Days filled with tension, sleepless nights, constant worry and irritability are all signals that you need help dealing with anxiety. Symptoms of anxiety can range from mild to extreme. It can interfere with carrying out daily activities and disrupt your life. Practicing yoga might help you cope with anxiety and start enjoying your life.
Yoga Improves Quality of Life
Results of a study done at Hacettepe University in Turkey found that practicing yoga helped diminish stress and improve the quality of life in cancer patients. The May 2010 issue of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice published the results of this study. Eight sessions of a yoga program were given to 20 breast cancer patients. After the sessions, a significant decrease was found in their anxiety scores and an increase was found in the satisfaction score about the yoga program.
Yogic Breathing
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published results of a study on yogic breathing in the February 2005 issue. This study was done at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. The study reported that a series of specific breathing techniques can reduce anxiety, stress-related medical conditions, post-traumatic stress and everyday stress. Findings also included that yogic breathing balances the nervous system, contributes to a state of calm alertness and calms the stress response.
Yoga and Anxiety
The June 2007 edition of Complementary Therapies in Medicine published results of a study that found yoga provides an improvement in stress, anxiety and health status equal to that of relaxation therapy. This study, performed at the University of South Australia, concluded that yoga is more beneficial than relaxation sessions for improving mental health.
Meditation and Anxiety
Enjoying daily meditation is another way yoga helps with anxiety. Mindful meditation helps you focus on your thoughts and feelings. It helps you become aware of the images and ideas that float through your mind, and encourages you to observe the thoughts and let them go. The January-February 2011 issue of Cancer Nursing published results of a study done at the Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. The study investigated the effects of mindfulness stress-reduction training for cancer patients. Most study participants reported better sleep quality, more energy, less pain and increased well-being. Some participants had no positive outcomes from the practice.
References
- "Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice"; Effects of Yoga on the Quality of Life in Cancer Patients; O. Ulger et al.; May 2010
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part I-Neurophysiologic Model; R. Brown et al.; February 2005
- "Complementary Therapies in Medicine"; A randomised comparative trial of yoga and relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety; C. Smith et al.; June 2007
- "Cancer Nursing"; Experiences of a Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction Intervention Among Patients with Cancer; P Kvillemo et al.; January-February 2011
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