Yoga is increasingly recognized as a holistic intervention with potential applications in both physical fitness and mental health. A bibliometric analysis of 322 systematic reviews shows that interest in yoga for health outcomes has surged since 2012, especially for conditions like depression, anxiety, cancer, and low back pain (Wieland et al., 2021).

The analysis revealed that most reviews were published in specialized or complementary medicine journals and often received public or nonprofit funding. This growing body of literature reflects the broadening scope of yoga research across medical disciplines.

A focused meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials specifically examined yoga’s physical effects on older adults. The findings show moderate improvements in muscle strength, balance, mobility, and lower body flexibility, though no significant changes were observed in cardiorespiratory endurance or upper body flexibility (Shin, 2021). Notably, interventions of 9–12 weeks were the most effective, particularly for participants in their 60s and 70s. These results underscore yoga’s relevance for maintaining independence and reducing fall risk in aging populations.

Beyond physical health, a three-arm randomized controlled trial involving 102 adults evaluated yoga’s role in stress reduction. Participants attended either integrative yoga, Iyengar yoga, or mindfulness-based training. All groups demonstrated clinically significant reductions in stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout symptoms after 12 weeks (Fischer et al., 2022).

Importantly, the study found no significant difference between yoga and mindfulness approaches, suggesting that each method is equally effective for reducing psychological distress, with choice depending largely on individual preference or accessibility.