Jews in Early Modern Venice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Jews in Early Modern Venice - Essay Example The paper throws light on Jewish culture as well. The hurdles that the efforts on part of music composers had to go through. Most of their efforts were shunned, by the neo-religious elements of the society. There is focus on the community service and the values that prevailed in Venice; their religious practices; the stones that were thrown on them in the form of bills passed by the Vatican government; The various communities that lived within the Jews are also talked about at great length. Their origins, their impact, their whereabouts, their contributions and their status are also discussed. The Levantines, enjoyed the highest economic strata and were later even allocated a separate portion in the Ghetto. Last, but not the least, the paper also elaborates on the architecture of the ghettos as well. The interiors, the exterior, the dos and don'ts of these places called the squalos and the grandeur associated with them Venice has long been recognized as one of the most multicultural and multi ethnic niches of the world. Situated across eastern Italy, it is a unique amalgamation of 40 different islands. Its length is approximately 40 km long and it varies in breadth from 5 to 10 km. Venice has served as a safe haven for various segregated communities of all times, of refugees and of barbarians. Several islands act protect the land from coastal waters of the open sea, with 3 main inlets moving out of the estuary. It has served as the center of trade between eastern and western European countries ever since 330 A.D. and has been a haven for a vast number of communities coming from different ethnic, religious and social backgrounds. That is why; Venice has never had a pure mythical identity; but home and shelter to refugees, a negative place, and a welcome land for people escaping the barbarians. Embedded in the fabrics of their society, in the confines of the city are Jewish ghettos. Also called the Ghetto Vichhio, Ghetto Nuvissmo or Ghetto Nuovo, they are occupied by a relatively more affluent class of the Jews. Ghettos are segregated areas of the society that harbor the shunned ones. They have been preeminent havens of various societies and eras, but gained prominence during the time of the Nazis. In the days of World War II, Jews were kept in these ghettos before being transported to the death camps. Huge walls were built around the fortifications of the ghettos, to protect the community from the events like Christmas and Easter. The History of the Jews in Venice Jews came on the forefront in the tenth century. This was when documents asking for permission to let Jews embark on a ship were refused. Restrictions were relaxed on the Jews in the late fourteenth century as they were allowed to enter the city. In 1508, the Jews ganged up with the natives to help the government fight the Papals' forces called the League of Cambrai. Even though the forces of Venice lost the battle, this event marked the influx of thousands of Jews in the Venice. The crowd that swarmed in the streets of Venice, escaping the warring tribes. The conflict was resolved and Venice recovered most

Principles of Project Management Prince 2 Essay

Principles of Project Management Prince 2 - Essay Example LU Case Study Analysis The method is beneficial in project management for several reasons. For instance, the methodology is product-focused and hence all the activities are organized in a way to increase product quality. Moreover, method requires segmentation of the project in to distinct stages that are easily manageable (Hinde, 2012). The method will help the LU team to maintain focus and deliver an excellent outcome of the project at hand. PRINCE2 methodology also enhances communication among the project team members as well as other stakeholders thereby promoting effective control of the project. This is important in ensuring that all the actions undertaken in project implementation are understood by all project team members to avoid misperception and promote ownership of the project goals, which is necessary to ensure that everyone strives to achieve a common purpose. More stakeholders are allowed to contribute to the project decision making since they are at all times offered a ccess to information consistently through reports (David, 2009). With the application of PRINCE2, it is possible to make improvements in the project implementation process because of the continuous monitoring and control. Weaknesses can be detected once they emerge and solutions identified early enough to deter them from causing failure in the implementation of the project plan. The method is flexible to a great extent such that the necessary changes can be made as the project progresses (Archibald et al. 2013). Where the changes during run-time are likely to affect the project timetable, PRINCE2 ensures that the effect is curtailed. The method allows the project team members to acquire time management skills as well as cost effective ways of utilizing project resources due to the high level of organization and control, thereby ensuring that the overall project cost is lowered (Rothaermel, 2012). However, PRINCE2 methodology is not without limitations. It has a relatively high level of inflexibility due to the adherence to a step by step process. Moreover, it is likely that only the project managers may have the full knowledge of PRINCE2, meaning other project players are likely to find it complicated thereby getting discouraged or they might fail to get the best out of its application. Its application in the project will therefore necessitate training of all staff who will be involved in the project to promote competence (Seegers & Hedeman, 2009). Ten days training will be enough to sensitize the project team members and take them through practical examples of applying PRINCE2, as well to demonstrate that the method is applicable to this particular project. It should be conducted by knowledgeable professionals who have applied PRINCE2 methodology successfully in other projects. This will save time and resources during the project implementation. To support strategic and tactical decision-making on the project, it is necessary to include information that will enable successful directing of the project, which takes in to account the actions that allow the project board to make sure the project implementation plan is followed from beginning to project closure. These actions are in all the stages of project implementation. It is necessary to include in the business case the required resources for the project, the people who will

Nestle Corporation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nestle Corporation - Assignment Example Most changes in industries are driven by the desires of customers (Doublethink, 2010). In the 1900s the company implemented second order change when the firm transformed from a domestic company into a global enterprise. The organization penetrated new marketplaces by purchasing subsidiaries in the foreign markets. Nestle aggressively targeted the U.S. marketplace during the World War II due to the increasing demand for dairy products. Another second order change that occurred at Nestle was the movement of corporate offices from Switzerland to the United States. The firm’s moves were based on the goal of increasing efficiency and productivity. In 1974 Nestle underwent another second order change when the firm decided to change its strategic approach by implementing a diversification strategy. A diversification strategy captures whatever strategic benefits that exist within a portfolio of businesses and turns them into a competitive advantage for the company (Chaneta). The firm became a major shareholder of the cosmetics company L’Oreal. A second acquisition that increased the level of diversification of the company was the purchase of Alcon Laboratories. Alcon Laboratories is dedicated to the manufacture of pharmaceutical and ophthalmic products. A first order change that the new CEO of the company, Brabech-Letmathe, implemented was the hiring of ten new executives to the executive board.

