks about a single point. For instance, in one paragraph, you can speak of its spiritual benefits, and in the other, the mental benefits. 

Here is an essay sample:

In the last few years, stress and depression have become prevalent challenges. The good news is that yoga offers a holistic approach to addressing these issues. Techniques such as deep breathing and mindfulness regulate the nervous system, inducing relaxation. The ability to improve physical health has also resulted in yoga’s growing popularity. People of all ages use postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation to improve posture and alignment, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. In addition, the growing popularity of yoga studios, workshops, and retreats further highlights its importance in society. 

Overall, yoga transcends cultural barriers and attracts individuals from diverse age groups and backgrounds, showcasing its universal allure and effectiveness in promoting holistic health and balance .

Wrapping Up

E nd with a conclusion that gives closure and restates the thesis and main points. Finally, edit to ensure the essay is high-quality and meets academic standards. 

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• Knowledge Base
• How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

How to Write a Thesis Statement | 4 Steps & Examples

Published on January 11, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on August 15, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan.

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . It usually comes near the end of your introduction .

Your thesis will look a bit different depending on the type of essay you’re writing. But the thesis statement should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

You can write your thesis statement by following four simple steps:

• Start with a question
• Write your initial answer
• Develop your answer
• Refine your thesis statement

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Table of contents

What is a thesis statement, placement of the thesis statement, step 1: start with a question, step 2: write your initial answer, step 3: develop your answer, step 4: refine your thesis statement, types of thesis statements, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about thesis statements.

A thesis statement summarizes the central points of your essay. It is a signpost telling the reader what the essay will argue and why.

The best thesis statements are:

• Concise: A good thesis statement is short and sweet—don’t use more words than necessary. State your point clearly and directly in one or two sentences.
• Contentious: Your thesis shouldn’t be a simple statement of fact that everyone already knows. A good thesis statement is a claim that requires further evidence or analysis to back it up.
• Coherent: Everything mentioned in your thesis statement must be supported and explained in the rest of your paper.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

The thesis statement generally appears at the end of your essay introduction or research paper introduction .

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts and among young people more generally is hotly debated. For many who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

You should come up with an initial thesis, sometimes called a working thesis , early in the writing process . As soon as you’ve decided on your essay topic , you need to work out what you want to say about it—a clear thesis will give your essay direction and structure.

You might already have a question in your assignment, but if not, try to come up with your own. What would you like to find out or decide about your topic?

For example, you might ask:

After some initial research, you can formulate a tentative answer to this question. At this stage it can be simple, and it should guide the research process and writing process .

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Now you need to consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you. As you read more about your topic and begin writing, your answer should get more detailed.

In your essay about the internet and education, the thesis states your position and sketches out the key arguments you’ll use to support it.

The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education because it facilitates easier access to information.

In your essay about braille, the thesis statement summarizes the key historical development that you’ll explain.

The invention of braille in the 19th century transformed the lives of blind people, allowing them to participate more actively in public life.

A strong thesis statement should tell the reader:

• Why you hold this position
• What they’ll learn from your essay
• The key points of your argument or narrative

The final thesis statement doesn’t just state your position, but summarizes your overall argument or the entire topic you’re going to explain. To strengthen a weak thesis statement, it can help to consider the broader context of your topic.

These examples are more specific and show that you’ll explore your topic in depth.

Your thesis statement should match the goals of your essay, which vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing:

• In an argumentative essay , your thesis statement should take a strong position. Your aim in the essay is to convince your reader of this thesis based on evidence and logical reasoning.
• In an expository essay , you’ll aim to explain the facts of a topic or process. Your thesis statement doesn’t have to include a strong opinion in this case, but it should clearly state the central point you want to make, and mention the key elements you’ll explain.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

• It gives your writing direction and focus.
• It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

Follow these four steps to come up with a thesis statement :

• Ask a question about your topic .
• Write your initial answer.
• Develop your answer by including reasons.
• Refine your answer, adding more detail and nuance.

The thesis statement should be placed at the end of your essay introduction .

