Impact & long-term plans

The impact so far

NHS Edinburgh: yoga on prescription

One of the most significant milestones to date has been the introduction of yoga on prescription through NHS Edinburgh. By working in partnership with healthcare professionals, yoga is now being recognised not just as a wellbeing activity, but as a supportive, preventative health intervention.

Through social prescribing pathways, patients are being signposted to yoga as a complementary option to help manage stress, anxiety, low-level depression, chronic pain, and overall wellbeing. This marks an important shift from yoga being perceived as an optional lifestyle activity to becoming a credible, accessible tool within community healthcare.

This initiative helps to:

• Reduce barriers to access, particularly for those who may not otherwise seek out yoga.
• Support patients holistically — addressing mental, emotional, and physical health together.
• Ease pressure on traditional clinical services by providing non-medical wellbeing support.

Working with the NHS to make yoga more accessible

Our collaboration with the NHS goes beyond a single programme. It represents a shared commitment to health equity and accessibility.

By working closely with health professionals, community groups, and local organisations, we aim to ensure that yoga:

• Is inclusive and welcoming to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Is delivered safely, responsibly, and with appropriate clinical awareness.
• Reflects the needs of local communities rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

This partnership approach ensures yoga remains grounded, evidence-informed, and aligned with wider public health goals across Scotland.

International Yoga Day: growing every year

Each year, International Yoga Day in Scotland continues to grow in scale, reach, and impact. What began as a single celebration has evolved into a nationwide moment of connection — bringing together communities, teachers, organisations, and first-time participants.

The growth of International Yoga Day reflects:

• Rising awareness of yoga's benefits for wellbeing and mental health.
• Strong community appetite for inclusive, shared experiences.
• Increasing collaboration between cultural, health, and grassroots organisations.

More importantly, it demonstrates that yoga in Scotland is not static — it is a living, evolving practice that continues to meet people where they are.

Looking ahead: our long-term plans

Expanding the Schools Yoga Tour

Looking to the future, a key priority is to expand the Schools Yoga Tour, bringing yoga directly into educational settings across Scotland. Children and young people today face increasing pressures — from academic stress and social challenges to digital overload and anxiety. Introducing yoga in schools offers practical tools that support emotional regulation and resilience, focus and self-awareness, and physical movement and healthy habits.

By expanding the Schools Yoga Tour, we aim to:

• Reach more schools across urban, rural, and underserved areas.
• Support pupils of all ages with age-appropriate, inclusive yoga practices.
• Work alongside teachers and education professionals to complement existing wellbeing initiatives.

This is not about replacing physical education or mindfulness programmes, but about adding another supportive layer — one that equips young people with lifelong tools for balance and wellbeing.

A sustainable vision

The impact we are building through healthcare partnerships, community celebration, and education is part of a longer-term vision: a Scotland where yoga is accessible, grounded, and embedded into everyday life — not reserved for a select few. By focusing on collaboration, inclusion, and long-term sustainability, we aim to ensure that yoga continues to support individuals, communities, and public wellbeing for generations to come.