Mind-body therapies
Practices that pair mental focus with movement, breath or relaxation, such as yoga, mindfulness, Qigong and dance therapy.
Mind-body therapies are a broad family of practices built on the idea that mental state and physical state influence each other. The group includes movement-based practices such as yoga, Qigong and dance therapy, attention-based practices such as mindfulness meditation, and expressive or receptive approaches such as art therapy, music therapy and Reiki.
They are studied as non-pharmacological options for problems like poor sleep, low mood, anxiety and stress, particularly where medication is unwanted or carries safety concerns. Because they are generally low risk and inexpensive, researchers treat them as accessible complements to standard care rather than replacements for it.
In trials, their effects are usually measured with validated questionnaires covering sleep quality, depressive symptoms and anxiety, then pooled across studies to estimate an overall effect. Evidence quality varies by practice, so reviews often compare which types of mind-body therapy work best for which outcome.