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Philosophy - Essay Example The above explanation is the reason why it is possible for a person to know for certain that what he is doing is morally correct. This is true if we view morality through the criteria required by reason and not from the point of view of religion or culture. Reason and conscience are universal concepts and they allow people to clearly understand and feel that there are some acts that are inherently good regardless of the perspective one is coming from. For instance, harming another person or killing him without any valid or justifiable reason is immoral. No one can dispute that, the case is as clear to any human being capable of thinking. It does not take a complicated analysis to know whether one has committed goodness or a moral act. If one helped a person in need, who in his right mind would suggest the possibility that it could be immoral? This is especially true as the person helping knows his motivations and intents. Morality maybe a concept and some may argue that it could be d ifficult to quantify or exactly prove. However, it is real as much as happiness is or love, anger and grief. One cannot hold them and say, there is nothing here so it may be it is true to you but not for me or I cannot see it, therefore, it might not exist. These concepts, though intangible, exist as truths in themselves and nobody can dispute them.

Urban Nomadism - Tecno Nomadism - Neo Nomadism Thesis

Urban Nomadism - Tecno Nomadism - Neo Nomadism - Thesis Example A nomadic life can give you every freedom you wish to access in life. There is no tension about office work, boss firing and other daily tensions. Driving out to the open road is not a mere imagination now and it has turned to be a reality with the technology favoring the aspiring generation. In this urban environment, an individual or a family has the right to choose nomadism as their culture and it is appreciable and acceptable in this mobile world. However, nomadic lifestyle is considered as an uncivilized way of living by the sedentary society. What could be the reason behind this? There might be different reason for people to switch over to this type of living style. Some of us consider the style during the retirement life, this is the time when we wish to be free from homely tensions and want to enjoy life. Another group of people are those who are homeless and have no other option than choosing nomadic life, also fly out to road. However, the case is different with modern noma ds, who also consider about earning, living, saving as well as connecting to people along with enjoying the fun on being free. Nomads love to have freedom, fun and more space for relationships and want to stay away from day to day tensions. Luckily, the present day technological efficiency has made it easy for anyone to be anywhere both virtually as well as physically at any time and thus, techno nomadism is a reality. Though, the life of nomads are filled with fun and adventure, they need to face numerous challenges primary areas that influenced the modern nomads are the prototype of free venture and marketing that offers a better economic prosperity. However, the initial point that arises in a nomadic mind is the transportable tools and environment. What are the best types of transportable tools that are ideal for a modern nomadic lifestyle? As a solution to this haunting question, a wide study is performed and discussed here. The most wonderful point of discussion is the architec tural creativity that made a space for easy transportation and survival for the modern as well as the post modern nomads. This paper purely talks about the emergence of neo nomadism with respect to the technological effects and the means of leading a nomadic culture. The significance of nomadic atmosphere and architecture suitable for a modern, comprehensive and rapidly growing mobile community is studied and discussed. A thesis focusing on the methods and architectural problem associated with a modern nomadic lifestyle is included. The tools that are crucial and adjustable to a logical transportable environment are studied while focusing on a hybrid infrastructure, service and efficacy. It also discusses the perfect solutions and the effective utilization of simple architectural tools and construction techniques to lead a modern nomadic life. Along with a simple transportation, easy construction and wonderful nomadic lifestyle, a person also needs to consider the chances of a great earning. This can be achieved to specific tools and effective communication networks. Excellent ideas and solutions are discussed here that can help the nomads overcome all the challenges related to transportation, communication and earnings. Now, let us see how nomadism is ruling this modern world and how the nomads are overcoming the challenges that face during their adventurous life. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Ancient world witnessed the nomadic culture

Security Survey Essay Example for Free

Security Survey Essay A security survey at Reedy Recovery Company was conducted on September 15, 2011 by Amy Reedy who was invited and retained by DeVry University for a security assessment. Information in the report was obtained from James Write, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial officer, and Rhonda Forbes, Facilities Manager, personal observations were done by James Write during the inspection of the DeVry facility. The intentions of this report are a detailed audit of all security aspects and phases of the Reedy Recovery Company. Our company will review and evaluate areas and activities that are considered most vulnerable to theft and safety risks. It is not the intentions of Reedy Recovery Company or the writer of this report to evaluate DeVry’s employees or their integrity and this is not what this report will attempt to do. We are solely here for the security of the company alone. Summary Reedy Recovery Company is a business that acquires PC components from a number of sources, we then look them over and transform them to perform better and enhance security features on them and return them back to our