IDENTIFYING THEMES ON YOGA FROM SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This study systematically reviews and synthesizes existing literature on yoga to identify key themes, trends, and research gaps. A dataset of 3,000 research papers published up to 2024 was retrieved from the Scopus database, with approximately 200 papers selected annually. A rigorous filtration process refined the dataset, resulting in a final set for analysis. The study employed factor analysis to extract and group related terms, revealing overarching themes such as Quality of Life Enhancement, Evidence-Based Yoga Research, Mental Health and Emotional Well-being, Yoga as Complementary Therapy, and Yoga Clinical Testing & Intervention Efficacy. The analysis also highlighted the role of yoga in pain management, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and specific demographic groups such as adults and women. The findings underscore yoga’s potential in improving both mental and physical health outcomes, with specific attention to mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress. It also emphasizes the need for more clinical studies, particularly randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to validate yoga’s effectiveness as a complementary therapy. Additionally, the study suggests exploring yoga’s role in chronic pain management, health management for conditions like diabetes and hypertension, and its integration into multidisciplinary healthcare programs. Future research could focus on tailoring yoga interventions for targeted demographics, such as women and older adults, and investigating the synergy between mindfulness and yoga. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the evolving field of yoga research and sets the stage for further studies to enhance the understanding and application of yoga in healthcare.