Cite this Scribbr article

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Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Solid Thesis Statement

The important sentence expresses your central assertion or argument

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A thesis statement provides the foundation for your entire research paper or essay. This statement is the central assertion that you want to express in your essay. A successful thesis statement is one that is made up of one or two sentences clearly laying out your central idea and expressing an informed, reasoned answer to your research question.

Usually, the thesis statement will appear at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. There are a few different types, and the content of your thesis statement will depend upon the type of paper you’re writing.

Key Takeaways: Writing a Thesis Statement

• A thesis statement gives your reader a preview of your paper's content by laying out your central idea and expressing an informed, reasoned answer to your research question.
• Thesis statements will vary depending on the type of paper you are writing, such as an expository essay, argument paper, or analytical essay.
• Before creating a thesis statement, determine whether you are defending a stance, giving an overview of an event, object, or process, or analyzing your subject

Expository Essay Thesis Statement Examples

An expository essay "exposes" the reader to a new topic; it informs the reader with details, descriptions, or explanations of a subject. If you are writing an expository essay , your thesis statement should explain to the reader what she will learn in your essay. For example:

• The United States spends more money on its military budget than all the industrialized nations combined.
• Gun-related homicides and suicides are increasing after years of decline.
• Hate crimes have increased three years in a row, according to the FBI.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increases the risk of stroke and arterial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat).

These statements provide a statement of fact about the topic (not just opinion) but leave the door open for you to elaborate with plenty of details. In an expository essay, you don't need to develop an argument or prove anything; you only need to understand your topic and present it in a logical manner. A good thesis statement in an expository essay always leaves the reader wanting more details.

Types of Thesis Statements

Before creating a thesis statement, it's important to ask a few basic questions, which will help you determine the kind of essay or paper you plan to create:

• Are you defending a stance in a controversial essay ?
• Are you simply giving an overview or describing an event, object, or process?
• Are you conducting an analysis of an event, object, or process?

In every thesis statement , you will give the reader a preview of your paper's content, but the message will differ a little depending on the essay type .

Argument Thesis Statement Examples

If you have been instructed to take a stance on one side of a controversial issue, you will need to write an argument essay . Your thesis statement should express the stance you are taking and may give the reader a preview or a hint of your evidence. The thesis of an argument essay could look something like the following:

• Self-driving cars are too dangerous and should be banned from the roadways.
• The exploration of outer space is a waste of money; instead, funds should go toward solving issues on Earth, such as poverty, hunger, global warming, and traffic congestion.
• The U.S. must crack down on illegal immigration.
• Street cameras and street-view maps have led to a total loss of privacy in the United States and elsewhere.

These thesis statements are effective because they offer opinions that can be supported by evidence. If you are writing an argument essay, you can craft your own thesis around the structure of the statements above.

Analytical Essay Thesis Statement Examples

In an analytical essay assignment, you will be expected to break down a topic, process, or object in order to observe and analyze your subject piece by piece. Examples of a thesis statement for an analytical essay include:

• The criminal justice reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate in late 2018 (" The First Step Act ") aims to reduce prison sentences that disproportionately fall on nonwhite criminal defendants.
• The rise in populism and nationalism in the U.S. and European democracies has coincided with the decline of moderate and centrist parties that have dominated since WWII.
• Later-start school days increase student success for a variety of reasons.

Because the role of the thesis statement is to state the central message of your entire paper, it is important to revisit (and maybe rewrite) your thesis statement after the paper is written. In fact, it is quite normal for your message to change as you construct your paper.

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Case Study – Branding Yoga

Branding yoga.

The background of the report could be referred to the word “yoga” that from Sanskrit means the union. The initial goal of yoga is to help people to clear their minds, make them quiet with the transcendental physical exercises and finally to achieve the spiritual union with the divine. According to Bhagavad Gita, yoga is the journey to oneself. The modern perception of yoga correlates with the number of ideas from different teachers of yoga who practiced it for years by means of meditation and physical forms of this tradition. One famous name from the history of yoga is Bikram Choudhury who is considered to be the founder of Bikram yoga in the United States. Bikram had an aggressive position to become the author of the traditional Indian approach to the practices of yoga. Another name in the foundation of yoga is Tara Stiles who became the practitioner of yoga without the Sanskrit definitions along with the entertainment and pleasure from exercises. As a result, her approach to yoga goes deep to the roots of this tradition and offers a number of benefits for human beings.

