Although yoga is more popular today than in the past few decades, it has not received as much attention in medical literature as other treatments for depression. However, pilot studies using controls and randomized controlled trials have been conducted that show a positive benefit for depression. Not everyone can afford medication or therapy to treat depression, and yoga may be a low-cost, low-risk option for managing mood, anxiety, stress and physical symptoms such as sleeplessness related to depression.
Effects on Quality of Life
In a study published in the "Journal of Clinical Oncology," researchers examined the impact of yoga poses, breathing and meditation on quality of life, fatigue, mood and well-being among a group of breast cancer patients. The 128 patients were randomly assigned either to a 12-week yoga intervention or to a 12-week waiting list. A subset of the patients were receiving chemotherapy. Results showed that of those who were not receiving chemotherapy, those in the intervention group had higher quality of life, better emotional, social and spiritual well-being, and felt less distressed than those in the control group.
Effects on Mood
In a study on the relationship between stress, inflammation and yoga practice, researchers examined the potential of hatha yoga to reduce stress and inflammation. The 50 healthy women, of whom 25 were novice yoga practitioners and 25 were expert yoga practitioners, experienced three different conditions on three separate visits: yoga, movement control and passive-video control. The yoga sessions boosted everyone's mood compared with the control conditions, but did not show differences in inflammatory response.
Effects on Depression and Life Satisfaction
In a study on the effect of Laughter Yoga on decreasing depression and increasing life satisfaction, 70 elderly women in Tehran who were suffering from depression were randomly assigned to one of three groups: laughter therapy, exercise therapy or control. They also completed a Life Satisfaction Scale at the beginning and end of study. Those in the Laughter Yoga and exercise groups showed a decrease in depression compared to the control group. In addition, those in the Laughter Yoga group showed an increase in life satisfaction compared to the control group.
Effects on Sleep Quality and Depression
In a study testing the effects of a yoga exercise program in improving sleep quality and depression, researchers randomly assigned 69 elderly residents in assisted living facilities either to a six-month yoga exercise group or to a control group. Those in the yoga group had significantly improved sleep quality and decreased depression compared to those in the control group.
References
- Harvard Health Publications: Yoga for Anxiety and Depression
- PubMed: Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga Among a Multiethnic Sample of Breast Cancer Patients: Effects on Quality of Life
- PubMed: Stress, Inflammation, and Yoga Practice
- PubMed: Laughter Yoga Versus Group Exercise Program in Elderly Depressed Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- PubMed: Effects of Yoga on Sleep Quality and Depression in Elders in Assisted Living Facilities
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