How does yoga practice and therapy yield psychological benefits? A review and model of transdiagnostic processes

Abstract Interest in yoga as an intervention for psychological wellbeing has increased in recent years, with literature investigating beneficial effects in a variety of presentations and settings. The theoretical understanding of this benefit has previously focused on physiological changes involved in yoga practice, however interest has turned to the potential psychological mechanisms eliciting psychological wellbeing. The current paper builds on previous theory and argues that yoga practice targets transdiagnostic psychological processes; mechanisms that feature commonly across a wide range of presentations, thus reducing distress and increasing wellbeing across clinical and non-clinical populations. Features of yoga practice are discussed in relation to these transdiagnostic processes and the features of modern talking therapies. A new model is proposed positing specific aspects of yoga practice correlate with specific transdiagnostic processes to elicit psychological change and argues that the mechanisms by which change occurs are directly compared with the changes observed in talking therapies. The implications for future research and the potential for this to support the commissioning of holistic approaches in clinical practice are discussed.