The brief statement of the problem denotes the need to define yoga as a traditional practice. However, there is a challenge with regard to the justification of yoga brands all over the world relating to the fact of commercialization. At the same time, the yoga practice is questioned in terms of its validity as a standalone exercise. Moreover, there is a desire to know whether yoga practice is rooted in Hindu philosophy. Finally, the concern is whether yoga indeed is connected to the Hinduism and whether it still controls the “yoga” brand.

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The aims of the analysis are to define the reason for the success of the yoga practice in the United States and in other countries. Simultaneously, the aim of the analysis is to determine the reasons for the popularity of noted yoga teachers known globally as Bikram, Choudhary and Tara Styles. Finally, it is important to analyze the legal insights into the yoga practice with respect to its brands all over the world disregarding the Hinduism considerations.

The approach adopted for the analysis is to consider the relevant literature on the branding of the yoga practice. It is managed with the help of analyzing the number of models that address the implications such as marketing, strategic management, and organizational behavior. Consequently, the report covers the proposed plan of analysis by means of such models as SWOT Analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Analysis that is supported by the discussion on the sources of data. The next crucial element of the report is the analysis of the research findings grounded on the models mentioned above. In addition, the report provides an integrated assessment of the analysis through the generated ideas and alternative solutions for the stated research problem. The idea is to devise the best fit solution and further recommendations on the study with respect to the plan of actions. Finally, the report outlines the limitations of the study and addresses the scope of further research studies in this field.

Consequently, the findings claim that today there are many different styles of yoga that comprise famous yoga teachers and additional yoga venues, which increase the geometrical progression overtime. When the target audience recognizes yoga, it usually refers to the process of learning a meaningful practice that could be applied in modern life. In fact, such a yoga practice is deeply valued all over the world. Alternatively, some people still talk about yoga as a workout process that is applicable in any place and at any convenient time, which does not have such a deep value. Thus, it makes sense to acknowledge that the commercialization of yoga should be perceived as a modern way to consider the reality of yoga practice. In the West, such a pattern has become mainstream entertainment for the vast majority of yoga practitioners. In other words, the solution to the problem is in the total awareness of the opportunities created for the target audience by means of commercializing the yoga practice. Nevertheless, yoga is still positioned with the help of its authentic values. At the same time, yoga is perceived as a modern movement and/or the culture that strives to handle the daily conflicts by using the transcendent knowledge.

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study

1.1. case study background.

The major issue of yoga is in its branding to the masses. The consideration of the Indian government was that yoga is part of the Indian traditional body of knowledge, which made the country claim the legal rights to yoga. As a result, up to a thousand and a half yoga poses were collected in the catalog to follow as a branded example in order to challenge Bikram in court. The argument toward the commercialization of yoga was grounded on the notion that religion is personal and thus could not have any commercial connotation. Another argument was from the Hindu American Foundation that was launched to make the origin of yoga known for the public with the help of the “Take Back Yoga” campaign. The idea was not to claim the author’s right to yoga but rather to inform people about the direct relation between yoga and Hinduism. In addition, there was a claim in the Washington Post known as “The Theft of Yoga” meaning that the notable yogis, swamis, and yoga-related gurus own the authorship right to yoga. In other words, it indicates that the perception of yoga could not be commercialized (Bryant 2009)

On the contrary, the argument is grounded on the implications of a business and not on the religions concerns. Therefore, the purpose of yoga is to help people by delivering value, thereby branding it as a product for the target audience. In relation to such challenges, the Huffington Post publishes the interview with Philip Goldberg who is a famous author of the American Vega. He claims that the popularity of yoga distorts its initial perceptions as fundamental teaching. At the same time, the roots of yoga claim it was aimed for the male population and excluded women due to the sexuality of the yoga poses. The reason was that the vast majority of the population in India is males. In parallel, the Western application of yoga is rather different. In fact, more than eighty percent of yoga practitioners are females. In general, there is one teacher and a group of students to repeat the yoga poses in the mirrored premises of the Western world. Hence, the implication of making the yoga practice commercial refers to its accessibility by the masses (De Michelis 2004)

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1.2. Statement of the Problem

