Yoga Research
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Amy is the Research Director at the Healing Yoga Foundation in San Francisco. The purpose of the Healing Yoga Foundation (HYF) Department of Research is three fold:

  1. To conduct and publish high quality quantitative and qualitative research pertaining to all tools of yoga (postures, regulation of breath, chanting, visualization, meditation and concentration);
  2. To secure research grants that will support the research process;
  3. To work with institutions such as universities, hospitals and The International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) to promote and study the effects of yoga therapy according to T. Krishnamacharya.

We anticipate that research will be conducted in the community on several populations. These might include yoga students with chronic illness, disabled persons, people with diseases such as diabetes and fertility issues, heart disease and those receiving cancer treatment. Certain tools of yoga might also be effectively studied on college age students and adults in general yoga classes. The core of the research will focus on yoga therapy in an individualized setting, as opposed to group yoga classes. Because the HYF is part of a larger KHYF international organization, it is expected that much of the research will be done cross-culturally.

We are looking for a team of collaborators, who live across the country and the world, to collect scientific data on the applications of yoga therapy. The research teams will be built over a period of three or more years. Amy Wheeler, Ph.D., of California State University-San Bernardino oversees the program and has begun to recruit qualified researchers to join the team. This core group of researchers will be involved in conducting, publishing and evaluating work. In addition to the core group, guest researchers will be asked to join the group as needed. Please contact Amy if you are interested in being part of the research team.

In addition to her work at the Healing Yoga Foundation, Amy regularly conducts research at California State University- San Bernardino. She studies the effects of a regular yoga practice on students and their ability to concentrate, reduce anxiety, become motivated, and increase flexibility and strength, among other topics. See below for current research studies that Amy has conducted.

Amy is also a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and is a peer-reviewer for the International Journal of Yoga Therapy (IJYT).

Current Research Abstracts