Teleyoga - when east meets west
We are investigating whether medical yoga conducted in groups digitally can improve people's health. The studies include people with long-term medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease (heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension) and cancer, as well as people who have been treated in the intensive care unit.
Teleyoga Study
Heart disease patients and former intensive care patients are included in the study. The study aims to evaluate the impact of medical yoga remotely at home with regard to physical function, quality of life, symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep, and cognition in people with long-term conditions.
Study design
Single-blind parallel two-arm randomized controlled study with 1:1 distribution to intervention and control group. Persons with long-term conditions have been recruited from four hospitals and randomized to an intervention of medical yoga at home (tele-yoga) using a live videoconference link and a yoga-app on the participants tablet for 12 weeks or a control group receiving individual advice of physical activity. Data have been collected at baseline, after 3 and 6 months. Study recruitment finalized in May 2023 and findings will be reported throughout 2024 and 2025.
YouCANPREFER Study
Evaluation of group yoga on-site in a yoga room or online during oncology treatment - a preference-based study
The overall aim of the study is to gain an increased understanding of the preferences of patients with cancer for group yoga; either on-site in a yoga room or online during their oncology treatment. In addition, we want to study the participants' expectations, experiences, health-related effects and implementation possibilities of yoga.Design
This is a preference-based study with two interventions consisting of medical yoga in a group with an instructor (Figure 1). One intervention is live-streamed online group yoga and the other consisting of group yoga on-site in a yoga room in the health care setting. Participants in both groups also have access to a yoga app and are recommended to perform individual yoga using the app at least 10 times daily. The medical yoga in the intervention consists of SIMY's MediYoga (https://simy.se/), which is a standardized and evidence-based medical yoga method in the health care setting in Sweden.The inclusion process is now complete and will be continuously reported and communicated
PAHyogaathome
Digital yoga for individuals with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) or Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH): a randomized controlled study of effects and implementation
The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects and long term maintenance of combining digital group based yoga sessions with an AI supported gamified yoga program for individuals with PAH and CTEPH. In addition, contextual factors important for the implementation of the digital yoga intervention will be identified.
Design
The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial with an intervention group and a control group.
Recruitment will take place in two steps:
1. Through the patient organization PAH Sweden and its communication channels.
2. Through the seven PAH clinics across Sweden.
Participants will be randomized into two groups:
Intervention group: digital group yoga and use of a gamified yoga program accessed via an app.
Control group: all participants will be assessed at baseline (prior to randomization) and after 3 and 6 months.
This includes 6 minute walk test, questionnaires on quality of life, sleep, and functional status, cognitive test (MoCA), accelerometer measurement and interviews.
Participants in the digital yoga group will be offered online yoga twice a week for 12 weeks. Each session consists of approximately 60 minutes of yoga followed by 15 minutes of reflection and discussion with a yoga instructor.
After 12 weeks, participants will gain access to a newly developed gamified yoga program (gamification) via an app for individual training. Participants’ experiences will be explored through interviews, and use of the program will be recorded.
Inclusion begins in February 2026.
Interviews with healthcare professionals
In addition to the study participants, potential healthcare professionals—such as department managers, members of the PAH team, and yoga instructors—will also be interviewed. The focus is on their perspectives on digital group yoga and AI supported gamified yoga, with particular emphasis on implementation aspects.
Register as a participant for the yoga study via the QR code below.
Campus US at the University Hospital
Research group
Principal Investigator
Coordinator
Co workers in the research study
Publications
Anna-Karin Ax, Leonie Klompstra, Marie Stridsman, Frida Andreasson, Anna Strömberg
(2025)
European Journal of Oncology Nursing
, Vol.76
Continue to DOI
Articles
Abstracts and conference presentations
ACNAP EuroHeartCare 2022, e-poster
Relationship between generic instruments used to measure Health-related quality of life – same or different?
L: Orwelius, T. Jaarsma, A. Strömberg
HFA Congress 2023, Oral Presentation in the Nursing and Allied Professions Investigator Award
A mixed method analysis of adherence to tele-rehabilitation including livestreamed group-yoga sessions and a yoga application
Hedbom T, Klompstra L, Orwelius L, Liljeroos M, Thylén I, Jaarsma T, Strömberg A
HFA Discoveries 2020, e-poster
Tele-yoga in patients with heart failure - A feasibility, pilot study and RCT protocol
Anna Strömberg, Tiny Jaarsma, Ingela Thylen, Lotti Orwelius, Leonie Klompstra
Heart Failure 2018, invited speaker Symposium;
Alternative ways to increase physical activity.
Presentation: Medi-Yoga. Anna Strömberg.
Heart Failure 2017, invited speaker Symposium:
New home-based strategies to improve physical exercise in heart failure patients
Presentation: Yoga. Anna Strömberg
ESC Preventive Cardiology Athens 25-27th April
Cognitive impairment is associated with lower physical function in patients with heart failure
L. Klompstra, JM. Papageorgiou, T. Jaarsma, A. Stromberg
Paper poster presentation 11254
Kardiovaskulär Vårmöte 2024, 17-19 April Göteborg
Effects of tele-yoga on physical and psychological outcomes in heart failure and long-term illness - a randomised controlled trial
Paper poster presentation 6895-A-2401
Kardiovaskulär Vårmöte 2024, 17-19 April Göteborg
Cognitive impairment is associated with lower physical function in patients with heart failure.
Leonie Klompstra, Joanna-Maria Papageorgiou, Lotti Orwelius, Ingela Thylén, Tiny Jaarsma, Anna Strömberg
Kardiovaskulär Vårmöte 2024, 17-19 April Göteborg
Exploring reasons for (non)participation in a tele-yoga intervention
Leonie Klompstra, Anna Strömberg, Tiny Jaarsma, Lotti Orwelius, Ingela Thylen,
Paper poster presentation 6869-A-2401
ACNAP 2024, Wroclaw, Poland
Exploring reasons for (non)participation in a tele-yoga intervention
Leonie Klompstra, Anna Strömberg, Tiny Jaarsma, Lotti Orwelius, Ingela Thylen
Media presentations
23-04-2019
Ulf Wahlgren: MediYoga Sverige: Forskning - MediYoga på distans
11-03-2019
Sofie Drake af Hagelsrum: Strategin Sätt Östergötland i rörelse.nu; Världsunikt projekt testar medicinsk yoga via webben
06-03-2019
SVT Nyheter: Yoga på distans för bättre hälsa
05-03-2019
SVT Nyheter: Majbritt har provat live-yoga på nätet
Ulf Wahlgren: MediYoga Sverige: Forskning - MediYoga på distans
11-03-2019
Sofie Drake af Hagelsrum: Strategin Sätt Östergötland i rörelse.nu; Världsunikt projekt testar medicinsk yoga via webben
06-03-2019
SVT Nyheter: Yoga på distans för bättre hälsa
05-03-2019
SVT Nyheter: Majbritt har provat live-yoga på nätet