Exploring consumer and carer experiences of a therapeutic group yoga program for eating disorder recovery: a qualitative pilot study

Eating disorders remain complex and costly conditions, and while evidence-based treatments address behavioural and weight-related symptoms, they often neglect embodied aspects of recovery. This study examined consumer and carer experiences of an 8-week Yoga for Eating Disorder Recovery intervention (YEDRi) offered within a regional eating disorder service.

A constructivist realist qualitative design was used to recruit twelve consumer-carer pairs (mean age = 17 years); ten completed the program and undertook post-program semi-structured interviews. Template Analysis guided iterative coding, stakeholder templates, and team consensus.

Four themes characterised participant experiences. Getting to the Mat showed mixed motivations and early hesitations. On the Mat revealed physical, psychological, and relational benefits. Off the Mat demonstrated how yoga practices supported daily regulation and strengthened family connection. Beyond the Mat identified safety-enhancing features and practical recommendations for future programs.

Therapeutic yoga was experienced as a safe and valuable adjunct to treatment, offering benefits in emotional regulation, embodied awareness, and family connection. Carer-inclusive yoga programs show promise within eating disorder care and merit further investigation across settings and stages of recovery.

The trial was registered through the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (trial ID: ACTRN12625000274471).