What is it about?
Yoga is widely practiced around the world and is generally considered a safe way to improve physical and mental health. However, like any form of physical activity, it can occasionally lead to injuries or other health problems. This systematic review examined published case reports and case series describing adverse events associated with yoga practice. We identified 84 reported adverse events from 70 studies, affecting the musculoskeletal, eye, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and skin systems. Headstand (Sirsasana) and forceful breathing techniques (pranayama) were the practices most commonly linked to these events, and more than half of the affected individuals had pre-existing medical conditions. Although most people recovered fully or partially, some experienced serious complications. Our findings suggest that yoga remains a generally safe practice when performed appropriately, but individual risk factors, proper instruction, and modifications for specific health conditions are important. These findings can help healthcare professionals, yoga instructors, and practitioners make informed decisions and promote safer yoga practice.
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Why is it important?
Yoga is increasingly recommended as a safe and effective complementary therapy for many physical and mental health conditions, yet its potential risks have received far less attention. This study is the first comprehensive systematic review to synthesize published case reports and case series describing yoga-associated adverse events across multiple body systems. By identifying the yoga practices most commonly linked to injuries, the types of individuals at higher risk, and the outcomes of these events, the review provides evidence to support safer yoga practice rather than discourage its use. The findings are timely because yoga participation continues to grow worldwide, including among older adults and people with chronic medical conditions. They offer practical guidance for healthcare professionals, researchers, yoga instructors, and practitioners, helping to improve risk assessment, patient counselling, instructor training, and the development of evidence-based safety recommendations while preserving the well-established health benefits of yoga.
Perspectives
As a researcher, I believe it is important to present a balanced view of yoga. While its physical and mental health benefits are well established, no therapeutic intervention is completely free of risk. Most discussions about yoga focus on its benefits, whereas adverse events are often reported only as isolated case reports across different medical specialties. Bringing this evidence together allows us to better understand who may be at greater risk and which practices require additional caution. My hope is that this review encourages safer, more individualized yoga practice rather than discouraging its use. By promoting appropriate screening, qualified instruction, and sensible modifications for people with underlying medical conditions, we can help maximize the benefits of yoga while minimizing avoidable harm. I also hope this work encourages researchers to improve adverse event reporting in future yoga studies, so that safety recommendations can be based on stronger evidence.
Dr. Samrat Singh Bhandari
Sikkim Manipal University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Yoga and its risks: A systematic review of adverse events reported in case reports and case series, Journal of Integrative Medicine, July 2026, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2026.07.001.
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