International journal of yoga therapy最新文献

{"title":"Short-Term Effects of Nostril-Regulated Yoga Breathing on Autonomic Variables: A Randomized Crossover Trial.","authors":"Kumar Gandharva, Sachin Kumar Sharma, Acharya Balkrishna, Shirley Telles","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00026","DOIUrl":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previously, autonomic changes were reported during nostrilregulated yoga breathing, although the results varied between studies. Here, to reduce variation, the nostril dominance at rest was considered while comparing the effects of nostril breathing on autonomic variables because differences in lateralized airflow were traditionally reported based on nostril dominance at rest. Forty-five participants (mean age 24.3 ± 3.8; male-to-female ratio 23:22) were assessed in sessions on five separate days in random order. The sessions (with 15 minutes of intervention) were: (1) right-uninostril breathing, or surya anuloma viloma; (2) left-uninostril breathing, or chandra anuloma viloma; (3) alternate-nostril breathing, or anuloma viloma; (4) breath awareness; and (5) quiet seated rest. Nostril patency was recorded before each session using the Zwaardemaker method. Out of 225 sessions, participants were right-nostril dominant at rest in 136 sessions and left-nostril dominant at rest in 89 sessions. Assessments included heart rate variability, blood pressure, respiration, galvanic skin conductance, finger plethysmogram amplitude, and state anxiety. Generalized linear mixed-model analyses, with fixed effects of states, sessions, and baseline nostril dominance, were performed. A significant effect of states or sessions was observed as follows. In right-nostril dominance at rest RMSSD and high-frequency heart rate variability increased during left-uninostril breathing, while systolic blood pressure decreased during left-uninostril breathing and alternate-nostril breathing (padj < 0.05 in all cases). In left-nostril dominance at rest finger plethysmogram amplitude decreased during breath awareness. The other changes were common to right-nostril dominance at rest and left-nostril dominance at rest. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores decreased after right-uninostril breathing, left-uninostril breathing, alternate-nostril breathing, and quiet rest in right-nostril dominance at rest and left-nostril dominance at rest (padj < 0.05 in all cases). Unique effects of uninostril or alternate-nostril breathing were clear only when preintervention nostril dominance was considered, which aligns with traditional text descriptions of physiological differences based on nostril dominance at rest. With right-nostril dominance at rest, practicing left-uninostril breathing and alternate-nostril breathing reflected relaxation, whereas the changes with left-nostril dominance at rest were less clear.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effectiveness of School-Based Sahaja Yoga Meditation in Dealing with Problematic Internet Use Among Adolescents in India.","authors":"Sanchita Singh, Navin Kumar, Sadananda Reddy Annapally","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-24-00061","DOIUrl":"10.17761/2025-D-24-00061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the era of globalization, evolving technologies have become integral to modern life. With the normalization of unrestricted internet access, many young people face harmful impacts from excessive use, which can affect their self-esteem. Adaptive coping strategies may mitigate these effects. The present study examined the effectiveness of the Sahaja Yoga Meditation (SYM) program for improving self-esteem and adaptive coping that may reduce problematic internet use and maladaptive coping. We used a purposive sampling technique to select participants from among 119 students from 9th to 11th grades in a government school in northern India. The study followed a quasiexperimental research design with a pre-post test and a waitlist control group. The experimental group underwent a 12-week SYM program with five 40-minute sessions each week. The experimental group (n = 56) included 26 boys and 30 girls with a mean age of 13.00 ± 1.46. The waitlist control group (n = 63) included 30 boys and 33 girls with a mean age of 13.67 ± 1.92. The experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in self-esteem and adaptive coping and reductions in problematic internet use and maladaptive coping (p < 0.01), with large within-group effect sizes. These findings provide evidence for the efficacy of the SYM intervention, with apparent interaction effects indicating differential gains over the waitlist control group. SYM may hold potential as a scalable approach to support self-esteem, encourage adaptive coping strategies, and reduce problematic internet use among adolescents. However, as the study only examined associations rather than causal effects, further research with more robust designs is required before clinical recommendations can be made.