clients. We are a company owned 80 percent by Pccorp and 20 percent byPCfix. com. Other services include building and assembly of Pc’s. We at Reedy Recovery Company are ranked number one in the market in the PC security industry. The Reedy Recovery Company has a great process in handling our clients merchandise and it is a very promising and satisfactory process. All of our products are equipped with ESN or model numbers, these can be scanned or imputed my hand by the receiver of the product. This insures that the product is imputed in to our computerized inventory tracking system and is safe and secure until ready for repair or production. When handled by each person in the process of repairs they are also required to scan or hand enter the model number so you the client can see where your merchandise is and it what stage it is at so you have an idea of the retrieval of your product. Before it is placed with the rest of the shipments it is scanned again so that the tracking of your device is easy for you to follow allowing you to know the date of delivery. Details General information The DeVry Center is located on a four-acre plot of land in downtown New York City. It is a 30-story corporate tower high-rise, which includes 1,250 underground parking garage spaces and a rooftop garden. Construction of the building was completed in December of 2008, and 27 of the 30 floors are occupied by tenants. Currently, there are 1,800 tenants in the building, which has a maximum capacity of 2,000. There are several computer rooms, a restricted control and observation room, a records room, human resource area which contains records, scanners and critical information. Since the end of construction in December of 2008 they have designed different access to areas to limit employees from entering an area in which they are not granted access. Due to the heavy and ongoing work of these employees, future or potential employees are processed by Reedy Recovery Company. In which we do back ground checks and drug screening. All employees present and future need sign a confidentially agreement stating that at any given time and without giving them a reason that their office space, computers, emails and files may be searched. And any employee not willing to sign this agreement may be asked to leave the company or can chose not to be hired as a direct result of not signing the agreement. Physical security DeVry is a 24 hour operating facility from the hours of 8am to 5pm there is a receptionist stationed at the front reception desk. Beginning at 5pm a security officer takes the place of the receptionist. Badges with bar codes are provided for every employee and visitor that contains their credentials, on it showing who they are what areas they are allowed to visit and what position they maintain at the company. A sign in log is also located on the desk and upon arrival the person must sign in and have their badge swiped for recognition that the person is who they claim to be and authorization to the facility. These badges are also used as swipe cards to gain access to an area, once swiped the doors will either open or give an error message that says access denied. Being that all doors are electronic and can only be opened with a badge swipe there is a 4 hour backup system that incase of fire or power outage will allow access to evacuate the premises if the power fails. In the head of security managers office there is a lock box which contains keys as well so if the system fails electronically it may be opened by key. From 8am to 5pm a security officer is patrolling the outside perimeter and the garage and garden area. A cleaning crew is also part of the DeVry facility however because of clearance issues they are accompanied by a security officer to every area they go to ensure they are cleaning and cleaning only. Alarm Systems DeVry is equipped with an alarm system by ADT however the system has never been armed and only the CEO knows the pass code. Out of the 30 stories there are only two emergency exists on the premises. There are two fire pull switches both located on the first floor, fire detectors are installed but no kind of sprinkler system is located in the building, only a single fire extinguisher. CCTV There are cctvs located on several of the floors totaling a count of 12 all together. The recordings of these can be viewed for a period of 30 days and after that are erased automatically. There are three locations these can be viewed, one is the reception desk, one is located in the facility managers office and the other in the control room at the shipping and receiving area. Visitors All visitors must check in at the receptions desk be given an id badge and sign in on the visitors log book. Inventory Control The access to the vault is limited to 6 employees. The CEO, Facility Manager, Security manager and the head of shipping and receiving along with 2 shipping and receiving employees. There is one camera located at the desk pointing at the vault itself. There is no log for the person entering it or if they have a visitor with them anything to sign or check before entering. Shipping and Receiving The shipping and receiving area is located inside the vault equipped with three doors for items to be dropped off or picked up. The access to this area is limited to the personnel listed above. Access is granted only by use of the swipe badge by the electronic system. There is no use of CCTV in the vault, but at the request of DeVry Reedy Recovery system has installed a lock box for additional security of the items. As items are processed in or out of the facility they are scanned in to the system for tracking insurance. Recommendations The security procedures of Reedy Recovery Company have proven to be thorough and extremely effective. As badges are used and swiped upon entry to the building and a sign in log used, it would be in the best interest for DeVry to also ask to see another form of ID such as a driver’s license to ensure that the person is who they claim to be. It is also in the best interest of DeVry to include in their badges tracking software that logs entry to areas and monitoring the persons activities while inside the