Chronic pain is pain that has been present for at least six months and may or may not have a known cause. It may manifest in the form of lower back pain, headaches, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. Side effects of chronic pain cause significant disruptions, including sleep disturbances, decreased functional capacity, depression, and decreased quality of life.⁴⁰

The majority of research on yogic meditation and chronic pain involves a well-known program called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, which includes mindfulness meditation, body scan meditation, and gentle yoga to promote self-regulation and to give the client control over pain. These studies have found that yogic meditation helps ease the burden of both short- and long-term effects of chronic pain in the general population.⁴¹ Some studies have examined meditation as a yoga therapy treatment for particular conditions or special populations, such as the elderly or underprivileged groups; future research will give more attention to these topics.⁴²

Yoga therapy meditation may also help with cancer-related symptoms and short- and long-term side effects.

Some side effects of cancer beyond chronic pain include stress, depression, sleep disturbances, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression. Across studies, mindfulness meditation has been positively associated with a significant improvement in quality of life and reduction of pain, anxiety, stress, and depression in cancer patients.⁴³ The majority of cancer studies focus on breast cancer, where meditation has positive immediate effects on quality of life, fatigue, sleep, stress, depression, anxiety, and feelings of safety, with long-term effects related to anxiety lasting after 12 months.⁴⁴ Though limited, there is evidence that suggests yogic meditation is beneficial for cancer patients through cellular level impacts that reduce inflammation, promote cell-mediated immunity, and slow biological aging.⁴⁵ Future research will further investigate the mechanisms of yogic meditation across cancer types.