Effects of Yoga Nidra on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences February 1, 2026 Shashank Ghai, Pawel Odyniec, Ishan Ghai
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 73 studies with 5,201 participants found that Yoga Nidra, a meditative practice, is associated with significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression. Between-group analyses showed moderate-to-large effect sizes for stress, anxiety, and depression when compared to both active and no-treatment comparators. However, the authors caution that the low methodological quality and variability in how Yoga Nidra was delivered across studies likely inflate these estimates. The findings suggest Yoga Nidra has potential as a holistic mental health intervention, but high-quality, standardized research is needed to confirm its clinical efficacy.