facility. As for the reception desk it is recommended that a buzzer be placed on the outside of the entry door so that the person has to be allowed access to the facility, along with this another CCTV should be set on the outside of the door so that he or she can see the door and who is standing there before buzzing a person in. It is also recommended that the security officer who patrols the grounds while the receptionist is at her desk not only do it between the hours of 8am and 5pm, but that shift are made to patrol the grounds at all times, as anyone could find out this schedule and attempt to breach the facility when they know an officer is not patrolling after 5pm. As there are alarm systems available to the company but not being used it is recommended that these systems be armed at all times and employees be made aware of these alarms, what areas will set the alarms off, and how they should use them properly and safely as to not engage them and cause a scare that is not an actual threat. These can also be in correlation with the badge swipe system. The CCTV as it is good to have should be increased to one on every floor at each end of a hall way, placed inside the vault area for monitoring. Also the 30 days of saved recording times should be changed to a 60 day period in case something is found late it can be reviewed as needed. Also it is recommended that a CCTV be placed in the parking garages, and on the roof garden for better monitoring of the grounds, TV monitors should be placed at the reception desk, the Security Managers office and one in the control room or viewing of these areas as well. Access to visitors should not be so easy, when entering the building the receptionist or security officer whoever is on duty should log the signature of the visitor, make a copy of his or her driver’s license for security reasons and also compare the picture on the ID to the person giving it to them. Only after this should they be given a badge to allow them access to the facility. The person on duty should be aware that if a person who presents an ID that is not theirs or seems to be false, they should excuse themselves and call the security manager immediately so that proper action can be taken and local authorities notified. We spoke of fire alarms and emergency exists. As of now they are located only on the first floor. It is recommended that one fire exit be placed on each floor with access to a fire escape passage in case of a fire. Besides the two pull switches on the first floor one should be located in an easy to reach area on each floor. Also sprinkler systems should be installed on every floor and in the vault area so in case of a fire, the sprinkler systems can attempt to control the fire while the local fire department is on its way. This goes with using the security system also, when the security system provided by ADT is activated if a fire does break out ADT is notified and calls the local fire department for you, so you can rest assure help is on the way. The vault area should have CCTV on every door where the shipping and receiving goes on. A camera should be added to the hallway area monitoring employees there. Another CCTV should be monitoring the lobby outside the vault area and it should be able to be viewed by employees inside the vault area. Shipping and receiving should be more closely monitored especially when some of the items are being picked up by and external carrier. These people should also show ID for the company they are working for and along with signing the receiving slip also sign in to a log book with their name, time, date and what they are picking up and dropping off. Please be advised that these are the recommendations of Reedy Recovery Company and we take great pride in being given the opportunity to assist you in your security needs for your facility. You can rest assured that your company will be at little risk if you take these recommendations and put them to work for you. It has been a pleasure in assisting you in increasing the security of your company and if you have any other concerns or questions please feel free to contact our office and ask to speak to me directly.

Effects of Yoga on Life Satisfaction and Stress

Effects of Yoga on Life Satisfaction and Stress Literature Review and  Results Chapters Contents (Jump to) Literature Review Results Discussion Conclusion Literature Review Carlson, Goodey, Patel and Speca (2003) studied the effects of mindful-based stress reduction on quality of life, mood and stress in those with breast and prostate cancer. The MBSR programme was found to be associated with enhanced quality of life and decreased stress with low cortisol levels (Carlson, Goodey, Patel and Speca, 2003). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga increased life satisfaction and reduced stress. Culpepper, Davis, Eisenberg, Phillips and Saper (2004) conducted the first U.S. national yoga survey on 15 million Americans who had practiced yoga at least once in their lifetime, in order to identify the relationship between yoga practice and life satisfaction. 3.8% of this population were in the age range of 18 to 55 years and had practiced yoga for over one year. These individuals were found to score higher on life satisfaction than those who had tried yoga only once (Culpepper, Davis, Eisenberg, Phillips and Saper, 2004). From the above study it was inferred that individuals who had practiced yoga for over a period of one year were significantly more satisfied with life than those who had practiced yoga only once. Lee (2004) studied the relationship between Hatha Yoga practice and subjective well-being between beginners who practiced yoga from one to ten months and advanced Hatha yoga practitioners who practiced yoga for at least two years. 