There are a variety of benefits from regular participation in yoga. It improves flexibility, strength, concentration, posture and breath control. There is also a growing body of research that has found yoga to be beneficial for individuals who suffer from depression and anxiety.
Stress Reduction
Hatha yoga is the most common form practiced in the United States. It combines the physical postures with breath control and a period of relaxation or meditation. Harvard Health Publications suggests that yoga can be beneficial for those with anxiety and depression because it teaches the participant to self-soothe. Yoga diverts attention from everyday chaos and brings awareness to your movements, balance and coordination. In 2008, a study at the University of Utah researched the perception of pain and stress among several groups of people. It found that yoga participants had a higher tolerance for pain and stress compared to the other groups. Yoga can be grouped with other stress-reducing exercises such as meditation, exercise, relaxation and socialization.
Mood Improvement
A study by the Boston University School of Medicine compared the effects of walking and yoga on anxiety. Researchers found that women in the study who participated in yoga three times a week reported a greater reduction in anxiety levels as well as an improvement in mood. There is also the social interaction that yoga participation brings that can help counteract feelings of depression and isolation. The research team recommended further study to determine if yoga can be considered an adjunct therapy for depression and anxiety.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The American Psychological Association says researchers are also examining the effects of yoga on post-traumatic stress disorder among active and retired military personnel, as of 2009. The research is so promising that, according to Harvard Health Publications, Walter Reed Army Medical Center has begun implementing yoga relaxation to veterans returning from combat. As a result, those suffering from PTSD are reporting improvements in depression, anxiety, socialization, fear and insomnia. Because traditional psychotherapy is often resisted by veterans, Walter Reed therapists hope that yoga relaxation will be better received.
Considerations
If you suffer from depression and anxiety, you should not attempt to treat it without the direction of your physician. Yoga is not intended to replace medications or therapy-talk sessions, but could serve as another tool to help treat depression and anxiety.
