INFORMED CONSENT FORM

Dear Participant,

You are being invited to participate in a research study conducted as part of the MSc (Yoga) dissertation at S-VYASA Deemed-to-be University, Bengaluru. Please read the following information carefully before deciding whether to participate.

Purpose of the Study

This study aims to assess the effect of a structured 8-week Swadhyay (self-study) programme, based on the teachings of the Ishtopadesha by Acharya Pujyapada, on emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness among working professionals. The programme will be conducted online from October to November 2025.

What Participation Involves

If you agree to participate, you will be expected to commit to the following each week for 8 weeks:

1. Two Swadhyay sessions per week of approximately 30 minutes each, involving guided study and discussion of assigned Ishtopadesha shlokas;
2. One Ishtopadesha teaching session per week of approximately 30 minutes, in which the facilitator connects the week's verses to emotional intelligence and leadership concepts;
3. One group discussion per week of approximately 60 minutes, involving sharing and discussing real-life workplace experiences related to the week's theme;
4. Daily contemplation and meditation of approximately 10 minutes, guided by the weekly theme; and
5. Daily self-reflection journaling at your own pace. The journals are personal and private and will not be collected as research data.

All sessions will be conducted online via Google Meet. In addition, you will be asked to complete two online questionnaires - one before and one after the programme - which will take approximately 15 minutes each.

Duration

The programme will last 8 weeks (October 2025 to November 2025). The total weekly time commitment for structured sessions is approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, plus approximately 10 minutes per day for contemplation and self-paced journaling.

Voluntary Participation

Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You may choose not to participate, or you may withdraw at any time during the programme without giving any reason and without any consequence.

Confidentiality

All information collected during this study will be kept strictly confidential. Your responses will be identified by a coded number only. Your name, email address, and personal details will not appear in any report, publication, or presentation arising from this research. The data will be stored securely and will be accessible only to the researcher and the research guide.

Risks and Benefits

There are no known risks associated with participation. The intervention involves reading, group discussion, reflection, meditation, and journaling - all of which are considered safe practices. You may benefit from improved self-awareness, emotional understanding, and leadership skills, though no specific outcomes are guaranteed.

Contact Information

For any questions regarding this study, please contact the researcher: Nayan Jain (nayan@ajeebistan.com).