The Yoga in Healthcare Alliance has created a 10-week evidence-based Yoga4Health programme being delivered across the UK and originally commissioned as a Social Prescribing intervention for 300 patients by West London CCG. It is supported by the College of Medicine and Public Health England and an evaluation of its effectiveness was published by the University of Westminster in March 2020 showing statistically meaninful improvements across all measures, including mental health, physical health and patient activation. The Yoga4Health program was specifically designed to meet the needs of NHS patients with the following referral criteria: -

 

• Stress/anxiety

• Social isolation

• Pre-diabetes

• At risk of cardio-vascular disease

 

Patients can enter the YIHA 10-week programme via GP or Link Worker referral, signposting, or self-referral.

 

​

Each two-hour session includes:-

 

• Psycho-education

• Breathing practices

• 75 minutes of yoga practice done in a chair or on a mat

• Relaxation

• Group discussion and support