The volume of research on yoga’s benefits has grown rapidly over the past decade. Every week, new studies are published about yoga for cancer patients and survivors, and these findings are widely shared in both professional journals and social media. For yoga professionals, it can feel overwhelming to evaluate these reports—especially when research uses its own technical vocabulary.
Yet, the ability to read and understand research is vital. It strengthens your credibility, ensures your teaching is evidence-informed, and helps you confidently answer questions from students, caregivers, or medical teams.
Here are ten guidelines to help you read research carefully and evaluate any claims:
- Identify the Theory and the Conclusions
What question is the study trying to answer, and what did the researchers conclude? Be cautious of bold claims or results that sound “too good to be true.” Scientific research is meant to be measured and cautious, not to declare miracle cures.
- Look Closely at the Yoga Protocol
What type of yoga was studied? How long were the sessions? How often did participants practice? Which postures, breathing techniques, or sequences were included? If the protocol doesn’t resemble Oncology Yoga, the findings may not directly apply to your teaching.
- Understand the Research Method
Different methods answer different questions. Common approaches include surveys, interviews, observational studies, and experimental studies. Each has strengths and limitations.
- Know the “Gold Standard”
Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are considered the most rigorous way to test cause and effect (e.g., yoga group vs. no-yoga control group). Ideally, data collectors are “blind” to the hypothesis, reducing bias. Still, RCTs are expensive and complex, and valuable insights can also come from smaller, well-designed studies.
- Examine What Was Measured
Studies may measure physical outcomes (strength, flexibility, weight), psychological outcomes (fatigue, mood, well-being), or biological markers (cortisol, inflammation). Some important outcomes, such as “resilience” or “spiritual growth,” are more difficult to capture with standard tools—so results must be interpreted carefully.
- Watch for Bias and Limitations
Every study has limitations. Was the sample narrow (e.g., only middle-aged women)? Could the design or analysis exaggerate results? Strong studies clearly explain both their methods and their limitations.
- Consider the Sample Size
Generally, the larger the sample, the stronger the conclusions. A study of 10 people cannot carry the same weight as one with 1,000 participants. Be cautious about sweeping claims based on small samples.
- Understand Meta-Studies
Meta-analyses and systematic reviews combine results from many studies to identify patterns across populations, methods, and time. These are often the most reliable sources for big-picture conclusions.
- Group Findings vs. Individual Differences
Research describes group patterns (e.g., “yoga reduces fatigue in breast cancer survivors”), but cannot predict outcomes for one specific student. Individual responses to yoga depend on many personal factors.
- Don’t Get Lost in the Statistics
You don’t need to master p-values or regression equations. Focus on the essentials: the study’s purpose, method, results, and limitations. Remember, correlation is not causation—two things may be related without one directly causing the other.
Don’t be intimidated by jargon or numbers. Data alone tells us nothing—it requires careful interpretation. Research is designed to be cautious, transparent, and open to refinement. Your role as a yoga professional is not to become a statistician, but to understand enough to evaluate credibility, stay grounded in evidence, and apply findings responsibly in your teaching.