Bibliometric analysis of qualitative research trends in yoga interventions

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Yoga has gained substantial global recognition as a complementary mind-body practice, yet the qualitative dimensions of yoga research capturing practitioners lived experiences, perceptions, and barriers have not been systematically mapped. This bibliometric analysis addresses that gap by characterizing the growth, structure, and thematic evolution of qualitative yoga research indexed in Scopus. A systematic search of the Scopus database using the terms "yoga" AND "qualitative study" retrieved 404 peer-reviewed articles published between 1982 and 2026, were analysed using the bibliometrix R-package (version 4.1) and VOSviewer (v1.6.19). No restrictions were applied by time period or country of origin. These 404 articles were published across 270 journals, with an annual growth rate of 7.95% and a mean citation count of 13.45 per document. Publication volume increased steadily from 2005, peaking in 2025. The International Journal of Yoga Therapy (n = 19), Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice (n = 13), and Complementary Therapies in Medicine (n = 13), were the most productive sources. Keyword analysis identified yoga, qualitative research, and mindfulness as the most frequent terms. Schmid AA and Van Puymbroeck M have produced most yoga qualitative research paper. Future studies should adopt rigorous qualitative methodologies, explore yoga’s role in treating diseases, and expand geographic representation to enhance the global applicability of yoga interventions.