man being helped by clinician in outpatient group yoga class

Research Category: Yoga & Mindfulness for Concussion, TBI, Stroke and Neurological Conditions

The Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of LoveYourBrain Yoga in Outpatient Clinical Settings for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury

The first multi-site study demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of LoveYourBrain Yoga in outpatient rehabilitation clinics

Journal: Under review
Year: 2026
Authors: Jacquelyn M. Farrell, Christine E. Callahan, Elena Spriet, Michele Diaz Nelson, Kyla Z. Donnelly

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While research has shown that yoga can support physical function, emotional well-being, cognition, and quality of life after brain injury, yoga-based interventions are extremely limited in outpatient rehabilitation services. This gap may be explained by a lack of specialized yoga training for brain injury, negative attitudes and beliefs among clinicians and leadership, and lack of time among clinicians to develop an effective yoga-based intervention for this population. To address this gap, LoveYourBrain Yoga was developed as a scalable program for rehabilitation and community-based settings for patients with brain injury. WHile previous studies have shown it to be feasible, acceptable, and improve quality of life, positive affect, cognition, and resilience among community-dwelling adults with TBI and multiple sclerosis through both in-person and online delivery models, no study as examined its impact in clinical settings.

Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of LoveYourBrain Yoga across five outpatient rehabilitation programs in the United States and Canada. Researchers examined changes in quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes while also exploring participants' experiences with the program. The findings have important implications on how rehabilitation clinics can expand access to evidence-based holistic care for people living with acquired brain injury.

Summary

Key Findings

✔ Significant improvements in overall quality of life

✔ Improved cognition

✔ Improved emotional and behavioral regulation

✔ Increased resilience

✔ Improved positive affect and well-being

✔ Average participant satisfaction rating of 9.3 out of 10

✔ Participants reported benefits to physical health, mental well-being, social connection, self-management skills, nervous system regulation, and program accessibility

Study Details

Mixed-methods, retrospective pre-post study
LoveYourBrain Yoga delivered in outpatient rehabilitation clinics
84 program offerings
Five outpatient rehabilitation sites across the United States and Canada
145 adults with acquired brain injury
- 108 traumatic brain injury
- 23 stroke
- 14 other acquired brain injuries
Outcomes measured using validated Quality of Life after Brain Injury (QOLIBRI) and TBI-QOL/Neuro-QOL assessments

Impact and Conclusions

Results demonstrated that LoveYourBrain Yoga can be successfully integrated into outpatient rehabilitation settings while producing meaningful improvements in quality of life, cognition, emotional regulation, resilience, and overall well-being. Participants rated the program highly and described benefits that extended beyond symptom improvement, including stronger social connection, better nervous system regulation, increased confidence in self-management, and improved physical health. In conclusion, this study suggests that LoveYourBrain Yoga is a feasible, acceptable, and effective way to expand access to evidence-based holistic rehabilitation services for people living with acquired brain injury.

What this means for you

This study shows that rehabilitation clinics can successfully integrate LoveYourBrain Yoga into their services, giving people with acquired brain injury continued access to evidence-based practices that support long-term physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. This study demonstrated that LoveYourBrain Yoga was successfully delivered across five outpatient rehabilitation clinics in the U.S. and Canada, showing that holistic programming can be integrated into routine clinical care while maintaining high participant satisfaction.
No. This study included people with a range of acquired brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions. Participants across these diagnoses reported meaningful improvements in quality of life, cognition, emotional well-being, and resilience, suggesting the program may benefit a broad ABI population.
No serious adverse events or safety concerns related to LoveYourBrain Yoga were reported. Participants rated the program very highly (9.3 out of 10 on average) and described it as accessible and adaptable to their individual needs. These findings suggest the program is both well accepted and feasible to deliver safely in outpatient rehabilitation settings, while larger studies continue to strengthen the evidence base.