Yoga For Health Conditions: The Flametree Encyclopaedia

What yoga offers for over 100 health conditions, in one place

Last updated: 31 October 2026

Got a health problem and wondering whether yoga can help? Start here. This is Flametree’s growing encyclopaedia of yoga for health conditions. For each condition we bring together what the great yoga teachers and the yoga doctors say, and what modern research has found.

Most of what you will read comes from Iyengar yoga. During the 20th century, Mr BKS Iyengar was the major person who codified traditional Indian yoga, through his seminal books and widespread teaching. He also pioneered the use of props, so poses can be adapted to almost any body. His style is sometimes called modern classical yoga. It is what we teach at Flametree.

Whether you call it yoga for medical conditions, yoga for chronic illness or simply yoga for health, this yoga encyclopedia (or encyclopaedia, as we spell it in Australia) gathers it in one place, condition by condition.

What each condition guide brings together

• Mr BKS Iyengar’s approach, from his book Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health, which sets out a yoga approach for 72 conditions.
• The yoga doctors: medical doctors who worked with Mr Iyengar. Dr Timothy McCall, Dr Loren Fishman, Dr Krishna Raman and Dr J. T. Shah.
• The research: the trials of yoga, breathwork (pranayama) and meditation for that condition, each in a line or three, with a link to the study.
• How to take it further: our free ebooks, masterclasses, classes and retreats.

Some conditions have many trials. Others have few or none yet. That does not decide whether yoga has something to offer. Yoga’s own knowledge was built over thousands of years of practice and teaching, and it is tested in class every week. Where science has not yet looked, we say so plainly: not yet studied is not the same as not working.

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The conditions, by body system

The list follows Dr Timothy McCall’s June 2019 list of 117 conditions where studies found yoga helpful, in his groups and with his numbers. Mr Iyengar means his book also gives an approach, and the conditions he covers that are not on Dr McCall’s list are added at the end of each group. Lines marked see are the everyday names people use, such as arthritis, knee pain or hot flushes, pointing to the condition they belong under. A full guide link means the condition has its own page here. More guides are added every week, and the links below grow as they go up.

Mind, mood and sleep

• Anxiety (no. 4; Mr Iyengar): full guide; anxiety
• Burnout (no. 12): full guide; stress
• Depression (no. 23; Mr Iyengar): low mood and depression
• Eating Disorders (no. 29; Mr Iyengar)
• Insomnia (no. 48; Mr Iyengar): full guide; sleep
• Neuroses (e.g. Phobias) (no. 64)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (no. 66)
• Panic Disorder (no. 72): full guide
• Performance Anxiety (no. 76): full guide
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (no. 87): trauma and PTSD
• Prenatal/Postpartum Depression (no. 90)
• Schizophrenia (no. 99)
• Somatoform Disorders (no. 106)
• Stress (no. 108): full guide; stress
• Worry and nerves (see Anxiety): full guide; anxiety
• Low mood (see Depression): low mood and depression
• Sleep problems (see Insomnia): full guide; sleep
• Trauma (see Post Traumatic Stress Disorder): trauma and PTSD
• Phobias (see Neuroses)
• Work stress and chronic stress (see Stress): full guide
• Signs of burnout (see Burnout): full guide
• Stage fright (see Performance Anxiety): full guide
• Panic attacks (see Panic Disorder): full guide
• Anger and irritability (see Anxiety, and Mr Iyengar on anger): full guide
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: irritability and anger, mental fatigue, hyperventilation

Addiction and habits

• Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse (no. 1; Mr Iyengar)
• Drug Withdrawal (no. 26)
• Smoking Cessation (no. 105)
• Addiction (see Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse)
• Quitting smoking (see Smoking Cessation)

Brain, nerves and development

• Alzheimer’s Disease (no. 2): full guide
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (no. 3)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (no. 7)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (no. 8)
• Cerebral Palsy (no. 16)
• Cognitive Impairment (no. 19; Mr Iyengar): full guide
• Epilepsy (no. 31; Mr Iyengar)
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (no. 38)
• Mental Developmental Impairment (no. 56)
• Migraine and Tension Headaches (no. 58; Mr Iyengar): migraine
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (no. 59)
• Neurocardiogenic Syncope (Fainting) (no. 63)
• Parkinson’s Disease (no. 73)
• Peripheral Neuropathy (no. 77)
• Post-Polio Syndrome (no. 86)
• Restless Leg Syndrome (no. 96)
• Spinal Cord Injury (no. 107)
• Stroke (no. 109)
• Stuttering (no. 110)
• Tinnitus (no. 112)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (no. 114)
• Tremor, Essential (no. 115)
• Dementia and memory loss (see Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Impairment): full guide
• Brain health and dementia risk (see Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Impairment): full guide
• Mild cognitive impairment (see Cognitive Impairment): full guide
• Headaches (see Migraine and Tension Headaches): migraine
• Ringing in the ears (see Tinnitus)
• Fainting (see Neurocardiogenic Syncope)
• Shaky hands (see Tremor, Essential)
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: headache and eye strain, sciatica (see also our sciatica article)

