Yoga as an adjunct treatment for eating disorders: a qualitative enquiry of client perspectives

Abstract

Background

This qualitative enquiry explores the experiences and perspectives of individuals with an eating disorder (ED) regarding their perceptions of yoga as an adjunct intervention to psychotherapy. It also explores the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of yoga from their perspectives.

Methods

This study used a practice-based evidence framework and employed semi-structured interviews with 16 females with an ED. Participants were asked about their perspectives on the use of yoga as an adjunct intervention in ED recovery, perceived risks and what factors supported or hindered engagement. Thematic template analysis was used.

Results

Three topic areas were elaborated. The first included participants’ perceptions of how yoga enhanced their ED recovery. The second included how and when participants came to find yoga in their ED recovery. The final topic explored factors that supported participants with ED to engage in yoga. These resulted in the development of guiding principles to consider when designing a yoga intervention for EDs.

Conclusions

This study adds further to the emerging evidence that yoga can bring complementary benefits to ED recovery and provides a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework for understanding these. Findings provide an understanding of how yoga programs can be adapted to improve safety and engagement for people with an ED. Yoga programs for people with EDs should be co-designed to ensure that the physical, social, and cultural environment is accessible and acceptable.