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327499","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"2025 Editor's Note.","authors":"Catherine Justice, Sat Bir Singh Khalsa","doi":"10.17761_2025-D-25-00025e","DOIUrl":"10.17761_2025-D-25-00025e","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147327437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic Review of the Lived Experiences of Women Participating in Therapeutic Yoga.","authors":"Tayah Cross, Cordelia Elliott, Nicole Depa, James Furness, Kevin Kemp-Smith","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-24-00078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17761/2025-D-24-00078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>No study has synthesized qualitative insights related to yoga across various women's health concerns, including breast and ovarian cancer, endometriosis, menopause, and pregnancy, despite numerous individual studies. The present review therefore sought to synthesize qualitative research on yoga, exploring participants' perceived psychological and physical effects and motivators for engagement in a therapeutic setting. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, SPORTDiscus, and Google Scholar were searched systematically for qualitative and mixed-methods (extracted qualitative only) designs. Data extraction, critical appraisal, and quality assessment followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for qualitative systematic reviews. Synthesis involved a phenomenological approach through thematic synthesis and meta-aggregation. Of 1,896 identified studies, 12 were included in the systematic review. Women aged 22-84 participated in various in-person yoga interventions spanning community yoga studios, community health centers, hospitals, and antenatal clinics, with data mainly collected through interviews, questionnaires, and surveys. Meta-aggregation yielded five secondary subthemes on participants' perceptions: (1) Fostering Community, Relationships, and Safe Spaces; (2) Emotional Balance, Self-Discovery, and Lifelong Learning; (3) Pain Relief and Physical Wellness; (4) Easing Stress and Anxiety Through Mindful Practice; and (5) The Journey to Confidence and Empowerment. We identified two secondary subthemes for motivations for engagement in yoga practice: (1) Desire to Heal Mentally and Physically; and (2) A Sense of Commitment and Community. Yoga positively affected mental and physical well-being, with participation motivators suggesting its potential as a complementary practice in women's health and life transitions.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Brisk Walking Alone Versus Combined with Yoga on Cardiovascular Risk Indices in Postmenopausal Women: Quasirandomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Nidhi Khandelwal, Sonali Sharma, Sonal Bhardwaj, Manish Khandelwal, Tasneem Zahra, Adrija Mehta","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00003","DOIUrl":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Menopause significantly impacts cardiovascular risk factors, the leading cause of mortality in women experiencing menopause. The present study examined the effects of combined exercise modalities on nontraditional lipid ratios in menopausal women. A total of 139 women were randomized into two groups-brisk walking with yoga or brisk walking alone-for a 3-month intervention. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including lipid indices, were assessed before and after the intervention. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. ANCOVA with repeated measures showed that the brisk walking with yoga group achieved greater improvements than brisk walking alone in BMI (-1.0 kg/m2, p = 0.001), waist circumference (-5.3 cm, p = 0.003), and hip circumference (-4.8 cm, p < 0.001). There was a significant group × time interaction for diastolic blood pressure (-8.3 mmHg, p < 0.001) and in total cholesterol (-25.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001), triglycerides (-36.6 mg/dL, p < 0.001), LDL cholesterol (-22.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001), and non-HDL cholesterol (-31.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001). The cardiovascular risk indices CRI-I (-1.06, p < 0.001), CRI-II (-0.77, p < 0.001), and AC (-1.06, p < 0.001) showed significantly greater improvements in the brisk walking with yoga group, while HDL cholesterol increased significantly only in this group (+6.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001). The combined exercise group participants showed better satisfaction compared to brisk walking alone, suggesting that integrating yoga may be more efficacious, acceptable, and feasible, potentially improving midlife health and long-term outcomes. Our results underscore the importance of lipid ratios in predicting cardiovascular disease risk in women experiencing menopause and advocate for yoga's inclusion in exercise routines. Further research incorporating longer intervention periods and larger sample sizes is warranted to comprehensively establish the long-term cardiovascular benefits of combined exercise in women experiencing menopause.