Balancing Tradition and Evidence-Based Practice

Reflections on the NHMRC Report – and what it means for yoga teachers.

Introduction

Yoga is a big business. More than one million Australians practice yoga at least once a year, spending nearly $600 million and making it one of the country’s most popular wellness activities (AusPlay, 2025). According to the 2023-24 Australian Sports Commission survey of over 40,000 people, two-thirds practice yoga mainly for physical health and fitness, and nearly half say they do it for mental wellbeing (AusPlay, 2025). This trend is not new – back in 2005, a national survey found that one in five Australians turned to yoga for specific health or medical concerns, with most continuing for mental health and personal growth (Penman, Cohen, Stevens, & Jackson, 2012).

Yoga and the Australian Healthcare System

Despite its popularity, yoga in Australia sits in a grey area between wellness culture and formal healthcare. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) reports that 15 million Australians – about 55% of the population – have non-hospital (“extras”) health insurance policies (APRA, 2024). This may reflect a strong public interest in complementary therapies like yoga. However, coordination and referral pathways between yoga teachers and mainstream healthcare providers are still limited. This lack of integration is concerning, especially as more people look for accessible, community-based activities to improve their fitness and wellbeing (Australian Government Department of Health, 2021).

Yoga is largely a “self-prescribed” activity, but it does carry some risks – about 3% of participants experience a yoga-related injury each year (AusPlay, 2025). This highlights the urgent need to promote safer practices so everyone can get the most health benefits from yoga (Cramer, Lauche, Langhorst, & Dobos, 2015). These issues underscore the need for reliable evidence and professional standards, which have been discussed in recent government reviews.

Insights from the NHMRC Evidence Evaluation Report on Yoga

In 2019, yoga was removed from private health insurance rebates because a 2015 review government-commissioned review found insufficient evidence to support its health benefits (Australian Government Department of Health, 2019; ABC News, 2019). In response to concerns raised by the yoga community, the Department of Health engaged the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to conduct a new evaluation – this time including research published after 2013 (Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, 2025).

The Natural Therapies Review, released in April 2025, is Australia’s first comprehensive evaluation of yoga as a complementary therapy for common clinical conditions experienced by people who practice yoga, including:  

1. Perceived stress (including prevention of mental illness)
2. Lower back pain
3. Anxiety
4. Neck and/or shoulder pain
5. Depression
6. Insomnia and sleep disorders
7. Headache (such as tension headaches or migraines)
8. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
9. Chronic pain
10. High blood pressure (hypertension)
11. Asthma
12. Pregnancy and post-partum issues
13. Menopausal symptoms (during and after menopause)
14. Joint pain (like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
15. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Unlike the earlier review, this updated report followed the latest international standards and adopted a broader scope – examining the many reasons Australians practice yoga, especially for mental health and managing chronic conditions. The review process included input from experts in multiple fields, public consultations, and followed a registered research protocol (PROSPERO, 2020) to ensure the highest standards of transparency and to reduce bias.

Key Findings:

While 15 conditions were originally identified as priorities, the NHMRC focused its detailed assessment on the 11 most common and relevant conditions. The decision was made to keep the review manageable and maintain a high standard of analysis, given the large volume of studies. As a result, pregnancy, menopause, and PMS were not assessed in detail, and joint pain issues were included within the chronic pain analysis. 

Of the 11 health conditions reviewed in detail, the report found moderate evidence that yoga can help improve symptoms and quality of life for people with: 

• Anxiety 
• Depression 
• High blood pressure 
• Lower back pain 

For these four conditions, researchers were reasonably confident in yoga’s benefits, although more research would help to confirm these findings.  

For conditions like asthma, insomnia, headaches, and chronic pain, the evidence was rated as low or very low quality. This means there is not enough good-quality research to say for sure whether yoga is effective for these conditions (NHMRC, 2024). (See Table 1 for more details.)  

The report also highlighted a key limitation: studies often used different yoga styles, safety protocols, and ways of measuring results. Some focused on gentle movement, others on meditation or breathwork, and most only looked at short-term programs (less than 12 weeks). This inconsistency makes it hard to know which specific practices are most effective or whether practicing yoga regularly over the long term might offer greater benefits.

Table 1. Evidence summary for yoga’s clinical effectiveness for common health conditions according to the 2024 National Health and Medical Research Council Natural Therapies Review and practical teaching tips. 

Notes:  

• “Moderate” means researchers are reasonably confident in yoga’s benefits.  
• “Low” means benefits are possible but uncertain.  
• “Very low” means the evidence is too weak to draw clear conclusions.  
• Chronic pain includes osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.  

Challenges in Yoga Research and Healthcare Integration

As both a medical doctor and a yoga teacher, I welcome the growing recognition of yoga’s clinical effectiveness. The wide variety of yoga styles practiced in Australia – from energetic flow classes to gentle restorative sessions – creates exciting opportunities but also challenges researchers and yoga teachers aiming to integrate yoga into mainstream healthcare (ABC News, 2024). This diversity is one of yoga’s greatest strengths, but it can make it hard to draw clear conclusions or develop standard guidelines (National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2023). For example, what is considered “yoga” in one clinical study may be very different in another, including how symptoms are measured, and which outcomes are tracked (National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2023). This variation makes it difficult to develop consistent clinical recommendations or to apply research findings to everyday practice.

