Yoga for Depression

If you've ever practiced yoga, you probably know that it can help relax your body and mind. Now, new research shows that practicing yoga can also help reduce depression.

However, expert Lindsey Hopkins of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (USA) emphasized that this is only the initial conclusion, and only recommends using yoga as a complementary therapy to standard approaches to depression.

Hopkins conducted a study of 23 male veterans who participated in an eight-week hatha yoga course. Hatha yoga focuses on physical exercise along with meditation and breathing exercises.

Subjects who began the study with elevated levels of depression experienced significant reductions in their symptoms after eight weeks.

A second study looked at the effects of Bikram yoga on 52 women aged 25 to 45. Those who attended classes twice a week for eight weeks had significantly reduced symptoms of depression compared to a control group who did not attend the course.

Another study of 29 adults found that eight weeks of bikram yoga, twice a week, not only significantly reduced depression but also improved quality of life, increased optimism, and enhanced physical and mental functioning.

Several other studies have shown that yoga also has positive effects such as reducing depression, anxiety and stress.

The research was presented at the American Psychological Association’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., where the group said in a press release that the military is considering establishing yoga treatment programs to capitalize on the practice’s ability to improve mental health.

According to Thanhnien