Heart, blood and circulation

• Atrial Fibrillation (no. 6)
• Congestive Heart Failure (no. 21)
• Heart Disease (no. 39; Mr Iyengar)
• Hemophilia (no. 40)
• High Blood Pressure (no. 42; Mr Iyengar): blood pressure
• Lymphedema (no. 52)
• Post Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (no. 81)
• Post-Heart Attack (no. 82; Mr Iyengar)
• Post Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (no. 83)
• Pulmonary Hypertension (no. 95)
• Hypertension (see High Blood Pressure): blood pressure
• Heart attack recovery (see Post-Heart Attack)
• Irregular heartbeat (see Atrial Fibrillation)
• Heart failure (see Congestive Heart Failure)
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: low blood pressure, angina and blocked arteries, cold hands and feet, varicose veins

Lungs, breathing and nose

• Asthma (no. 5; Mr Iyengar): full guide
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (e.g. Emphysema) (no. 18; Mr Iyengar): full guide
• Cystic Fibrosis (no. 22)
• Diabetic Lung (no. 25)
• Pleural Effusion (Fluid in the Lining of the Lung) (no. 79)
• Rhinitis (Inflammation of the Nose) (no. 98)
• Sinusitis (no. 103; Mr Iyengar)
• Tuberculosis (no. 116)
• Emphysema and COPD (see Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease): full guide
• Shortness of breath and breathlessness (see Asthma and COPD): full guide; lung capacity
• Hay fever (see Rhinitis)
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: colds, breathlessness, bronchitis

Muscles, bones, joints and balance

• Back Pain, Chronic (no. 9; Mr Iyengar): full guide; back pain, lower back pain, mid back pain, sciatica
• Balance Problems (no. 10): full guide; falls studies
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (no. 15): carpal tunnel
• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (no. 27)
• Fibromyalgia (no. 33)
• Fractures (no. 34)
• Frozen Shoulder (Periarthritis) (no. 35): frozen shoulder
• Gait (Walking) Problems (no. 36): full guide; falls studies
• Muscular Dystrophy (no. 60)
• Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome (no. 61)
• Neck Pain, Chronic (no. 62; Mr Iyengar): neck pain, stiff neck
• Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Arthritis) (no. 68; Mr Iyengar): full guide; knees, hip pain
• Osteoporosis (no. 69): full guide; osteoporosis
• Pain, Chronic (no. 71)
• Post-Joint Replacement (no. 84)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) (no. 97; Mr Iyengar): full guide
• Scoliosis (Curvature of the Spine) (no. 100)
• Skeletal Muscle Pain Syndrome (no. 104)
• Thoracic Hyperkyphosis (no. 111): full guide; posture
• Total Knee Arthroplasty (Replacement) (no. 113): knees
• Arthritis (see Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis): full guide
• Joint pain (see Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis): full guide
• Knee pain (see Osteoarthritis): full guide, knees
• Hip pain (see Osteoarthritis): full guide, hip pain
• Upper back pain (see Back Pain, Chronic): full guide
• Spinal stenosis (see Back Pain, Chronic): full guide
• Slipped or bulging disc (see Back Pain, Chronic): full guide
• Lower back pain (see Back Pain, Chronic): full guide; back pain, lower back pain
• Falls (see Balance Problems and Gait Problems): full guide; falls studies
• Brittle bones and osteopenia (see Osteoporosis): full guide; osteoporosis
• Hunched upper back and posture (see Thoracic Hyperkyphosis): full guide; posture
• Stiff neck (see Neck Pain, Chronic): stiff neck
• Shoulder pain (see Frozen Shoulder): frozen shoulder
• Hip and knee replacement (see Post-Joint Replacement and Total Knee Arthroplasty): knees
• Curved spine (see Scoliosis)
• Stiff joints and stiffness (see the stiff joints guide): full guide
• Losing flexibility and tight hamstrings (see the stiff joints guide): full guide; yoga for stiff guys
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: physical fatigue, muscle cramps

Hormones, weight, digestion and kidneys

• Diabetes (no. 24; Mr Iyengar): type 2 diabetes
• Gestational Diabetes (no. 37)
• Hemorrhoids (no. 41)
• Hypothyroidism (no. 44)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) (no. 46; Mr Iyengar)
• Inguinal Hernia (no. 47; Mr Iyengar)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (no. 49; Mr Iyengar)
• Kidney Disease, Chronic (no. 50)
• Metabolic Syndrome (no. 57): full guide
• Obesity/Overweight (no. 65; Mr Iyengar): full guide; weight
• Periodontitis (no. 78)
• Type 2 diabetes (see Diabetes): type 2 diabetes
• Stress eating and cortisol belly (see Obesity/Overweight): full guide
• Weight loss (see Obesity/Overweight): full guide; weight
• Crohn’s disease and colitis (see Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
• Underactive thyroid (see Hypothyroidism)
• Gum disease (see Periodontitis)
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: indigestion and acidity, constipation, diarrhoea, stomach and duodenal ulcers, hiatus and umbilical hernias