The problem of the case study is branding and whether it is legally justified. There is much contemplation on the legal rights to yoga and the true authorship of the common Indian practice. There is also the problem with the yoga body of knowledge that corresponds to the catalog of the thousand and a half yoga poses in terms of having the right to be commercialized. At the same time, the problem correlates with the religious perceptions of yoga, which is personal and could not be branded. In parallel, the connotation of the Hindu American Foundation refers to the actual origin of yoga that was claimed with the help of the “Take Back Yoga” campaign. The purpose of this act is likely to claim the author’s ownership of yoga as well as the direct relation between yoga and Hinduism. In addition, the “The Theft of Yoga” claim posted in the Washington Post considers the legal rights to the distinguished yogis, swamis and yoga-related gurus toward the authors’ right to yoga. In other words, the goal is to understand whether yoga practice could be legally commercialized in the United States and all over the world (White 2011).

1.3. Research Questions

· What is yoga and how could it be defined?

· Is the commercialization and branding of yoga justified?

· What is the validity of yoga as a standalone exercise?

· Is yoga rooted in Hindu philosophy?

· Is yoga connected to Hinduism and can it control the “yoga” brand?

1.4. Aims and Objectives

The aims and objectives of the study are to determine why yoga practice has become so successful in the United States and the rest of the world. At the same time, there is a strong interest to learn the reason for such popularity of particular teachers of yoga such as Bikram, Choudhary and Tara Styles. The final implication is to understand whether the yoga practice could be legally branded without the violation of Hindu rights.

1.5. Structure of the Report

The organization of the report is grounded on the thorough evaluation of the yoga practice and its validity along with the discussion on the legal right to its commercialization across the globe. The report structure could be presented with a brief explanation of the case by describing the most notable aspects of the situation around yoga. The next aspect of concern is the analysis of the literature with respect to the branding implications of the yoga practice. The other phase of the research is to cover the number of models in order to analyze the study. These models are known as the SWOT Analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. At the same time, the research covers the discussion of the data sources. Consequently, the report analyzes the research findings with respect to the above-mentioned models. Consequently, the analysis delivers the incorporated evaluation of the produced ideas along with other possible ways to solve the research problem. The purpose is to provide the target readers with the best fit solution as well as the recommendations for the future of the study grounded on the action plan. As a final point, the report summaries the restrictions of the research and defines the scope of the additional studies in the future.

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Chapter 2: Case Brief: Description of the Situation

The case study addresses the implications of branding, which relate to the process that engages the target audience in the establishment of the unique name and overall image of the product or service taking into account the perceptions of target customers. The major players in the given case study reflect on the brand of yoga with regard to their personal interests. These players are Bikram Choudhury (a professional yoga practitioner and founder of the Bikram Yoga Studios), Tara Styles (a dancer, model, and American yoga practitioner), Deepak Chopra (an Indian author and doctor) and Suhag Shukla (a Managing Director of the Hindu American Foundation). At the same time, the study refers to the number of involved groups such as the Hindu American Foundation and the famous American Yoga magazine known as Yoga Journal. Taking into account the statistical evidence, as of 2008, around sixteen million people in the United States already practiced yoga as a mental, physical and even spiritual discipline that originates in ancient India. The history of yoga commenced in the third millennium B.C.E. that was found in the Indus Valley archeological relics. Due to these relics, yoga is acknowledged as the technical foundation of the three major religions across the globe such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. The major areas of yoga known for the broad public are Hatha yoga, Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga, Jnana yoga, and Raja yoga. The yoga areas consider the depth of the yoga body of knowledge collected for a thousand of years. According to the teachings of Bhagavad Gita that originate in 300 B.C.E., the yogic teachings have been passed from the gurus to their students for many years (Mallinson 2011).