107 adult Hatha yoga practitioners participated in the study that practiced yoga consistently, at least twice a week for an hour. Advanced Hatha yoga practitioners were found to have higher levels of subjective well-being on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale than the beginners (Lee, 2004). From the above study it was inferred that regular practice of yoga led to higher life satisfaction, positive affect and spiritual well-being. Bijlani (2005) studied the effect of a yoga intervention on 98 subjects with chronic illnesses and high risk for cardiovascular diseases who practiced yoga for 3 to 4 hours for 8 days and were later tested on subjective well-being and anxiety scales. It was found that subjective well-being increased and anxiety decreased significantly after the practice of yoga (Bijlani, 2005 cited in Carson, King and Koenig, 2012). From the above study it was inferred that yoga practice increased life satisfaction and reduced anxiety. Daubenmier, Hirschman and Impett (2006) conducted a study to examine the potential of yoga to promote embodiment and well-being (life satisfaction) on 89 participants pursuing a 2 years yoga course. After the course and on completing a short survey assessing life satisfaction in many domains, it was found that women objectified their bodies less after participating in the programme. Also, men and women had increased body awareness, positive affect and higher satisfaction with life as well as decrease negative affect with more frequent yoga practice (Daubenmier, Hirschman Impett, 2006). From the above study it was inferred that the practice of yoga increased satisfaction with life along with an increase in positive affect and increased body awareness. Dehen, Flegal, Haas, Kishiyam, Okena and Zajdel (2006) in U.S.A. studied the effects of six months of Hatha Yoga intervention on cognition and quality of life of 135 healthy older people, aged 65 to 85 years who were randomly assigned to the yoga intervention group and the wait-listed control group. Results indicated that the yoga group had significant improvements on cognitive and quality of life measures than the wait-listed control group (Dehen, Flegal, Haas, Kishiyam, Okena and Zajdel, 2006). From the above study it was inferred that yoga practice increased quality of life as well as cognition functioning. Geher, Otte and West (2006) researched the effects of Hatha Yoga on stress and life satisfaction on a U.S. population of 168 individuals in the age range of 20 to 40 years. 94 yoga practitioners who had practiced yoga for more than a year were significantly more satisfied with life and had lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels than the 74 individuals had completed only three sessions of Hatha Yoga (Geher, Otte and West, 2006). From the above study it was inferred that long-term yoga practitioners were more satisfied with life on and had lower stress levels than beginners of yoga. Kirstein (2006) studied the effects of 10 weeks yoga intervention on postural control, spasticity, mobility and quality of life of 12 patients with Multiple Sclerosis aged 30–76 years who practiced yoga twice a week for 70 minutes. Significant differences between the pre and post intervention scores suggested that yoga was a valuable alternative to other exercises for Multiple Sclerosis patients because of the improved scores on all scales (Kirstein, 2006). From the above study it was inferred that yoga intervention increased postural control, mobility, quality of life and decreased spasticity. Vito (2007) evaluated the effects of Hatha Yoga in relieving the psychological and physical symptoms of 25 female breast cancer patients aged 25–60 years, who were alternatively assigned to a twice weekly, 8 week yoga group and a wait-list control group. Questionnaires were administered before and after the yoga intervention. The yoga participants showed significant improvements in all outcome measures with a decrease in fatigue and negative mood as compared to the wait-listed control group (Vito, 2007). From the above study it was inferred that yoga increased quality of life simultaneously decreasing symptoms of cancer. Bijlani, Gupta and Sharma (2008) studied the effect of an 8-day intensive yoga intervention on 77 subjects’ subjective well-being who were randomly assigned to the yoga group and the control group. Using the Subjective Well-Being Inventory (SUBI), the yoga group reported significant improvements in the areas of general well-being, expectation and achievement, confidence in coping, and mental mastery along with less worry and better abilities to cope with stress, and thus scored higher on subjective well-being than the control group (Bijlani, Gupta and Sharma, 2008). From the above study it was inferred that a yogic lifestyle increased subjective well-being. Duncan, Leis and Taylor-Brown (2008) evaluated the impact and outcomes of Iyengar Yoga in a Cancer Centre on 24 participants aged 38 to 57 years on measures of quality of life, spiritual well-being and mood disturbance. They were taught yoga and practiced it for 90 minutes per day for ten weeks. On comparing the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL) before and after intervention scores, quality of life and spiritual well-being significantly improved with a reduction in mood disturbance (Duncan, Leis and Taylor-Brown, 2008). From the above study it was inferred that the practice of yoga increased quality of life and spiritual well-being, and regulated mood. Thomas (2008) examined the relationship between adopting a yogic lifestyle and subjective well-being on 152 Australian yoga students aged 30 to 50 years. Those who undertook an intensive Satyanand Yogic training (incorporation of Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Hatha Yoga) for two years scored higher on the Satisfaction With Life Scale and the Personal Wellbeing Index than those who only attended a weekly programme (Thomas, 2008). