An umbrella review and meta-analysis of yoga trials in peri- and postmenopausal women found yoga reduced hot flushes and psychological symptoms compared with controls, with quality of life rarely reported.
Direction not statedMeta-analysis · 927 participants pooled · 2017Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of nine randomized trials found exercise, especially yoga, improved physical and psychological quality of life in women with menopausal symptoms, but not general or menopause-specific scores.
Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 2020Midlife womenCited 62 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 24 RCTs in menopausal women found yoga improved menopausal symptoms, sleep, anxiety, depression, BMI and blood pressure, but not hot flushes or quality of life.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 2,028 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed
A review of 23 studies found exercise-based and mind-body interventions improved quality of life, menopausal symptoms and depression in Asian perimenopausal women, but not hot flashes.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2020PerimenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
A review of workplace interventions for menopausal women aged 40 to 60 found Raja yoga and health promotion programs including physical training significantly improved menopausal symptoms.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 293 participants pooled · 2023Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 trials with 1,050 women found exercise and mind-body exercise improved menopausal symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms compared with controls.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,050 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A systematic review of 11 studies in peri and postmenopausal women found pelvic floor and mind-body exercise programs most linked to improved sexual function, while aerobic exercise showed inconsistent results and resistance training showed no benefit.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2020Midlife womenCited 42 timesPubMed
164 previously low-active midlife women did walking, yoga, or no exercise for 4 months; walking and yoga groups reported improved positive mood and menopause-related quality of life.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 164 women · 16 weeks · 2007Midlife womenCited 138 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs in peri and postmenopausal women found combined exercise and flexibility exercise were most effective for improving sleep quality, with mind-body and aerobic exercise also helpful.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with insomnia practiced yoga for 4 months and reported lower insomnia severity and climacteric symptoms and higher quality of life than control or stretching groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 16 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 124 timesPubMed
Peri- and postmenopausal women with hot flushes did 12 weeks of yoga classes or individualized aerobic exercise; yoga improved menopause-related quality of life scores versus usual activity, exercise did not.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 355 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 62 timesPubMed
Breast cancer survivors averaging age 49 did 12 weeks of Hatha yoga and meditation, reporting lower menopausal symptoms, less fatigue, and better quality of life than usual care at 12 and 24 weeks.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 84 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 13 RCTs with 1,470 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found aerobic exercise, yoga, Pilates, resistance training, stretching and relaxation improved sleep quality and psychological wellbeing.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 1,470 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
In an 88 woman 12 week RCT, postmenopausal women practicing Hatha yoga reported lower menopausal symptom and depression scores and higher quality of life than control and exercise groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 88 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed
Previously low active middle aged women who did a four month walking or yoga program did not improve overall self-esteem but reported gains in esteem related to physical condition and body attractiveness.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 164 women · 16 weeks · 2007Midlife womenCited 42 timesPubMed
Pooled data from 1,005 peri and postmenopausal women with hot flushes found yoga and aerobic exercise modestly improved menopause-related quality of life compared with control, with smaller effects than some drug treatments.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 1,005 women · 2020Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
Menopausal women in India practiced yoga for 18 weeks and reported greater improvement in physical, psychological, social and environmental quality of life than a non-yoga control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 260 women · 18 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed
In 40 breast cancer survivors with menopausal symptoms, a 24-week yoga program's benefits on menopausal symptoms, quality of life and fatigue were partly explained by increases in self-esteem.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 24 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
In an RCT of 80 menopausal women, one year of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga improved vasomotor, psychosocial and physical quality of life domains more than brisk walking, with no change in reproductive hormones.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 80 women · 52 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
A review of nine studies of yoga in men and postmenopausal women at increased fracture risk found no effect on quality of life, with mixed or unclear effects on other outcomes and some fracture reports.
No difference foundSystematic review · 2022PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
A systematic review of six studies found yoga practice was associated with improved quality of life scores in menopausal women.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2021PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In 146 postmenopausal women, 8 sessions of laughter yoga, acupressure, or mindfulness-based stress reduction each reduced menopause rating scale scores and improved quality of life versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 146 women · 8 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
In perimenopausal women with pelvic floor dysfunction, 3 months of combined Kegel and yoga exercise improved symptoms, quality of life and pelvic floor muscle strength more than Kegel exercise alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 74 women · 12 weeks · 2021PerimenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
Breast cancer survivors took part in a 12-week yoga and meditation program and interviews afterward described positive emotional, physical and behavioral experiences with the intervention.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 9 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with joint pain from aromatase inhibitors did twice-weekly yoga for 8 weeks; balance, flexibility, quality of life improved and pain severity decreased.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 8 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 64 timesPubMed
Ten postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with aromatase inhibitor joint pain did twice weekly yoga for eight weeks and reported pain relief and improved quality of life themes in interviews.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 10 women · 8 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 36 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women with urinary incontinence did an 8-week combined pelvic muscle exercise and yoga program, reporting improved pelvic muscle strength and incontinence symptoms.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 55 women · 8 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed
Women in the menopausal transition completed a 10 week yoga program and reported changes in menopause symptoms and quality of life.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 10 weeks · 2015PerimenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Midlife women who had done a walking and yoga trial were surveyed two years later; increased physical activity and fewer menopausal symptoms were linked to higher menopause-related quality of life.
Reported an improvementOther · 2009Midlife womenCited 79 timesPubMed
A review of trials in menopausal women reported that aerobic exercise and yoga were linked to improved mood, quality of life, insomnia and some vasomotor symptoms compared with no exercise.
Reported an improvementOther · 2009Midlife womenCited 66 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 70 did 12 weeks of twice-weekly hatha Balance Flow Yoga and described perceived physical, emotional and social benefits in focus group discussions.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalPubMed
A qualitative analysis of journal entries and interviews from menopausal women aged 40 to 65 found yoga supported problem and emotion focused coping with symptoms.
Reported an improvementOther · 12 women · 2019Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
A narrative review of psychological and mind-body approaches, including yoga, found empirical support for improving quality of life and symptoms like hot flushes and sleep during menopause.
Reported an improvementOther · 2024Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
A planned 18 week yoga program will be tested against a waitlist control for musculoskeletal complaints in women on endocrine therapy for breast cancer, with results not yet reported.
Direction not statedOther · 140 women · 18 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
In interviews, 18 women aged 40 to 60 described using strength training, yoga and cold-water immersion to navigate menopause, reporting symptom relief, self-awareness and identity development.
Reported an improvementOther · 18 women · 2026Midlife womenPubMed