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Qualitative Study of the Psychosocial Benefits, Feasibility, and Acceptability of Yoga for Yoga Teachers and Students in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.","authors":"Ellen Halady, Catherine Cook-Cottone, M Nyakinyua Chege, Rachel Hechinger","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17761/2025-D-25-00011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study examined the psychosocial benefits, feasibility, and acceptability of the Mind Body Wellbeing Program, a trauma-informed and yoga-based program that was implemented in the Kakuma refugee camp, in Kenya, Africa. The program aims to reduce symptoms of trauma and enhance well-being through four domains, including mindful practice, physical practice, inquiry, and assisting and support. All yoga teachers were living in Kakuma Refugee Camp and were trained by Africa Yoga Project, a nonprofit organization that trains and employs yoga teachers in Kenya. Six teachers and ten students were interviewed about their experiences in the program, effectiveness of the program, benefits for displaced populations, and suggestions for improvement. The study used interpretive phenomenological analysis, a qualitative research approach committed to the examination of how people make sense of their major life experiences. We identified a total of 7 emergent themes, comprising 25 subthemes, which were further broken down into 92 unique codes. The 7 themes that appeared from the interviews were: (1) unique experiences of living in a refugee camp, (2) teachers and their training, (3) the process of learning and practicing yoga, (4) benefits of yoga, (5) yoga and refugee trauma, (6) acceptability and accessibility of yoga classes, and (7) future directions.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From Focusing on Pain to Focusing on What Can Change: Results from a Feasibility and Qualitative Study on an Integrated Pain Education and Yoga Program for Women with Pain Following Breast Cancer Treatment.","authors":"Niamh A Moloney, Sharon Treacy","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-24-00037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17761/2025-D-24-00037","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pain after breast cancer treatment affects up to 58% of women treated, with 25% reporting moderate to severe pain at long-term follow-up. Improved pain care interventions are needed to enhance patient outcomes and improve quality of life after breast cancer treatment. Integrating yoga with pain education holds potential value as part of pain care. We conducted a feasibility study to assess preliminary pain and quality of life outcomes from a 6-week integrated pain education and yoga program for women with persistent pain after breast cancer treatment. Interviews were conducted to assess the acceptability of the intervention. Pain intensity and interference, pain catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy, and quality of life questionnaires were compared before and immediately after the intervention. Semistructured interviews with thematic analyses were conducted to explore the experiences of participants, specifically the acceptability and appropriateness of the intervention. Six women (age 44-54) enrolled in the program. Pain severity, pain interference, and role function demonstrated significant differences postintervention (p < 0.05). Pain self-efficacy, the helplessness subscale of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, global health status, and emotional function showed trends toward improvement. Five main themes emerged from qualitative analyses: (1) acceptability of the intervention; (2) pain reconceptualization; (3) development of pain self-efficacy and improved pain experiences; (4) improved mindful body attunement and stress-reduction strategies; and (5) increased commitment to adherence to endocrine therapy. An integrated pain education and yoga program for pain following breast cancer treatment is feasible, with preliminary data indicating positive pain-related outcomes. Future fully powered randomized controlled trials are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Yoga and Positive Education for Student Mental Health, Self-Compassion, and Vitality: A Mixed-Methods Study.","authors":"Sarah McAllister, Olivia Lena Pastore, Michelle Fortier","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-24-00059","DOIUrl":"10.17761/2025-D-24-00059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With growing need to mitigate the mental health crisis on university campuses, researchers worldwide are seeking to determine effective student mental health promotion strategies, such as positive education (i.e., the teaching of applied positive psychology) and yoga. Nevertheless, a paucity of research appraises the effects of merging positive education and yoga for mental health. