Yoga could complement traditional treatment for depression

New research on yoga has yielded promising evidence that yoga could complement traditional treatment for depression. The scientific study of yoga has grown rapidly in the past decade. Between 1975 and 2014, a total of 312 randomized controlled trials on yoga from 23 countries were published. From 2005 to 2015, 24 randomized controlled trials have investigated yoga as a way to help treat depression — nearly five times the number that existed before 2005. Most of these studies are still limited due to small sample sizes or have focused on specific groups, such as pregnant women or older adults, so results cannot be generalized. However, these studies suggest that yoga can be a useful tool to consider alongside traditional forms of treatment for depression, such as medication or psychotherapy. Recent small studies presented at the American Psychological Association’s 125th annual convention continue to support the role of yoga in the treatment for depression. One study of 23 veteran men found that doing yoga twice weekly for 8 weeks significantly reduced levels of depression. The study also found that these men highly enjoyed yoga, rating their experience on average 9.4 on a scale of 1-10. Two studies of Bikram yoga, a specific series of 26 poses done in heated rooms, found that over eight weeks yoga reduced depression symptoms. A cautionary note: hot yoga may not be safe for everyone, especially pregnant women or people who are prone to hyperextension of joints. Heat in...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Depression Behavioral Health Brain and cognitive health Exercise and Fitness Mental Health Yoga Source Type: blogs