Yoga and Mindfulness Interventions for Health and Well-Being in Different Populations

Dear Colleagues,

A growing body of evidence substantiates the idea that yoga and mindfulness-based interventions can enhance health and well-being. Specifically, these practices promote stress reduction, improve sleep and emotional regulation and contribute to a greater awareness of the body and mind. On a physiological level, yoga can improve flexibility, muscle strength and cardiovascular function, while mindfulness is associated with a decrease in blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Furthermore, both practices have been recognized as effective tools in supporting the management of disorders such as anxiety, depression and chronic pain, promoting a balance between body and mind that leads to better overall health. Several studies have highlighted how these practices can be effective in different populations, including people with psychiatric disorders, patients with chronic diseases, the elderly and young, and athletes. However, research on the psychobiological mechanisms that underly the abovementioned effects, in addition to the best practices/interventions to use in which context/population, is still ongoing. Moreover, studying yoga and mindfulness interventions is essential as it offers further insights into their benefits, optimizes practices, and helps us develop more effective approaches to promote mental health and general well-being.

This Special Issue of Healthcare aims to foster discussions on up-to-date scientific data in this area. We therefore invite authors to submit original research and/or specific reviews (or opinion papers encouraging new perspectives) that improve the understanding of “Yoga and Mindfulness Interventions for Health and Well-Being in Different Populations”. Papers that address novel outcomes obtained using traditional interventions (e.g., hatha yoga, MBSR) or emerging techniques (e.g., Yoga Nidra, MSPE) in populations such as workers, students, athletes, recreationally active people, coaches, etc., are welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Selenia Di Fronso
Guest Editor

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• emotions
• mental health
• yoga-based strategies
• mindfulness-based strategies
• well-being