Women’s and sexual health

• Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (no. 28; Mr Iyengar)
• Endometriosis (no. 30)
• Infertility (no. 45; Mr Iyengar): fertility
• Menopausal (and Perimenopausal) Symptoms (no. 54; Mr Iyengar): full guide; menopause, Chris’s story
• Menstrual Disorders (Dysmenorrhea) (no. 55; Mr Iyengar): period pain
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse (no. 74; Mr Iyengar): full guide; pelvic floor
• Pelvic Pain (no. 75): full guide; pelvic floor
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (no. 80)
• Pregnancy (Normal and Complicated) (no. 88): pregnancy
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) (no. 89; Mr Iyengar): PMS
• Sexual Dysfunction (no. 101; Mr Iyengar): intimacy
• Sexual Trauma (no. 102)
• Urinary Incontinence (no. 117; Mr Iyengar): full guide; pelvic floor
• Hot flushes and perimenopause (see Menopausal Symptoms): full guide; menopause
• Perimenopause symptoms (see Menopausal Symptoms): full guide
• Period pain (see Menstrual Disorders): period pain
• Pelvic floor and bladder leaks (see Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse): full guide; pelvic floor
• PCOS (see Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
• Overactive bladder (see Urinary Incontinence): full guide
• Pelvic floor dysfunction (see Urinary Incontinence, Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Pelvic Pain): full guide
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: menstruation, absent periods, leukorrhoea, prostate problems

Cancer, immunity, skin and fatigue

• Breast Cancer (no. 11): after breast cancer
• Cancer (General) (no. 14)
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (no. 17): full guide
• Fatigue (no. 32): full guide
• HIV/AIDS (no. 43; Mr Iyengar): full guide
• Lung Cancer (no. 51)
• Lymphoma (no. 53)
• Ovarian Cancer (no. 70)
• Prostate Cancer (no. 93)
• Psoriasis (no. 94; Mr Iyengar)
• Tiredness and exhaustion (see Fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome): full guide
• Tired all the time (see Fatigue): full guide
• Inflammation and low immunity (see the immune system guide): full guide; immune system and inflammation
• Autoimmune conditions (see the immune system guide): full guide
• Also covered by Mr Iyengar: low immunity (see our immune system guide), acne, eczema

Surgery, recovery and everyday strain

• Burns (no. 13)
• Computer Vision Syndrome (no. 20)
• Organ Transplant (no. 67)
• Post-Operative Recovery (no. 85)
• Pre-Operative Rehabilitation (no. 91)
• Pressure Ulcers (no. 92)
• Eye strain (see Computer Vision Syndrome)
• Recovery after surgery (see Post-Operative Recovery)

How the guides are built

Every guide is written in our own words. We set out what each teacher and doctor says about a condition and credit them by name, with short quotes only. We do not reproduce their pose sequences: a sequence needs a teacher who can see you and adapt it, which is what a class is for.

Studies are listed where they found yoga, breathwork or meditation helped, in a small or large way. Trials of any style of yoga count, because yoga in general helps. But we mark the trials that tested Iyengar yoga, and where a study of general yoga finds little, we say it was not Iyengar yoga. Iyengar teachers train for six years or more and are independently assessed, and in our view that shows in the results. Yoga or Iyengar yoga: why the difference matters in the research.

Take it further

• Free ebooks: eight free ebooks on backs, stiffness, bones and balance, stress, menopause, men, the brain and breathwork. Get yours here.
• Classes, studio or online: every class is adapted to the people in it. 2 free classes, then 10 at half price for anyone new or away 3 months or more. See the class times.
• Masterclasses: our Sunday Arvo Masterclasses take one topic in depth. The 2027 series starts in January with arthritis.
• Retreats: a week of daily yoga in Bali. See the retreats.

For yoga’s everyday benefits, such as flexibility, strength, calm and sleep, see the benefits of yoga.

Questions people ask

What health conditions can yoga help with?

A great many. Dr Timothy McCall lists 117 conditions where studies found yoga helpful, and Mr BKS Iyengar set out a yoga approach for 72 conditions in Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health. Together they cover more than 100 problems, from arthritis and back pain to anxiety, sleep, menopause and blood pressure. This page lists them all.

Do you need clinical trials to know yoga helps a condition?

No. Some conditions have many trials, others very few. Yoga’s own knowledge was built over thousands of years of practice and teaching, and medical doctors who trained with Mr Iyengar have described yoga approaches for many conditions science has not yet studied. Not yet studied is not the same as not working. Each guide shows which is which.

Who are the doctors quoted in these guides?

Medical doctors who worked with Mr Iyengar: Dr Timothy McCall (Yoga as Medicine), Dr Loren Fishman (Columbia University; books on arthritis, back pain, osteoporosis and sciatica), Dr Krishna Raman (A Matter of Health; Yoga and Medical Science: FAQ) and Dr J. T. Shah (Therapeutic Yoga).

Where can I get help with a health condition through yoga in Darwin or online?

Flametree Yoga Studio teaches Iyengar yoga at Woolner and Coolalinga in Darwin, and LIVE online across Australia. Classes are adapted to each person, with props. New, or away 3 months or more? You get 2 free classes, then half price.

This page is general information, not medical advice.