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga increased satisfaction with life. Havalappanavar and Jadhav (2009) studied the effect of yoga on subjective well-being and anxiety on 50 first year students from Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences Course aged 20 years and above. The Spielberger’s State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Subjective Well-being Inventory were administered before and after one academic year with the practice of yoga. A significant decrease was found in both state and trait anxiety levels and positive changes in subjective well-being with an impressive ascend in life satisfaction scores after the yoga intervention (Havalappanavar and Jadhav, 2009). From the above study it was inferred that the yoga intervention reduced anxiety levels with an increase in life satisfaction. Maharana, Nagendra, Raghuram, Rakhshani and Venkatram (2010) studied the yoga effects on quality of life and interpersonal relationships on 102 pregnant women who were randomly assigned to two groups; 51 each to the integrated yoga group and the antenatal exercises (relief from back pain) (control) group, both for one hour, thrice a week. Results indicated that there were significant improvements in quality of life and interpersonal relationships in the integrated yoga group compared to the antenatal exercise group (Maharana, Nagendra, Raghuram, Rakhshani and Venkatram, 2010). From the above study it was inferred that integrated yoga effectively improved quality of life and interpersonal relationships. Moliver (2010) studied yogic effects on subjective wellness ad well as physical and psychological wellness in 393 women, including 211 yoginis (female yoga practitioners) who had more yogic experience than the rest aged 45 to 80 years. It was found those with more yoga experience scored higher on physical wellness, subjective vitality and life satisfaction scales than those with lesser yoga experience (Moliver, 2010). From the above study it was inferred that life satisfaction, physical well-being and subjective vitality increased with greater yoga experience. Ulger (2010) studied the effects of 8 hourly sessions of yoga on the quality of life in 22 breast cancer patients aged 30 to 50 years. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-II to measure anxiety and its permanence respectively, and Visual Analog Scale to measure life satisfaction were administered before and after yoga training. Patients’ quality of life after yoga was found to be higher with decrease in stress than before training (Ulger, 2010). From the above study it was inferred that yoga training can diminish stress and increase quality of life. Choudhary and Rathore (2011) studied the impact of 6 months of yoga on emotional intelligence and life satisfaction on 60 individuals who were given the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) before and after the completion of the yoga training. Results revealed that yoga increased life satisfaction and emotional intelligence before and after yoga intervention. Also, females had higher scores on both tests than males after practice of yoga (Choudhary and Rathore, 2011). From the above study it was inferred that consistent practice of yoga increased life satisfaction. Reis (2011) studied the effect of a 6-week prenatal yoga intervention in late pregnancy and its changes in optimism, power and well-being on 21 women. Tests were administered in the first week and after the yoga intervention. Optimism, power and well-being had significantly increased from the first to the sixth week of the yoga practice (Reis, 2011). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga promoted optimism and well-being. Woodyard (2011) explored the therapeutic effects of yoga to increase quality of life on 404 individuals aged 20 to 40 years who had newly enrolled for six months of yoga. Results showed that yoga enhanced individuals’ muscular strength and body flexibility, promoted and improved respiratory and cardiovascular function, promoted recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduced stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improved sleep patterns, and enhanced overall well-being and satisfaction with life than they previously experienced (Woodyard, 2011). From the above study it was inferred that satisfaction with life along with overall well-being increased with the practice of yoga. Seldin (2012) studied the effects of yoga on female body experience on factors such as self-objectification and self-acceptance on 7 American women aged 25-49 years who had consistently practiced yoga 4 times a week for 2-12 years. The self-objectification theory stated that expectations of physical and sexual body appeal resulted in poor body image. In 2004, Myers and Sinclair’s study established a link between poor body image and lower life satisfaction in adulthood among women. Using a semi-structured interview format, most women acknowledged decrease in body dissatisfaction and self-objectification after several years of yoga practice which was also directly related to higher marital, familial, occupational and other life satisfaction variables (Seldin, 2012). From the above study it was inferred that the practice of yoga increased self-acceptance and satisfaction with life with a reduced dissatisfaction with body image. Chartrand, Haussmann, Khalsa, Mika and Moliver (2013) studied the effect of yoga practice as a predictor of psychological well-being on 211 female yoga practitioners between 35 and 60 years of age. Some who had practiced yoga for 10 years had higher life satisfaction and positive health outcomes compared to those who had practiced for only 2 months. Increased yoga experience predicted increased psychological well-being for those who intended to practice yoga throughout their lifetime (Chartrand, Haussmann, Khalsa, Mika and Moliver, 2013). Subjective well-being reduces in midlife years and rise in old age. However, the practice of yoga has shown to increase emotional well-being and life satisfaction in both midlife years as well as old age despite material and social losses (George, 2010). From the above studies it was inferred that yoga increased life satisfaction with age due to prolonged practice. Lucia (2013) studied the effects of yoga on psychological and physical wellness, and subjective well-being on 372 individuals aged 18-85 years. The participants were divided into yoga practitioners group and the control group who engaged in non-yoga exercises. Results indicated that yoga participants had higher psychological wellness and subjective well-being than the control group with no significant differences in physical wellness (Lucia, 2013). From the above study it was inferred that yoga participants experienced higher levels of psychological wellness and subjective well-being than non-yoga participants. Margaret (2013) studied yogic effects on the quality of life and functional performance of older adults. 