Diet and Exercise
Can Yoga Reduce Symptoms Of Depression And Back Pain?
Reviewed By Ray Spotts
The research focused on the acceptability and antidepressant effects of hatha yoga - the branch of yoga that emphasizes physical exercises along with meditative and breathing exercises to enhance well-being. In the study, 23 male veterans participated in twice-weekly yoga classes for eight weeks. On a one-to-10 scale, the average enjoyment rating for the yoga classes was 9.4. All participants said they would recommend the program to other veterans but more importantly - participants with elevated depression scores before the yoga program had a significant reduction in depression symptoms after the eight weeks.
The research focused on the acceptability and antidepressant effects of hatha yoga - the branch of yoga that emphasizes physical exercises along with meditative and breathing exercises to enhance well-being. In the study, 23 male veterans participated in twice-weekly yoga classes for eight weeks. On a one-to-10 scale, the average enjoyment rating for the yoga classes was 9.4. All participants said they would recommend the program to other veterans but more importantly - participants with elevated depression scores before the yoga program had a significant reduction in depression symptoms after the eight weeks.
Yoga Improves Heart Disease, Brain Function And Energy
The aerobic exercise only and yoga only groups showed similar reductions in blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, weight and waist circumference. However, the combined yoga and aerobic exercise group showed a two times greater reduction compared to the other groups. They also showed significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction, diastolic function and exercise capacity.