The Science of Self: A Bibliometric and Pragmatic Analysis of Yoga, Meditation, And ‎Wellbeing in The Contemporary Scientific Landscape

  • Authors

    • Pallabi Mukherjee Associate Professor, IPS Academy, Institute of Business Management and Research, ‎Indore, M.P
    • Ankita Sharma Assistant Professor, IPS Academy, Institute of Business Management and Research, ‎Indore, M.P
    • Vinita Ramchandani Assistant Professor, IPS Academy, Institute of Business Management and Research, ‎Indore, M.P
    • Tarika Nandedkar Associate Professor, IPS Academy, Institute of Business Management and Research, ‎Indore, M.P
    https://doi.org/10.14419/zdgnnk95

    Received date: July 6, 2025

    Accepted date: August 4, 2025

    Published date: August 27, 2025

  • Yoga; Meditation; Bibliometric Analysis; Vos-Viewer; Biblioshiny; Quality of Life; ‎Mindfulness
  • Abstract

    The research paper uses bibliometric analysis to analyze worldwide trends of yoga and ‎meditation research between the years 2010 and 2025. With citation and co-citation analysis, ‎the paper establishes top authors, nations, and repeating patterns. Results reveal consistent ‎growth in publications, highest between 2020–2022, spurred by post-COVID health ‎consciousness and India's 2020 National Education Policy to encourage indigenous ‎knowledge systems. Holger Cramer, Romi Lauche, and Linda Carlson are noted influencers. ‎The U.S. and India rank highest in the quantity of research produced, with common ‎keywords including mindfulness, mental health, and quality of life. Thematic mapping ‎identifies "quality of life," "mindfulness," and "depression" as key themes, confirming this ‎research landscape's persistent utility in improving well-being. Future research could be ‎directed toward upcoming themes, including relaxation training and systematic review studies‎.

