The Science of Self: A Bibliometric and Pragmatic Analysis of Yoga, Meditation, And Wellbeing in The Contemporary Scientific Landscape

Abstract

The research paper uses bibliometric analysis to analyze worldwide trends of yoga and meditation research between the years 2010 and 2025. With citation and co-citation analysis, the paper establishes top authors, nations, and repeating patterns. Results reveal consistent growth in publications, highest between 2020–2022, spurred by post-COVID health consciousness and India's 2020 National Education Policy to encourage indigenous knowledge systems. Holger Cramer, Romi Lauche, and Linda Carlson are noted influencers. The U.S. and India rank highest in the quantity of research produced, with common keywords including mindfulness, mental health, and quality of life. Thematic mapping identifies "quality of life," "mindfulness," and "depression" as key themes, confirming this research landscape's persistent utility in improving well-being. Future research could be directed toward upcoming themes, including relaxation training and systematic review studies.