Hatha yoga

Q: What did studies of Hatha yoga find?

Studies of Hatha yoga measured 11 outcomes; the most studied are cognitive function (2 studies), postural sway path length (1) and UPDRS motor score (1).

Hatha yoga has been studied in 9 papers since 2016: 5 trials and 1 observational study in people, 3 reviews; 3 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 1, 2026: “Yoga plus a supplement linked to fewer depression symptoms”.

Intervention

9 papers study it14 findingsUpdated Nov 1, 2026

1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 9

“Analyses of covariance revealed significantly faster reaction times for the yoga group on the Attention Network Task's neutral, congruent, and incongruent conditions (p ≤ 0.04)”

Hatha Yoga Practice Improves Attention and Processing Speed in Older Adults: Results from an 8-Week Randomized Control TrialJournal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)2016doi:10.1089/acm.2016.0185

None of its findings points the other way.

5 independent labs in 4 countries

Funders: University of Minnesota and 5 more

Human trial5
Humans1

Studies in people

5 studies gave hatha yoga to people and measured what changed.

down: Decreases depressive symptomsHAM-D scores decreased by 28.5%
Randomized trial100 peopleWomen55–60 years12 weeks
Midlife adults; Older adults; Postmenopausal women; Sedentary postmenopausal women with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms
Explore (New York, N.Y.), Nov 1, 2026
up: Improves trunk stability, dynamic balance, spinal mobility, and trunk muscular endurancepartial η2 ≈ 0.56–0.87
up: Improves cognitive functionpartial η2 ≈ 0.15–0.32
Randomized trialWomen65–85 years16 weeks
Older adults
Bratislavské lekárske listy/Bratislava medical journal, Aug 10, 2026
down: Decreases UPDRS motor score -35%
down: Decreases postural sway path length
no change: Has no effect on gait performance
Randomized trial20 people mean age ± SD: 64.2 ± 7.5 years 12 week
PWP with a diagnosis of mild to moderate idiopathic PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages I – III)
Sports medicine and health science, May 23, 2020
down: Decreases OA symptoms-9.6 (95% CI -15.3 to -4) vs ASE; p = .001
down: Decreases anxiety-1.4 (95% CI -2.7 to 0) vs ASE; p = .04
down: Decreases fear of falling-4.6 (95% CI -7.5 to -1.7) vs ASE; p = .002
Randomized trialBotholder adults, mean 71.6 ± 8.0 years8 weeks
Older adults; Patient cohorts
Rheumatology international, Dec 2, 2016
up: Improves attentionp ≤ 0.04
up: Improves processing speedp = 0.002; p < 0.001
Randomized trial118 peoplemean 62 years8 weeks
Older adults
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), Nov 3, 2016

What did studies of Hatha yoga find?

Studies of Hatha yoga measured 11 outcomes; the most studied are cognitive function (2 studies), postural sway path length (1) and UPDRS motor score (1).

Cognitive function

upin humans2

2 studies

Hatha yoga improves cognitive function in humans (partial η2 ≈ 0.15–0.32).
“Both PNF-supported Reformer Pilates and Hatha Yoga appeared beneficial for improving functional and cognitive performance in older women”
Human trial16 weeksfemales
Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation-Based Reformer Pilates and Hatha Yoga on Functional Fitness, Balance, and Cognitive Performance in Older Women: A 16-Week Randomized Controlled Trial
Bratislavské lekárske listy/Bratislava medical journalAug 10, 2026
Hatha yoga is linked with better cognitive function in humans.
“Long-term Hatha yoga practice showed promising results related to executive functions and reaction time”
Humansat least 2 yearsmalesn = 30
Effects of Hatha yoga on cognitive functions in the elderly: a cross-sectional study
The Libyan journal of medicineJun 4, 2022

Postural sway path length

downin humans1−34%

1 study

Hatha yoga decreases postural sway path length in all the six postural stability test conditions after training.
“Across the sample population, COP sway length was significantly reduced in all the six postural stability test conditions after training (see; C).”
Human trialin all the six postural stability test conditions after training12 weekn = 20
Hatha yoga training improves standing balance but not gait in Parkinson's disease
Sports medicine and health scienceMay 23, 2020
Hatha yoga decreases postural sway path length in humans (mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease; during stance) (-34.4%).
“Sway path length during stance decreased significantly (mean reduction: -34.4%).”
Human trialmild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease; during stance60 minutes twice a week12 weeks
Hatha yoga training improves standing balance but not gait in Parkinson's disease
Sports medicine and health scienceMay 23, 2020

UPDRS motor score

downin humans1−35%

1 study

Hatha yoga decreases UPDRS motor score in humans (before to after training) (-35%).
“The median UPDRS-III scores decreased significantly by 8 points from 23 (range: 14–34) before training to 15 (range: 2–28) after training (Wilcoxon signed ranks test; V = 163.5, p < 0.001, a 35% reduction) indicating improvements in general motor function (see ).”
Human trialbefore to after training12 weekn = 18
Hatha yoga training improves standing balance but not gait in Parkinson's disease
Sports medicine and health scienceMay 23, 2020
Hatha yoga decreases UPDRS motor score in humans (mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease) (8-point mean decrease).
“After Hatha yoga training, UPDRS motor scores improved with an 8-point mean decrease”
Human trialmild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease60 minutes twice a week12 weeks
Hatha yoga training improves standing balance but not gait in Parkinson's disease
Sports medicine and health scienceMay 23, 2020

Depressive symptoms

downin humans1

1 study

Hatha yoga decreases depressive symptoms in humans (Sedentary postmenopausal women with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms) (HAM-D scores decreased by 28.5%).
“HYASG demonstrated the greatest improvements, with HAM-D scores decreasing by 45.1%, compared with 28.5% in HYG and 10.9% in ASG.”
Human trialSedentary postmenopausal women with mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms75 min/session, three sessions weekly12 weeksfemales
Yoga plus a supplement linked to fewer depression symptoms
Explore (New York, N.Y.)Nov 1, 2026

Latest

3 papers in 12 months

ExploreNov 1

Yoga plus a supplement linked to fewer depression symptoms

Depression scores fell 45.1% with yoga plus astaxanthin, versus 28.5% with yoga and 10.9% with the supplement alone, in postmenopausal women.Depression scores fell 45.1% with yoga plus astaxanthin, versus 28.5% with yoga and 10.9% with the supplement alone, in postmenopausal women.

Randomized trial · 100 peopleDepressive symptoms