The establishment of yoga in the United States was the next element of concern in the case study. It started in the middle of the nineteenth century at the time when the Hindu and Indian literature involved the American Transcendentalists writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In 1893, Swami Vivekananda brought yoga to the United States by means of positioning the Indian culture and Hinduism at the World Parliament of Religions. Margaret Woodrow Wilson, the daughter of the former president, left the US and traveled to an Indian ashram. Indra Devi, the former Latvian film actress, moved to the United States in 1947 and established the Hatha yoga studio in Los Angeles. Moreover, an American Richard Hittleman started teaching hatha yoga in the 1940s and 1950s. He also wrote many books to explain the heart of yoga. The most famous of them is Yoga for Health that was presented on the television show from 1961-1981. As of 1966, B. K. S. Iyengar published his book on the asana poses so as to help the target audience practice yoga. Until today, these set of the asanas is considered to be the Bible of yoga by the famous Yoga Journal. Lately, in the 1980s and 1990s, Chopra and Maharishi joined their forces to contribute to the mind-body medicine by practicing yoga (Alter 2004).

One of the professional yoga practitioners in the mind-body movement known as Bikram Choudhury founded the Bikram Yoga studios. He moved to the United States to teach yoga at the resorts and spas in Los Angeles in 1971. The conventional yoga practice of that time comprised twenty-six asanas and two breathing practices under the temperature of up to a hundred degrees Celsius. As of 1979, Bikram had his copyright of the published book known as  Bikram’s Beginning of Yoga Class . Until 1984, he founded his yoga studio in Beverly Hills where yoga costs were twenty dollars for one lesson of yoga, which totaled a thousand US dollars every day. In 1994, he started offering intensive training courses, which signified the increase in the Bikram studious, which led to training up to several hundred teachers every year by 2000. As a result, Bikram established around seven hundred yoga studious across more than two hundred and twenty countries by 2003. At that time, Bikram claimed his authorship of the yoga poses, which led to the filed suit against him. It indicated that the copyright or patent could not be valid with respect to the yoga poses, according to the Open Source Yoga Unity attorney. The considerations were justified by means of disregarding the possibility to perceive the yoga poses as the private property. Later in 2006, the Indian government published the catalog with a thousand and five hundred yoga poses for the daily practices. These practices were grounded on the ancient Sanskrit, Persian and Urdu historical insights, which still helped Bikram to open up to five thousand yoga studios by 2011 with an estimated income of up to five million US dollars a year (McEvilley 2002).

Another yoga practitioner is known as Tara Stiles who founded the Strala Yoga Studio. She was engaged in working with the Ford Agency and was asked to create promotional yoga videos for the YouTube channel. Afterward, she started promoting herself on Facebook with the yoga classes in her apartment in private sessions. As a result, Women’s Health Magazine hired her as a blogger to share her experience about the yoga practice. Consequently, she opened her Strala Yoga Studio in 2008. Later in 2010, Tara and Chopra launched the yoga iPad application known as the “Authentic Yoga”. The next stage of promoting her yoga practice was with her book known as  Slim Calm Sexy Yoga that  was published in 2010 and was ranked as the number one to read for a number of months. At the same time, Tara partnered with Jane Fonda on the production of the fitness workout videos that were more than famous and made their companies successful in the sphere of the mind-body industry (Possehl 2003).

Chapter 3: Problem Statement and Plan of Analysis

3.1. the problems in the case.

The overall problem of the case study could be referred to the branding notions of yoga such as Bikram’s “Hot Yoga” or Stiles’ “Strala Yoga”. Hence, the major issues of the case study correspond to the following implications. It is important to know whether yoga practices rooted in the philosophy of Hinduism. The other aspect of concern is the overall justification of yoga branding. The final implication is to learn whether the control of the yoga brand is lost by the Hinduism tradition.

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3.2. Review of Relevant Literature

The first implication of the review of relevant literature refers to the origin of the yoga practice. The purpose of the research is to understand whether yoga is rooted in Hindu philosophy. The review of relevant literature claims that the earliest chronicles of yoga were addressed in the Indus Valley archeological relics of the third millennium B. C. E. Thus, the evidence indicates that there was a man sitting in the lotus posture and meditating. Apparently, such evidence existed even before the anticipated early texts on the foundation of yoga. At the same time, the earliest Sanskrit verses on the yoga practice were found from one thousand and five hundred to a thousand years B. C. E. These findings are also known as the Vedas, and they claim the theme of practicing yoga with respect to the backgrounds of yoga theories. There was another argument of Shukla stating that Hindu was the abstraction of the Persian tradition that is acknowledged as the Sanatana Dharma, which means eternal wisdom. Today, the term Sanatana Dharma is also known as the synonym of the Hinduism tradition. In addition, the historical notions claim that yoga was technically part of global religions known as Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Hence, the outcomes of the analysis correspond to the fact that the yoga practice is indeed rooted in the Hindu philosophies. At the same time, Hindu is also rooted in the yoga practice, which makes them different parts of the Indian philosophy (Singleton 2010).

