VibroYoga: Improving muscle localization for older adults in video-guided yoga practice

Abstract

Yoga, a practice aimed at enhancing bodily awareness and control, is increasingly being adopted by older adults through video-based instruction. However, the absence of physical touch from the instructor has made it challenging for older adults to effectively recognize the location of the target muscles required to be used, which is crucial for the quality of yoga practice. In this study, we developed a wearable system called VibroYoga through preliminary design exploration and conducted an evaluation study with 22 participants. Results showed that VibroYoga improved the correctness rate of muscle localization and reduced response time. Additionally, it provided older adults with various positive physical and emotional experiences. Our study discussed future improvements for VibroYoga to better support older adults in engaging in activities that emphasize internal body-mind experiences.