Yoga therapy research and resources

Yoga therapy is a holistic bodymind therapy which has been shown to be an effective complementary therapy in treating many physical, mental, and emotional ailments. It can be restorative, preventative and in many cases, it can be curative or provide support with ongoing management of symptoms.

Whether you are curious about understanding the basics of yoga therapy, wanting to know more about the science behind yoga therapy, or looking to gather more information about how yoga therapy can be used to support your health, wellness and personal growth, there are a wealth of resources that can be found. Below you will find an ever-growing list of books, research articles and additional online resources that we have compiled from our own trainings and readings. We hope this list will be useful to you in researching yoga therapy for yourself or for your clients if you work in health care.

Yoga Therapy Foundations

• Yoga Therapy: Foundations, Tools and Practice - Diane Finlayson, Laurie Hyland Robertson

• Understanding Yoga Therapy - Marlysa Sullivan

• Integrating Art Therapy and Yoga Therapy - Karen Gibbons

• Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine - Larry Payne, Terra Gold

• Yoga for Wellness - Gary Kraftsow

Topic: Managing Chronic Pain

• Yoga for Pain Relief - Kelly McGonigal

• Yoga and Science in Pain Care - Neil Pearson, Shelly Prosko, Marlysa Sullivan

• Yoga Therapy as a Creative Response to Pain - Matthew J Taylor

Topic: Cancer and Terminal Illness

• Yoga for Cancer - Tari Prinster

• Adapting Yoga for people living with Cancer - Jude Mills

Books about using Yoga by Topic

• Yoga for Mental Health - Heather Mason and Kelly Birch

• Yoga for Emotional Balance - Bo Forbes

• Yoga for Healthy Aging - Baxter Bell and Nina Zolotow

• Yoga for Osteoporosis - Loren Fishman and Ellen Saltonstall

Books about using Yoga Therapy by Topic

• Yoga Therapy for Insomnia and Sleep Recovery - Lisa Sanfilippo

• Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Needs - Louise Goldberg

• Yoga therapy for Stress, Burnout and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Fiona Agombar and Leah Barnett

• Yoga Therapy for Fear - Beth Spindler with Kevin Richardson and Kat Heagberg

• Yoga Therapy for Diabetes - Evan Soroka

• Yoga Therapy for Arthritis - Dr Steffany Moonaz and Erin Byron

Articles and Scientific Research about Yoga

• This study/analysis looks at the safety of yoga compared to other interventions involving physical exercise.
  Cramer H, et al. The safety of yoga: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Epidemiology 2015;182:281–93.

• An 8-week clinical trial using yoga with arthritis patients found many positive effects.
  Moonaz SH, et al. Yoga in sedentary adults with arthritis: Effects of a randomized controlled pragmatic trial. Journal of Rheumatology 2015;42:1194–1202.

• A study in the use of yoga for symptom management during and after cancer treatment.
  Danhauer, SC, et al. Yoga for symptom management in oncology: A review of the evidence base and future directions for research. Cancer 2019;125:1979–89.

• This paper summarizes current research regarding the use of yoga therapies with cancer patients and presents findings as well as recommendations for clinicians working with these patients.
  Lin P-J, et al. Yoga for the management of cancer treatment-related toxicities. Current Oncology Reports 2018;20:1–15.

• This paper reviews research regarding the use of yoga therapies during cancer treatment in adults and children.
  Danhauer SC, et al. Review of yoga therapy during cancer treatment. Supportive Care in Cancer 2018;25:1357–72.

Helpful websites with further research and information

• The International Association of Yoga Therapists have created a website www.yogatherapy.health which includes a comprehensive research page highlighting Yoga Therapy research articles by topic from a variety of scientific journals.

• The website for the International Association of Yoga Therapists is a great resource for information regarding how to become a yoga therapist, as well as research and educational resources.

Looking for a Yoga Therapist?

Schedule a free online consult with Skylar to explore how yoga therapy can be beneficial for you.