Research Process

I enjoyed compiling sources for my topic: the practice, increasing prevalence, and benefits of yoga. Because I myself practice yoga for both physical and mental health, I was eager to learn about the ancient roots of the practice. Cook Library's database proved extremely helpful as I gathered information about the topic. Using the skills I acquired in this semester's Library and Information Science Class, I was able to use keyword and Boolean searches to narrow the results of my queries. I was also able to discern the validity and credibility of sources I attained by asking myself about author credentials, scope of the articles I acquired, and any potential bias in the research I had performed. Writing the paper became easier than I had initially anticipated after I organized the sources I planned to use and constructed an outline for my paper. After completing this paper, I feel well-versed not only on the subject of yoga but also in research and writing processes that are sure to aid me for semesters to come.

Research Topic

My final research paper is about the practice of yoga. More particularly, the paper addresses the Eastern History of the practice, its Western popularity, and its health benefits. I use several sources, ranging from popular magazine features to scientific journals, to convey the deep roots yoga has as well as the practice's modern prevalence and efficacy. When yoga swept the United States in the early twenty-first century, many skeptics thought the practice would be a fad. Its popularity and benefits, however, have proved the skeptics wrong. Yoga is here to stay, and thousands of studios, instructors, and yogis can attest to that fact. The purpose of the paper is to inform readers about how influential the practice is not only in ancient and modern societies, but also how it can benefit the medical community as a means of therapy. The paper will show readers how an ancient practice can still be highly applicable and accepted across the globe.