The second implication of the review of relevant literature refers to the justification of the branded yoga practices with such merits as awareness, diversity, and specificity. Subsequently, the demerits of the yoga practice are the commercialization and patenting. In particular, the commercialization does not concern Hindu traditions, and it is always considered the largest problem of the yoga brand’s owners. However, in case of creating a certain system that could help people to solve their problems while using the yoga practice, it could be patented. In fact, this took place at the Bikram Hot Yoga Studio referring to his course known as “Lose Weight Faster”. Hence, it was patented as the intellectual property (De Michelis 2004).

The final third implication is the justification of the yoga branding which reflects the inferences of whether the Hinduism tradition still owns control of the yoga brand. Owing to the research findings and contemplations above, the Hinduism tradition already lost control of the yoga brands. However, people are still aware of its ancient roots and overall Hindu origin of yoga. As a result, there are millions of people who practice different styles of yoga every day under different brands knowing about the contribution of the Hindu culture. To conclude, taking into consideration the fact that the merits are more numerous and are more important than the demerits, branding of the yoga practices is justified (Samuel 2008).

3.3. Identification and Explanation of Models Used to Analyze the Case

The models that will be used to analyze the case study in more details should consider the most notable implications of branding the yoga practices in the modern world. These models will also reflect the implications of yoga branding from the position of marketing, strategic management, and organizational behavior. Hence, below is the outline of the proposed models for analysis and the way they will deliver great value to the research findings. Porter’s Five Forces is important to evaluate the power balance of the yoga brands in their business settings. The model is rather simple but useful for understanding the competing powers of the brands, including their services and promotion strategies compared to the similar companies operating in the target industry. Refer to the brief explanation on every aspect of the Porter’s Five Forces model below, “supplier power, buyer power, competitive rivalry, the threat of substitution, and the threat of new entry”. The other model is the SWOT Analysis   that allows the yoga studios to understand the new opportunities as well as be ready to eliminate the possible threats and manage the ongoing challenges. In fact, this is a useful tool in order to understand the strengths and weaknesses along with the opportunities and threats of the yoga studios in the target market. Thus, this approach of a business analysis indeed helps the yoga studios to operate more effectively in the industry as a whole. Finally, owing to this analysis, the yoga studies will be able to draw conclusions on the possible opportunities and/or threats and take immediate actions (Syman 2010).

3.4. Proposed Plan of Analysis

The anticipated plan for evaluating the case study would be to assess yoga studios with respect to the implications of marketing, strategic management, and organizational behavior. It would be managed by using models such as the SWOT Analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Analysis. Hence, the researcher will address the contemplations on the best possible solutions for the existing problem of the case study. With regard to the analysis, it would be possible to devise the recommendations on the best possible alternatives, including the creation of the action plan. Finally, the analysis will be managed in accordance with the limitations of the research along with the scope of future research studies.

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Chapter 4: Findings and Analysis

4.1. porter’s five forces.

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis below addresses the context of the given research in more details (Goldberg 2010):

·  Rivalry among the competing companies:  Today, the competing yoga brands are striving for the dominance in the target market by means of the challenging prices, high quality of both products and services, and the speed of reaction to the appearance of new yoga styles in the industry. In the case study, the rivalry is presented by the yoga brands such as Bikram Hot Yoga Studio and Strala Yoga Studio. However, both companies need to monitor the branding strategies of each other along with analyzing. The appearance of new yoga brands and their promotion strategies.

·  Potential development of the substitute products or services: The process of any growth of the yoga brands occurs when the competing yoga companies from similar or close industries are striving to enter the new markets. The individual entrepreneurs such as Tara Styles could enter the target market individually with the purpose of adding more value to the existing offers of the yoga studios. The examples of such companies could be the establishment of the new yoga movement that takes place with a combination of any other philosophy related to the practice of body, mind, and soul altogether.