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 6-week hatha yoga program on undergraduate positive education students' mental health, self-compassion, and vitality. In this mixed-methods single-case experimental A1BA2 design, 7 volunteer students enrolled in the positive education course completed a 2-week baseline (A1), followed by a 6-week yoga program that included two ≈ 45-minute weekly virtual yoga classes (B), and another 2-week baseline (A2; post-yoga), all while taking their positive education course. Trait variables (mental health, trait self-compassion, and trait subjective vitality) were assessed via validated questionnaires during the baseline phases preceding and following the yoga program, whereas state variables (state self-compassion and state subjective vitality) were assessed immediately before and after one of the weekly yoga sessions. Participants also responded to open-ended journal prompts related to the outcome variables following one of the sessions. Visual, stability, level, trend, and reflexive thematic analyses revealed that yoga practice was associated with improved trait and state well-being outcomes. This research suggests preliminary evidence for yoga and positive education courses as a means of increasing university students' mental health, self-compassion, and vitality both immediately and over time. Suggestions for yoga program implementation and future research are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From Apprehension to Acceptance: Exploring Veterans' Perspectives on a Community-Led Yoga Intervention for PTSD.","authors":"Meghan Bennett, Kaley Davis, Sadaf Nasir, Leona Kondic, Brandon Huffman, Rachel Bollaert, Jacklynn Fitzgerald","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17761/2025-D-25-00033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This qualitative study explored the perceived expectations, benefits, and challenges of a 12-week community mindfulness-based yoga program for U.S. military veterans with PTSD symptoms. Although yoga has shown promise in reducing PTSD, depression, and anxiety symptoms among veterans, barriers to engagement persist, particularly concerning psychological perceptions of complementary and integrative health approaches. Our study builds on prior feasibility research by assessing veterans' subjective experiences through a focus group conducted after program completion. Twelve veterans were recruited for the intervention, with six participating in the focus group. Upon intervention completion, participants were asked about their perceptions of the program, including benefits and challenges, in addition to ability to cope with physiological PTSD symptoms. Thematic content analysis of the focus group transcripts revealed that the group exhibited initial apprehension, particularly centered around whether yoga was an appropriate form of exercise for veterans given stereotypes related to the practice. Nevertheless, participants described feelings of empowerment and increased self-efficacy upon leaving the program. Endorsed challenges included anxiety and avoidance, which served as barriers to attending. Participants did not explicitly report gaining control over physiological PTSD symptoms; rather, they emphasized that the program helped them overcome mental barriers and fostered acceptance rather than rigid control. Throughout, the program was identified as filling an unmet need for the veteran community. Findings suggest that veterans perceive a unique utility of community-based yoga programs. Specifically, the intervention promoted engagement in self-care, which, in turn, may help the ability to cope with PTSD symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146198123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Specific Dimensions of Treatment Satisfaction with Yoga and Allied Therapies Predict Health Outcomes.","authors":"Shirley Telles, Savita Agnihotri, Sachin Kumar Sharma, Acharya Balkrishna","doi":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00014","DOIUrl":"10.17761/2025-D-25-00014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous studies showed that patients' satisfaction with conventional medical treatment positively influences their health outcomes. However, this association is less clear for complementary and integrative medicine and has not been reported for yoga therapy. Three hundred four people (age 49.48 ± 14.73; 145 males, 159 females) were recruited from admissions to a residential wellness center in India. Their most common conditions were: (1) endocrine, nutritional, or metabolic diseases (25.99%); (2) digestive system disorders (22.37%); and (3) diseases of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue (9.87%). Assessments were: (1) patient satisfaction with treatment after 7 days of yoga and associated therapies using a questionnaire; and (2) outcomes at baseline and after 7 days of yoga and associated therapies using the Physical Health Questionnaire, EuroQol 5D-3L questionnaire, and Global Perceived Effect scale. The intervention included therapies such as hydrotherapy and ayurveda for approximately 40% of the time. Multivariable regression analyses (controlled for variation due to age, gender, education, and baseline scores) demonstrated that treatment satisfaction positively predicted favorable health outcomes. Participant satisfaction with accessibility and convenience of treatment, as well as with communication and time spent with the doctor, positively predicted improvement in health indices such as sleep, digestion, and freedom from headache. In contrast, satisfaction with financial or technical aspects of treatment did not influence outcomes. These findings suggest that to optimize treatment satisfaction and benefits yoga therapy programs should emphasize communication and time spent with the doctor or therapist while aiming for accessibility.</p>","PeriodicalId":38682,"journal":{"name":"International journal of yoga therapy","volume":"35 2025","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146133293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}