Bridging Traditions: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review Of Yoga For Trauma Recovery In Indigenous People

Objective: The aim of this mixed methods systematic review was to explore if Yoga can alleviate mental health issues for Indigenous people, and how participants experience the effects. Methods: Peer-reviewed primary research published in English retrieved from 2002 to March 2024 was identified using the databases Medline, Scopus, Informit, ProQuest and PsycINFO. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed method studies with Indigenous populations, where the primary intervention was Yoga or mindfulness programs with significant yoga components that reported on mental health outcomes were included. Results: Only 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies demonstrated significant improvements in mental health outcomes, including reductions in negative behaviors, psychological distress, perceived stress, and suicidality along with enhancements in quality of life, wellness, and self-regulation. The main theme through which participants understood the impacts of Yoga was through ‘Connection to body’ and its sub-themes of emotion regulation, positive emotions, and social and cultural connections. The review was limited by the small number of studies exploring the effects of Yoga in Indigenous populations. Conclusions: This review shows that Yoga, alone and as part of MBSR, has the potential to significantly improve mental health outcomes for Indigenous people by enhancing emotion regulation, positive emotions, and social and cultural connections through a strong connection to the body.