Since the 1970’s, meditation and other stress reduction techniques have been studied as possible treatments for depression and anxiety. One such practice, yoga, has received less attention in the medical literature but is getting to be a lot more popular in recent decades.
In a German study published in 2005, women who described themselves as “emotionally distressed” took two 90-minute yoga classes per week for three months. Women in a control group maintained their normal activities and did not begin an exercise or stress-reduction program during the study period. All participants had experienced distress for at least half of the previous 90 days. They were also one standard deviation above the population norm in scores for perceived stress, anxiety, and depression.
At the end of the three months, women in the yoga group reported improvements in perceived stress, depression, anxiety, energy, fatigue, and well-being. Depression scores improved by 50%, anxiety scores by 30%, and overall well-being scores by 65%. Initial complaints of headaches, back pain, and poor sleep also resolved much more often than in the control group.
According to Stephen Cope, a psychotherapist and author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, hatha yoga postures improve mood by moving energy through places in the body where feelings of grief or anger are stored. Yoga students may also benefit from their relationship with the yoga instructor, by providing a safe place for expressing and resolving emotional issues.
Antidepressants and other psychotropic medications have the side effect of dulling the mind, while offering no other benefits to the patient’s overall well-being. Yoga’s side effects include weight loss, slowed aging, lower blood pressure and reduction in chronic pain.
Yoga is a creative exercise program and can be social which is different from most other exercise programs. Yoga unites the masculine and feminine energies and facilitates self-knowledge and realization.
No one doubts the benefit of exercise for depression. Yoga seems to be one of the best choices for stabilizing moods and increasing the overall sense of well-being.
Dr. Jane Hendricks sees individuals for private yoga therapy sessions, as well as teaches small classes in her studio. YogaForHigherLiving.com