135 individuals aged 60 years and above participated with 71 subjects in the intervention group and 64 in the control group. After 12 weeks of intervention, significant improvements were found in the quality of life and functional performance of the yoga participants. According to observations made in the study, the high attendance rate implied that yoga was preferred to medications (Margaret, 2013). From the above study it was inferred that aging individuals preferred yoga to medication, not only to increase functional performance and physical ability, but also to increase quality of life. Rai, Ramesham, Sathian and Sinu (2013) conducted a study on 280 married individuals, aged 30 to 55 years of which 164 individuals were Raja Yoga practitioners and 116 were non-yoga practitioners, to assess the effects of yoga on life satisfaction and happiness. It was found that yoga practitioners were happier and more satisfied with life than non-yoga practitioners. Also Rajayoga Meditation significantly increased life satisfaction and happiness in life further enhancing positive thinking (Rai, Ramesham, Sathian and Sinu, 2013). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga increased life satisfaction and enhanced positive thinking. Ivtzan and Papantoniou (2014) studied the effect of yoga on three dimensions of psychological wellbeing: gratitude, life satisfaction and meaning in life on 124 participants, aged 18 to 40 years, with equal number of individuals with and without yoga experience. The research findings stated yoga practitioners scored higher on all scales (Ivtzan and Papantoniou, 2014). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga increased meaningfulness of life, satisfaction with life and gratitude towards life. Sharma (1986) focused on the application of yoga to modify behaviour for achievement of self-actualization. The scheme of yoga fits the Hierarchy of Needs Model by Maslow where self-actualization is the final goal after satisfaction of psychological, safety, love and esteem needs. According to Sir Aurobindo, ego is the source of all conflicts, which if continues, leads to mental ill health and disorders (Sharma, 1986). In 1988, Hoffman stated that self-actualization is a continuous process of becoming satisfied with one’s life. According to Maslow, the desire for fulfilment in all aspects of life caters to becoming actualized. Diener and Tay tested Maslow’s theory in which 60,865 participants representing all continents of the world were surveyed from 2005 to 2010. They answered questions regarding six needs closely resembling those of Maslow’s needs to assess well-being across three measures, namely life evaluation also called life satisfaction, positive feeling s and negative feelings. It was found that satisfaction of the six needs rendered life satisfaction and positive feelings being greater than negative feelings (Diener and Tay, 2011). Positive psychologists Martin Seligman, Christopher Peterson and others have ascertained the fulfilment of these six needs to contribute to higher well-being and life satisfaction. They also stated that those who successfully fulfill these needs are capable of self-actualization (Coon and Mitterer, 2010). The above literature reviews have stated that the practice of yoga had significantly increased satisfaction with life. Greater experience of a yogic lifestyle increased life satisfaction as individuals grew older. CHAPTER 4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1. INTRODUCTION This chapter comprises of the two sections namely, the statistical analysis of the data obtained and the discussion of the results. 4.2. RESULTS This section entails the statistical analysis of the obtained data for the two groups, yoga practitioners and non-yoga practitioners using Descriptive Statistics and Independent Samples T-test. Table 4.1. (a) showing Descriptive Statistics for Yoga Practitioners and Non Yoga Practitioners on the Satisfaction With Life Scale. From Table 4.1. (a) showing the descriptive statistics for the two comparative groups it was observed that the total sample (N) consisted of 200 individuals, 100 yoga practitioners and 100 non-yoga practitioners. For the group of non-yoga practitioners, the Mean was calculated to be 23.71 with a Standard Deviation of 3.19. For the group of yoga practitioners, the Mean was calculated to be 27.75 with a Standard Deviation of 2.98. Table 4.1. (b) showing Independent Sample T-test for the sample of Yoga Practitioners and Non-Yoga Practitioners on Life Satisfaction. Table 4.1. (b) shows the Independence Sample T-test for the two comparative groups, yoga practitioners and non-yoga practitioners on life satisfaction. In the Levenes Test for Equality of Variances, the F value obtained was 0.51 which was significant at the 0.47 level indicating that the homogeneity in the sample was maintained. Thus, equal variances were assumed. In the T-test for Equality of Means, the t value obtained was 9.22 with df value (degree of freedom) of 198 which was significant at the 0.000 level. The mean difference obtained was 4.04. The significant difference obtained between the two comparative groups thus indicated that yoga practitioners showed significantly higher life satisfaction compared to non-yoga practitioners. 4.3. DISCUSSION The present study is a comparative study of yoga practitioners and non-yoga practitioners on life satisfaction. From the above section, the t value of 9.22 was significant at the 0.000 level. Thus the hypothesis stating that ‘the scores on life satisfaction will be significantly higher for yoga practitioners than non-yoga practitioners’ was accepted because the statistical analysis of the obtained data showed a significant difference between the two groups. In congruence to the above findings, previous researches done on the practice of yoga and satisfaction with life are listed below. Gharote (1982) studied the psychophysiological effects of meditation (Pranayama) and yogasanas on personality and use of yoga in therapy over a period of one year on several individuals who enrolled at the College of Yoga and Cultural Synthesis at Kaivalyadhyama, Lonavala. On various testing grounds, meditation and yogasanas decreased neuroticism, increased extroversion and self-control, self-actualization, happiness and psychological well-being (Gharote, 1982). