Yoga is very popular for restarting the body by improving strength, balance, and enhancing flexibility. Many people are devoted to it for the many stress reduction benefits and it is not surprising that researchers actually found a link between yoga and mental health.
A study conducted by Boston University School of Medicine found that Iyengar yoga and controlled breathing Practices can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. The slow, methodical movements common in Iyengar yoga is more beneficial than other more fast-paced style.
What researchers found?
The study included 32 participants between the ages of 18 and 65 who were already diagnosed with significant depressive disorder. The participants were split into two groups either a high-dose group (HDG) or a low-dose group (LDG). The two groups signified the hours spent practicing yoga and breathing techniques (78 hours for HDG and 60 hours for the LDG, over the course of three months).
In only one month, both groups experienced a better quality of sleep, leaving them less physically exhausted later on. Further evaluations also revealed patients felt calmer and more positive overall.
The improvements were clear in both the short term, with each practice, and the long term, at the end of the three-month study.
Why does this matter?
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, one in every 12 adults in the U.S. has reported having depression.
“Providing evidence-based data is useful in getting more people to attempt to practice yoga as a strategy for improving their health and well-being,” said study collaborator and co-author Marisa M. Silveri, Ph.D.
With this data, individuals battling with depression and anxiety can use Iyengar yoga and controlled breathing as enhancements to prescription, treatment, and other recommended medicines.
What’s next for this research?
A larger sample size would likewise be valuable for guaranteeing the accuracy of the study. The research could also be improved by including a non-yoga control group, which could help decide whether controlled breathing or the breathwork in conjunction with the yoga is progressively effective on psychological wellness.