Exploring the impact of Yoga on Postpartum Depression: Implications for Maternal Mental Health- A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is affecting 19% of women within the first year after childbirth globally. PPD significantly impacts a mother’s emotional well-being, underscoring the need for early identification and intervention. Pharmacological treatments, though effective, may be limited by breastfeeding safety concerns. Consequently, non-pharmacological approaches such as yoga have gained attention as accessible strategies to enhance maternal well-being.

Objective: This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the effectiveness of yoga-based interventions in alleviating postpartum depressive symptoms and improving maternal mental health.

Methods: This comprehensive review analyzed data from twelve research papers and reviews published between 2012- 2025. Studies involving postpartum women (≤12 months after delivery) receiving yoga interventions were included. Data on study design, intervention characteristics, and mental-health outcomes were narratively synthesized.

Results: Anxiety and depression were assessed with different scales, reported a statistical diminution of anxiety when applying the interventions: yoga during pregnancy (p < 0.001) and in postpartum (p < 0.05). Visual Reality enhanced mindfulness and yoga intervention’s therapeutic effects offers a powerful, scalable approach to treating postpartum depression and anxiety immediate changes in EPDS scores were strongly correlated with changes in GAD-7 scores (r = 0.68, P < 0.001), and moderately correlated with changes in salivary cortisol levels (r = 0.53, P < 0.01). Laughter Yoga (LY) significantly reduced postpartum depression symptoms (t (102) = -14.007; p = 0.000 < 0.05). Yoga was significantly associated with a reduction of depressive symptoms during the postpartum period (SMD, −0.73 [95% CI, −1.84 to −0.43], P < 0.001). However, most studies had small sample sizes and limited follow-up, restricting generalizability.

Conclusion: Evidence indicates that yoga is a feasible, low-risk adjunct to conventional care for postpartum depression, promoting maternal well-being. Further large-scale, standardized trials are needed to establish efficacy and integration into maternal health services.

Keywords: postpartum depression, yoga, maternal mental health, non-pharmacological therapy, Mind-body intervention