·  Potential entry of the new competitors: The aspect analyzes the extent to which the new yoga brands could penetrate the target market. In order to refer to the case study example, the two famous yoga brands should think of defending their intellectual property right to the created yoga practice systems. In fact, yoga brands could easily operate in other target industries and/or markets referring to the niche of fitness and even health or alternative healing practices. At the same time, the new yoga brands could easily penetrate the target market with the help of the contemporary technologies and with regard to the fact of having specific yoga experiences that are different and more valuable compared to the existing ones.

·  Bargaining power of the suppliers: In this instance, the yoga brands should consider the extent to which they are dependent on the operations of their suppliers. In the sphere of yoga, it could be all possible yoga products such as the yoga mats along with the additional services that could be added to the yoga brands such as massage or spa therapies, among others. On the contrary, every yoga brands could have bargaining power over its suppliers. In other words, there is no need to manufacture the products mentioned above, but it is possible to partner with other companies that produce these additional yoga products. One more example of the bargaining power is the level of salaries for the employees working at the yoga studios. Moreover, every new coming yoga brand could offer higher wage rates compared to the existing yoga brands. At the same time, in case the yoga brand partners with many different suppliers of the same goods, one can easily control the suppliers and still be in demand for them.

·  Bargaining power of the customers:  In case yoga studios have satisfied target customers, these companies are likely to be successful in their target industry. When considering this power, it makes sense to think of the extent to which yoga studios are dependent on their target customers. The target customers of the particular yoga brands have their power since they can easily move to other yoga studios. In fact, this could happen for various reasons such as the establishment of new yoga styles, lower pricing policies, higher quality of both yoga-related products and services, greater customer services, and many additional conveniences for the target customers, among others. However, the target customers can lose their power in case they become loyal to a particular yoga brand such as Strala Yoga Studios. In this case, if they prefer this brand, they are not likely to take advantage of other yoga brands such as the Bikram Hot Yoga Studios. It also correlates with the additional products and services offered by these yoga brands that are more appealing for the target customers. Therefore, yoga brands should consider the implications of their target customers every time when they examine target markets. In addition, the new yoga brands should have a particular priority to examine the number of resources they can use in order to remain effective competitors in the industry as well as to make a strong competition to other yoga brands in the target market (Goldberg 2010).

4.2. SWOT Analysis

The SWOT analysis is presented an individual assessment of the researcher with regard to the support of the research findings as follows (White 2014; Fowler 2012):

Chapter 5: Proposed Solution to the Problem

5.1. integrated assessment of the analysis.

The integrated assessment of the   analysis is to consider the relevant literature on the branding of the yoga practice. According to Bhagavad Gita originated in circa three hundred B. C. E., there was an epic Mahabharata that also contained the philosophical inclination of yoga practices. In other words, the evidence claims that there already were the teachings of yoga written and conveyed from gurus of the past to their students. Apparently, this notion was argued by Chopra in terms of stating that the Hinduism tradition is perceived as a religion that was established in the following centuries after the yoga practice was established in the consciousness of its practitioners. In fact, taking into account the notions from the history, yoga predates Hinduism tradition. According to Mahabharata, the yoga sutras already collected a number of authored Indian aphorisms created by the famous philosopher and one of the most trusted pioneers of yoga known as Patanjali. Despite the fact that the dates of these Indian aphorisms are not quite clear, it was still considered that the yoga sutras were most probably written after the well-known Bhagavad Gita. In fact, this body of knowledge also included the so-called Ashtanga yoga, also known as the eight limbs of yoga, according to Patanjali teachings. These eight limbs are the yama or restraint, niyama or observance, pranayama or the breathing teachings, pratyahara or the preparation for meditation, Dharana or the concentration, dhyana or the meditation, Samadhi or the absorption, and finally asana or the physical exercises. A great variety of these texts are known as the sacred Hindu philosophies (Cleary 1995).

