Perceptions, acceptability and experiences of yoga to support long-COVID: a survey of people living with long-COVID

AI Summary

Yoga is perceived as beneficial and of high interest among people with long-COVID, supporting symptom management, self-management and psychological health.
Barriers include group anxiety, scheduling difficulties, low energy and concerns about suitability, requiring tailored interventions to accommodate ability.
Existing yoga practitioners with long-COVID report symptom relief, improved mental wellbeing, increased flexibility and a safer alternative to conventional exercise.

AI Summary

Yoga offers a potential solution to reduce the burden of long-COVID, demonstrating positive impacts on the biological mechanisms implicated in long-COVID, key long-COVID symptoms and associated mental health challenges.

METHODS: An online survey of PWLC, comprised closed and open response questions on: long-COVID symptoms, support needs, perceptions of a yoga intervention and its components and yoga use.

These findings suggest that yoga is a suitable intervention for study in future research as well as delivery in the community by qualified yoga instructors with a knowledge of long-COVID - provided that any intervention is appropriately tailored to fit the ability and address the concerns of PWLC.

Basic summary

BMC Complement Med Ther. 2026 Jul 3. doi: 10.1186/s12906-026-05430-2. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The impact of long-COVID can be substantial for individuals, health systems and the economy, nevertheless, treatment and support options are limited. Yoga offers a potential solution to reduce the burden of long-COVID, demonstrating positive impacts on the biological mechanisms implicated in long-COVID, key long-COVID symptoms and associated mental health challenges. Yoga interventions can also be designed for people with limited physical ability, and online delivery can increase accessibility.

AIM: To understand the perceptions and experiences of yoga among people with long-COVID (PWLC), and assess its potential benefits.

METHODS: An online survey of PWLC, comprised closed and open response questions on: long-COVID symptoms, support needs, perceptions of a yoga intervention and its components and yoga use. Participants (n = 171) were recruited via Prolific. Inclusion criteria were long-COVID (formal diagnosis or self-reported) and living in the UK. Inductive thematic analysis was used for open ended responses.

RESULTS: Analysis identified unmet needs among PWLC that align with the potential benefits of a yoga intervention, particularly in supporting symptom management, self-management and associated psychological symptoms. Additionally, a yoga intervention could provide acknowledgment and support to PWLC who feel despondent about their condition and abandoned by health professionals. Participants reported a high level of interest in a yoga intervention, perceiving it could be of benefit. Barriers to yoga practise included anxiety regarding the group setting, fitting sessions into schedules, lack of energy and concerns about suitability for long-COVID. Those already practising yoga with long-COVID reported that yoga helped to manage symptoms and associated psychological challenges, as well as increasing flexibility and providing a safer alternative to exercise.

CONCLUSIONS: Many PWLC have positive perceptions of yoga and there is a good level of interest in a yoga intervention among this population. These findings suggest that yoga is a suitable intervention for study in future research as well as delivery in the community by qualified yoga instructors with a knowledge of long-COVID – provided that any intervention is appropriately tailored to fit the ability and address the concerns of PWLC. It should be offered in the context of health professional validation of symptoms.

PMID:42399853 | DOI:10.1186/s12906-026-05430-2

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