The eight limbs of yoga can be maintained in a veteran friendly yoga program
International Journal of Yoga June 2, 2021 Arlene A Schmid, Elizabeth A Sternke, Ai-Nghia L Do et al.
A qualitative study of a 16-week group yoga program for people with PTSD found that participants' descriptions of their experience spontaneously reflected all eight limbs of yoga, including the five yamas and niyamas, even though the program taught only postures, breathwork, intentions, and relaxation without explicit instruction in yoga philosophy or Sanskrit terms. Of 108 people randomized, 67 completed the intervention and follow-up surveys; most were men (70.2%) with combat-related trauma (62.7%), and the average age was 52.4 years. The findings suggest that a posture-and-breath-focused yoga intervention may still engage the broader philosophical framework of yoga.