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5.2. Generated Ideas and Alternative Solution

The generated ideas are aimed at raising the awareness about perceptions of branding that relate to the value of yoga and help people to synchronize their body, mind, and soul. The awareness also refers to the implications of branding that provides insights into the yoga practices. Hence, in the United States, the brands of yoga grew drastically since the increase in people who practiced yoga at that time. The figure of sixteen million yogis already doubled after several decades of such practices. Consequently, the alternative solution for the research study is to consider the growing interest of the target audience in particular brands of yoga that would make people visit yoga studios on the regular basis (Mallinson 2011).

5.3. Selection of the Best Fit Solutions

The implication of diversity refers to the perceptions of branding quite differently. It is considered that brands of yoga could offer people a nonspiritual approach to yoga that they can learn and improve their health. In fact, it is agreed that the whole of humanity has access to yoga practice and not a single nation. In other words, yoga could not be considered as the property of one person or a group of yoga practitioners. Thus, the yoga practice could be legally distributed all over the world, regardless of the religious beliefs, class of people and their faith. Moreover, the yoga practice style of Tara was perceived as the highly materialistic, but it worked for all the target audience. In fact, she did not use the Sanskrit words but simply practiced yoga in her class and added some chants to make yoga more entertaining. Therefore, the contribution of yoga is indeed the establishment of unity and integrity of people from different nations that finally unites them (Bahnemann 2007).

5.4. Recommendations on the Best Alternative

The recommendation on the best alternative could be presented by means of the implications of the case study that address the flow of branding yoga all over the world, which is considered with respect to the specificity perception as follows. In other words, the specificity of the yoga practice could be perceived by means of creating new brands for yoga through the adoption of different yoga styles. As a result, the target customers have more options to choose from grounded on all their needs. The examples of such adoption are the Hatha yoga studios “Hot Yoga” by Bikram and yoga studios by Tara Styles with the implications for relaxation of her “Strala Yoga” (Larson 2008).

5.5. Action Plan

The action plan could be perceived with respect to the number of players of the case study and the number of facts from the dispute on the true origin and original roots of the yoga practice. In particular, the Hindu American Foundation in the United States that was in charge of evaluating the quality of the Yoga Journal referred no reference to Hinduism. At that time, the yoga industry totaled six billion US dollars a year, as it was reported by Suhag Shukla, the Managing Director of the Yoga Journal. There was a desire to claim the roots of yoga and take them back to Hinduism. Thus, Suhag Shukla was in vain trying to reach the Yoga Journal, main editor. As a result, there was a launch of the campaign known as the “Take Back Yoga – Bringing to Light Yoga’s Hindu Roots”. The idea was not about the implications of branding but about the acknowledgment of yoga practitioners in terms of the Hinduism contribution to humanity with the establishment of the yoga practice. Afterward, Chopra acknowledged that Americans tend to claim their rights to everything, particularly if it concerns the ancient times. In 2010, Aseem Shukla, the member of the Hindu American Foundation, wrote a discourse at the Washington Post claiming the unfaithful approach of conventional yoga practitioners. Thus, it was reflected as the faith in “The Theft of Yoga” with the consequent answer from Chopra claiming that the yoga practice does not have its origin in Hinduism. Nevertheless, he agreed that the yoga practice still has roots in the Indian tradition. Hence, the action plan is to think about yoga practices by considering the details of individual yoga practitioners. The fact is that the existing yoga practitioners will continue their asana rehearses, irrespective of the yoga origin and/or its true roots. In this case, the only action plan could be not to argue about the authorship and striving to bring more value to the target customers of yoga all over the world (Eliade 2009).

5.6. Limitations of the Study

The major limitation of this research study is the inability to review the sacred knowledge of the past by the researcher since there is no language skill to understand the Vedic notions. Thus, the researcher should take advantage merely of the findings collected in the alternative sources without knowing if they are right or wrong as well as to which extent there could be errors in perceptions of the yoga practice and its original roots (Saraswati 2008).

5.7. Scope of the Further Research

The scope of the research is in the number of implications. At first, the purpose of future actions is to consider the discussion that already proves the relation between yoga practice and the ancient Hindu traditions. It means that the target readers should still perceive their yoga practice as it was previously with the only difference of having some evidence for its origin. The other future research studies could consider the implications of both inputs and outputs of the yoga practice for the existing yoga practitioners. The time frame for the consequent studies could be different taking into account the efforts, time and money (Sarasvati 1998).