About the centre
The Applied Yoga Research Group (AYRG), established in 2025, explores the impact of yoga-based practices on health and wellbeing in healthcare, educational and community settings. Using a range of methodological approaches, our research investigates the effectiveness and acceptability of yoga interventions for different health conditions, explores underlying mechanisms, and considers how best to adapt interventions to meet the needs of diverse populations.
As the UK’s only dedicated applied yoga research group, we aim to lead impactful, rigorous research into yoga’s role in supporting health. Our members have contributed to the evidence base in this emerging field, including leading the evaluation of the UK’s first yoga social prescribing programme - work that has supported its wider rollout across the country. Current projects focus on the role of yoga in healthcare, how it may support men’s mental health, and its potential to support the management of long COVID.
As part of our commitment to building capacity in applied yoga research, we have established the Yoga Research Network (YRN). The YRN aims to connect researchers across the UK to foster collaboration between universities, external partners, and community organisations. It offers a shared space to support research-informed practice and contribute to national conversations — including with policymakers — about the role of yoga in health and wellbeing. The network was launched at our Inaugural Yoga Research Symposium in 2024.
In addition to academic research, we work with organisations to provide expert research advice, and deliver practice-based workshops and talks about the science of yoga for workplaces and public events.
Recent publications
- Cartwright, T, Sumner, A, Ballieux, H., & Edginton, T. (2025). The impact of school-based yoga and mindfulness interventions on adolescents’ health and wellbeing: A qualitative study in a disadvantaged area. British Journal of Health Psychology 30(2):e12793. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.12793
- Doyle, L., & Cartwright, T. (2023). Yoga use, physical and mental health, and quality of life in adults with irritable bowel syndrome: A mixed-methods study. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 102270. doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2023.102270
- Smit, C., & Cartwright, T. (2023). Recommending yoga for health: A survey of perceptions among healthcare practitioners in the UK. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 52, 101765. doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101765
People
Find out more about our academic staff and up to date details of our research outputs.