Yoga Practice and Emotional Well-Being in Middle Age

This chapter synthesizes findings from a randomized controlled trial in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, evaluating yoga's impact on physical function, pain, vitality, social participation, and mental health in middle-aged adults. Using repeated SF-36 measurements and linear mixed-effects modelling, the trial demonstrated significant improvements across physical and psychosocial domains. The chapter critically appraises the methodology, addressing potential biases and limitations, and recommends future trials incorporate active controls, objective biomarkers, and longer follow-up to clarify underlying mechanisms. Finally, it outlines pragmatic implications for scalable community programs and policy integration in rapidly urbanizing areas.