Yoga and Spirituality in Mental Health: Illness to Wellness

Neurobiological and anti-aging benefits of yoga: A comprehensive review of recent advances in non-pharmacological therapy

Aging is an unavoidable process marked by numerous physiological and psychological changes that profoundly impact overall health and quality of life. As the global population ages, there is a growing interest in non-pharmacological therapies that can mitigate the adverse effects of aging and promote longevity. This narrative review explores the broad spectrum of non-pharmacological mechanisms offering anti-aging benefits, with a special emphasis on holistic practices such as yoga, meditation, and lifestyle interventions. These therapies influence critical biological processes, including reducing oxidative stress, modulating chronic inflammation, enhancing immune function, and preserving telomere length-key markers of cellular aging. Additionally, these practices contribute to improved cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal strength, and mental well-being, fostering a comprehensive approach to healthy aging. Yoga, for instance, combines physical postures, breath control, and meditation to enhance physical flexibility, mental clarity, and emotional balance. Meditation practices are shown to reduce stress and improve cognitive function, further supporting healthy aging. Lifestyle modifications, such as diet and regular physical activity, complement these therapies by promoting overall vitality and reducing the risk of age-related diseases. This review underscores the potential of integrating these non-pharmacological strategies into daily routines to enhance resilience against aging, improve quality of life, and extend healthspan. Furthermore, it highlights the need for continued research to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which these therapies exert their anti-aging effects and to develop evidence-based guidelines for their implementation.

How does yoga practice and therapy yield psychological benefits? A review and model of transdiagnostic processes

Interest in yoga as an intervention for psychological wellbeing has increased in recent years, with literature investigating beneficial effects in a variety of presentations and settings. The theoretical understanding of this benefit has previously focused on physiological changes involved in yoga practice, however interest has turned to the potential psychological mechanisms eliciting psychological wellbeing. The current paper builds on previous theory and argues that yoga practice targets transdiagnostic psychological processes; mechanisms that feature commonly across a wide range of presentations, thus reducing distress and increasing wellbeing across clinical and non-clinical populations. Features of yoga practice are discussed in relation to these transdiagnostic processes and the features of modern talking therapies. A new model is proposed positing specific aspects of yoga practice correlate with specific transdiagnostic processes to elicit psychological change and argues that the mechanisms by which change occurs are directly compared with the changes observed in talking therapies. The implications for future research and the potential for this to support the commissioning of holistic approaches in clinical practice are discussed.