Yoga Therapy and Digestion in Scleroderma: What the Research Is Showing

Digestive symptoms are among the most common and most disruptive challenges for people living with scleroderma. IBS, GERD, constipation, and gastroparesis are not peripheral concerns — for many, they are central to daily life.

This month I presented a case series at SYTAR 2026 — the Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research — in Costa Mesa, California. The abstract, published in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy (2026 Supplement 1), describes what individualized yoga therapy looked like for three people navigating exactly these kinds of symptoms. Participants ranged in age from 44 to 68 and carried diagnoses including systemic sclerosis, IBS, gastroparesis, and connective tissue disorders. Each received a personalized program built around practices designed to support the parasympathetic nervous system — the “rest and digest” response.

Practices included constructive rest, supine spinal rotations, seated postures, and 1:4:2 pranayama. Sessions were delivered in person, via Zoom, and by phone, with home practice integrated throughout.

All three participants reported improvements in digestive regularity and symptom management. Across cases, they also described increased body awareness, greater autonomy in choosing supportive practices, and more confidence in managing their symptoms day to day.

This is the second time this work has been published — it also appeared as a poster abstract in the Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders (BMJ, 2026) following its presentation at the World Scleroderma Congress. The upcoming presentation at the National Scleroderma Foundation Annual Conference in Baltimore this July will be the fourth time this poster has been presented. Each venue has brought the work to a different audience — rheumatology, yoga therapy, and now the scleroderma patient and advocacy community directly.

Albright C. Yoga therapy for digestive health: a case series highlighting patient-centered approaches in scleroderma. International Journal of Yoga Therapy. 2026;Suppl 1.

Albright C, Harrison A, Gallagher I. Yoga therapy for digestive health: case series highlighting patient-centered approaches in scleroderma. Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders. 2026;11(Suppl 1):A309. doi:10.1136/JSRD-2026-SSWC.365

If you have scleroderma or a related condition and want to stay connected to this work, join the email list below. I’ll share updates from Baltimore after the conference.