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga increased happiness and life satisfaction. Bhushan (1998) studied the effect of a 14 month yoga course on measures of psychological well-being. The Satisfaction With Life Scale and Spielberger’s State Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered before and after the yoga course to 139 employed individuals. When the pre and post intervention scores obtained for the two variables, life satisfaction and anxiety were compared, an interesting finding was seen. There was a significant decrease for those with initial high levels of anxiety, and life satisfaction had increased after the yoga course (Bhushan, 1998 cited in Thomas, 2008) From the above study it was inferred that yoga increased life satisfaction and reduced anxiety. Jhansi (2007) studied the impact of yoga training on self-ideal disparity (incongruence between real self and ideal self) and psychological well-being on an experimental sample of 19 adults who had completed a yoga training course for six months and a control sample of 19 adults who had newly enrolled for the same. The experimental sample was tested after their yoga course and the control sample was tested before it on self-ideal disparity and on a scale of psychological well-being. Results revealed that the experimental group showed higher congruence between real self and ideal self and higher psychological well-being than the control group (Jhansi, 2007). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga increased life satisfaction and reduced self-ideal disparity. Bakshi and Kumari (2009) studied the effect of practicing yoga on subjective well-being (SWB) and academic performance on 100 adolescents aged 14 to 16 years. After a year of yoga practice, the students had high scores on subjective well-being and showed a gradual increase in academic performance in school (Bakshi and Kumari, 2009). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga increased subjective well-being and ultimately improved their academic performance. Monk-Turner and Turner (2010) conducted a study on an adult sample of yoga practitioners and non-yoga practitioners to assess life satisfaction along with body, mind, spirit and happiness differences. It was found that yoga practitioners significantly reported more mental wellness, strong morals, healthy values, ability to express their feelings and consider those of others, a positive outlook towards life and high well-being with higher scores on life satisfaction as compared to non-yoga practitioners. Yoga practitioners were also more likely to experience happiness within themselves (Monk-Turner and Turner, 2010). From the above study it was inferred that satisfaction with life along with mental wellness, positive outlook and happiness increased with the practice of yoga. Malhotra and Nangia (2012) studied the influence of regular practice of yoga on cognitive skills and well-being on 19 regular yoga practitioners who were tested on outcome measures of attention, remote memory, mental balance, immediate and free recall, verbal and visual retention, and on a measure of well-being. Results indicated that the practitioners obtained high scores on all cognitive measures and well-being (Malhotra and Nangia, 2012). From the above study it was inferred that practice of yoga not only enhanced well-being but it also sharpened cognitive skills. Dubey (2012) studied the role of perceived control (a belief that individuals are capable of influencing the events in their lives to deal with stressors and their inner states) in continuing yoga for six months every day, and its effect on health and well-being on regular, irregular and non-yoga practitioners aged 22 to 60 years. Various tests were administered before the course and six months after it. Perceived control was a good predictor of life satisfaction and health in the regular yoga group and thus they were more satisfied with life and had better health scores than the irregular yoga and the non-yoga practitioners (Dubey, 2012). From the above study it was inferred that yoga practice increased life satisfaction and promoted better health outcomes. Bankar, Chaudhari and Chaudhari (2013) studied the impact of long-term yoga on sleep quality and quality of life on 65 adults aged 60 years and above. Scores of yoga practitioners on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Quality Of Life Leiden-Padua (LEIPAD) Scale were compared with a non-yoga group of the same age. The yoga group was found to have higher life satisfaction with better sleep quality than the control group (Bankar, Chaudhari and Chaudhari, 2013). From the above study it was inferred that regular yoga exercises helped to improve sleep quality as well as quality of life. Basavaraddi, Gangadhar, Hariprasad, Koparde, Sivakumar, Thirthalli, Varambally and Varghese (2013) studied the effect on yoga on sleep, life satisfaction and quality of life on 220 individuals aged 40 to 55 years. 133 subjects in the yoga group attended a yoga intervention twice a week for six months. 87 individuals formed the non-yoga practitioner group. After the yoga group had completed the course, both groups were administered with tests. The yoga group had scored significantly higher on all the domains of quality of life, had higher satisfaction with life and better sleep quality after the intervention (Basavaraddi, Gangadhar, Hariprasad, Koparde, Sivakumar, Thirthalli, Varambally and Varghese, 2013). From the above study it was inferred that the practice of yoga increased life satisfaction as well as quality of sleep. Cramer, Dobos, Langhorst, Lauche and Paul (2013) conducted a comparative study on the quality of life, mental health and life satisfaction between yoga practitioners and non-yoga practitioners on 2486 individuals who were married and employed. Yoga practitio