Mind-Body Yoga Study

Turning Citizen Science into Clinical Research: A Mind-Body Yoga Study for Lipedema & Lymphedema

Advancing Research. Improving Quality of Life. Empowering Patients.

Individuals living with lipedema and lymphedema often experience challenges that extend beyond swelling alone, including pain, mobility limitations, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life. Despite the growing recognition of these conditions, there remains a significant need for research evaluating accessible, non-pharmacological interventions that support whole-person health and well-being.

The Mind-Body Yoga Study was created to address this gap.

Building upon promising findings from a community-based citizen science project, this IRB-reviewed research study will investigate whether a gentle, accessible chair-based yoga intervention can improve quality of life for individuals living with lipedema and lymphedema.

Why This Study Matters

Millions of individuals worldwide live with lipedema and lymphedema. While medical treatments and symptom management strategies continue to evolve, relatively little research has focused on low-cost, accessible mind-body practices that patients can safely incorporate into their daily lives.

This study seeks to evaluate whether a structured program combining:

• Guided breathing practices
• Meditation
• Gentle chair-based yoga
• Mind-body awareness techniques

can positively impact:

• Pain
• Mobility
• Sleep quality
• Mental well-being
• Overall quality of life

The ultimate goal is to generate scientific evidence that can help inform future research, clinical practice, and patient education.

From Citizen Science to Clinical Research

In 2025–2026, a community-based citizen science project explored the impact of a six-week Mind-Body Chair Yoga program for individuals living with lipedema and lymphedema.

Participants reported meaningful improvements in several quality-of-life domains, including:

• Reduced pain
• Improved mobility
• Better sleep
• Enhanced mental well-being

These encouraging findings inspired the development of a formal research study designed to evaluate the intervention using rigorous scientific methods and ethical oversight.

About the Study

Study Title

Turning Citizen Science into Clinical Research: A Mind-Body Yoga Study for Lipedema & Lymphedema

Study Design

This study will evaluate the effects of a structured Mind-Body Chair Yoga program on quality-of-life outcomes among adults living with lipedema and/or lymphedema.

The intervention incorporates:

• Gentle chair yoga
• Guided breathwork
• Meditation
• Home practice support

Outcomes Being Evaluated

Researchers will examine changes in:

• Pain
• Mobility
• Sleep quality
• Mental health
• Participant experiences and perceptions

Ethical Oversight

The study will undergo independent ethical review through PEARL IRB and will utilize HIPAA-compliant systems to protect participant privacy and data security.

Meet the Research Team

Our multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in patient advocacy, clinical care, research, and lived experience.

Principal Investigator

Cindy Beers, MS, E-RYT500

Yoga educator, researcher, author, and individual living with lipedema.

Research Advisory Team

The study is supported by a team that includes:

• Leslyn Keith, OTD CLT – Healthcare Professions
• Catherine Seo, PhD – Patient Advocate
• Siobhan Huggins, Researcher
• Other Team Members Joining us:

Together, we are committed to advancing evidence-informed approaches that improve quality of life for individuals living with lipedema and lymphedema.

Support the Research

Research in lipedema and lymphedema remains significantly underfunded. Your support helps make this work possible.

Contributions help fund:

• Ethical review and regulatory oversight
• HIPAA-compliant technology
• Secure data collection and management
• Participant recruitment
• Statistical analysis
• Dissemination of findings

Every contribution helps move this project from community observations to scientific evidence.