  • References

    1. Chandran, A. (2020). Yoga and its integration in higher education in India: A national perspective. *Journal of Yoga and Traditional Knowledge, 4*(2), 113-120.
    2. Chong, C. S., Tsunaka, M., Chan, E. P., & Lee, P. W. (2011). Effects of yoga on stress management in healthy adults: A systematic review. *The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17*(1), 1-9.
    3. Choudhary, R. (2024). The scholarly landscape of Sahaja Yoga Meditation and meditation studies: A bibliometric analysis. International Journal of Physical Education & Applied Exercise Sciences, 10(1), 5–12.
    4. Cox, C., Easteal, P., & Pearson, S. (2014). Yoga and workplace wellness: A review of the literature. *Workplace Health & Safety, 62*(12), 515-522.
    5. Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Anheyer, D., Pilkington, K., de Manincor, M., Dobos, G., & Ward, L. (2018). Yoga for anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. *Depression and Anxiety, 35*(9), 830-843. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22898
    6. Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Haller, H., & Dobos, G. (2013). Yoga for health: A systematic review of the literature. *The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19*(5), 420-428.
    7. Cramer, H., Ostermann, T., & Dobos, G. (2018). Injuries and other adverse events associated with yoga practice: A systematic review of epidemio-logical studies. *J Sci Med Sport, 21*(2), 147-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2017.08.026
    8. Cramer, H., Sibbritt, D., Adams, J., & Lauche, R. (2016). The association between regular yoga and meditation practice and falls and injuries: Re-sults of a national cross-sectional survey among Australian women. *Maturitas, 84*, 38-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.10.010
    9. Cramer, H., Lauche, R., Haller, H., & Dobos, G. (2013). Yoga for improving health-related quality of life, mental health and well-being. *Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 19*(7), 567-575.
    10. Dada, R., & Ghosh, D. (2015). Yoga and meditation as a therapeutic intervention in oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage to paternal ge-nome. *Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, 9*(4), LC04-LC08.
    11. Dobos, G., et al. (2013). Adverse events associated with yoga: A systematic review of published case reports and case series. *PLOS ONE, 8*(10), e75815.
    12. Dobos, G., et al. (2012). Yoga as a complementary treatment for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. *BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12*, 71.
    13. Donthu, N., Kumar, S., Mukherjee, D., Pandey, N., & Lim, W. M. (2021). How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. *Journal of Business Research, 133*, 285-296.
    14. Feuerstein, G. (2003). *The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy, and Practice*. Hohm Press.
    15. Garg, G., Shamshad, M., Gauhar, N., Tabash, M. I., Hamouri, B., & Daniel, L. N. (2023). A Bibliometric Analysis of Fintech Trends: An Empirical Investigation. *International Journal of Financial Studies, 11*(2), 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs11020079
    16. Gothe, N. P., Pontifex, M. B., Hillman, C. H., & McAuley, E. (2016). The impact of yoga training on physical and mental health in a nonclinical population: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. *The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 22*(9), 665-675.
    17. Gothe, N. P., Pontifex, M. B., Hillman, C. H., & McAuley, E. (2016). A meta-analysis of the effects of yoga on cognition and quality of life in healthy adults. *Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 18*, 180-191.
    18. Gothe, N. P., Pontifex, M. B., Hillman, C. H., & McAuley, E. (2016). The influence of yoga on human cognition and well-being: A systematic re-view of the literature. *Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 13*(1), 1-10.
    19. Goyal, M., et al. (2014). Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being: A systematic review and meta-analysis. *JAMA Internal Medicine, 174*(3), 357-368.
    20. Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. *Cognitive Therapy and Research, 34*(5), 427-440.
    21. Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). *Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness*. Delta Publishing.
    22. Lazar, S. W., et al. (2005). Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness. *NeuroReport, 16*(17), 1893-1897.
    23. Nivetha, A., Prasanna, S., & Saravanan, S. (2019). Effects of yoga and meditation on anxiety and depression: A review. *International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences, 8*(2), 21-26.
    24. Patanjali. (2000). *Yoga Sutras* (Swami Sivananda, Trans.). Divine Life Society.
    25. Ross, A., & Thomas, S. (2010). The health benefits of yoga and exercise: A review of comparison studies. *The Journal of Alternative and Com-plementary Medicine, 16*(3), 3-12.
    26. Schröter, M., Cramer, H., & Haller, H. (2024). Yoga as potential therapy for burnout: Health technology assessment report on efficacy, safety, eco-nomic, social, ethical, legal, and organizational aspects. *Current Psychiatry Reports*. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-024-01516-1.
    27. Sherman, K. J. (2017). Yoga and health: An overview of the evidence. *International Journal of Yoga, 10*(2), 77-84.
    28. Streeter, C. C., Gerbarg, P. L., Saper, R. B., Ciraulo, D. A., & Brown, R. P. (2012). Effects of yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Medical Hypotheses, 78(5), 571–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.021
    29. Tang, Y.-Y., Hölzel, B. K., & Posner, M. I. (2015). The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 16(4), 213–225. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3916
    30. Telles, S., Singh, N., & Balkrishna, A. (2013). Yoga and mental health: A review. *Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 55*(2), 85-93.
    31. White, D. G. (2009). *The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali: A Biography*. Princeton University Press.
    32. Williams, K., Day, K., Tsolis, R., & Anderson, D. (2009). Effectiveness of yoga for chronic low back pain: A systematic review of the literature. *Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15*(9), 975-983.
    33. Zittoun, C., Garbous, W., Raffin, H., & Gusso, G. (2022). Shiatsu: A complementary medicine for the relief and verbalization of trauma. *Encephale, 48*(9), S56-S60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2022.08.008.
  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Mukherjee, P., Sharma, A. ., Ramchandani, V., & Nandedkar , T. . (2025). The Science of Self: A Bibliometric and Pragmatic Analysis of Yoga, Meditation, And ‎Wellbeing in The Contemporary Scientific Landscape. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 14(4), 737-747. https://doi.org/10.14419/zdgnnk95