Although some Australian general practitioners may have a positive view of yoga therapy, it is not yet part of integrated healthcare (Sibbritt, Adams, & Young, 2010). Policy decisions, such as excluding yoga therapy from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), may also limit access and reduce opportunities for independent yoga therapists (Yoga Australia, 2024). This is why organisations like Yoga Australia continue to advocate for greater recognition, higher professional standards, and clearer pathways for bringing yoga into the healthcare system. These changes could help more people benefit from yoga and support yoga teachers in building sustainable careers.

In my view, for yoga to become a recognised part of healthcare, we need more rigorous research, clearer professional standards, and closer collaboration between yoga teachers and mainstream health providers. Taking these steps could help protect public health while establishing yoga as a safe and trusted complementary therapy.

Potential Implications for Yoga Teachers

As trained professionals, yoga teachers play a vital role in guiding students safely through movement, breathwork, and mindfulness exercises, while also setting realistic expectations about what yoga can and cannot do. The NHMRC report highlights just how important it is for Australian yoga teachers to use evidence-based teaching approaches, dispel myths, and maintain professional accountability.

Key responsibilities for yoga teachers may include:

• Clearly communicating the benefits and limitations of yoga
• Avoiding claims that yoga alone can cure or treat medical conditions
• Encouraging students to seek medical advice for any health concerns
• Prioritising physical and psychological safety by offering suitable modifications
• Documenting class content and collecting feedback
• Keeping up to date with current best practices through ongoing professional development

By aligning with contemporary health standards and engaging in continuous learning – such as attending workshops, reading current research, and fostering connections with health professionals – yoga teachers can build trust and credibility within the broader healthcare system.

Yoga Tradition Meets Science

Yoga’s rich philosophical traditions, especially the ethical values of the yamas and niyamas from the Eight Limbs of Yoga, remind us of our responsibility to students and the wider community. Principles like integrity, self-discipline, ongoing study, and honesty are essential for creating safe, inclusive, and effective classes.

The NHMRC report provides a foundation to advance yoga’s role in health. However, achieving broader recognition – such as insurance rebates or formal health referral pathways – will likely require:

• Certified yoga teacher training recognised by professional bodies
• Documented teaching outcomes (e.g., student surveys)
• Clear safety protocols, including health screening and injury reporting

By bridging yoga’s ancient traditions with modern science, yoga teachers can help keep yoga accessible and relevant to the wellbeing of all Australians.

Conclusion

The NHMRC report marks a pivotal moment for yoga in Australia. While it validates yoga’s therapeutic potential, it also challenges the yoga community to raise its professional standards. For yoga to gain wider recognition in healthcare, teachers, researchers, professional bodies, and policymakers must collaborate to foster professionalism, accountability, and integration. By embracing this opportunity, the yoga community can continue to lead with integrity, openness, and respect for the diverse journeys that bring people to the mat.

References

ABC News. (2019, March 30). Yoga, Pilates, naturopathy hit with private health rebate ban. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-30/yoga-pilates-naturopathy-hit-with-private-health-rebate-ban/10920770

ABC News. (2024, July 14). What to consider when looking for a yoga practice. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-14/what-to-consider-when-looking-for-yoga-practice/104081894

APRA. (2024). Quarterly private health insurance membership and benefits summary, December 2024. Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. https://www.apra.gov.au/quarterly-private-health-insurance-membership-and-benefits-summary-december-2024#general-treatment-membership

AusPlay. (2025). Participation in exercise, recreation and sport. Australian Sports Commission. https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/ausplay/results

Australian Government Department of Health. (2019). Review of the Australian Government Rebate on Natural Therapies for Private Health Insurance. https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20191107151136/https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/phi-natural-therapies

Australian Government Department of Health. (2021). National preventive health strategy 2021–2030. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-12/national-preventive-health-strategy-2021-2030_1.pdf

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2025, March). Natural therapies review 2024: NHMRC process report. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/natural-therapies-review-2024-nhmrc-process-report.pdf

Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Langhorst, J., & Dobos, G. (2015). Safety of yoga: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Epidemiology, 182(4), 281–293. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwv071

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). (2023). Yoga: Effectiveness and safety. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga-effectiveness-and-safety

NHMRC. (2024). Natural therapies review 2024 – Yoga evidence evaluation. Australian Government Department of Health. https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/natural-therapies-review-2024-yoga-evidence-evaluation?language=en

Penman, S., Cohen, M., Stevens, P., & Jackson, S. (2012). Yoga in Australia: Results of a national survey. International Journal of Yoga, 5(2), 92–101. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.98217

PROSPERO. (2020). Systematic review protocol: Clinical effectiveness of yoga. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42020200084

Sibbritt, D., Adams, J., & Young, A. (2010). Referral to yoga therapists in rural primary health care. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 10(1), 77. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4097925/

Yoga Australia. (2024, October 10). Yoga Therapy in Australia: A path forward. https://yogaaustralia.org.au/yoga-therapy-in-australia-a-new-path-forward/

Yoga Australia. (2025, April 15). Yoga is back on the table: Private health insurance coverage. https://yogaaustralia.org.au/yoga-is-back-on-the-table-private-health-insurance-coverage/