Yoga: Not Just for the Stretch
It originated over 5,000 years ago.
It’s for beginners and elders.
It’s “hot”. Or gentle. Or prenatal. Aerial. Acro. Hatha. Ashtanga.
Yoga is not only great for the body, it “can help in reducing the depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder” and “is an ideal complementary and alternative therapy for mental health disorders.”
Major depressive disorder affects over 340 million people worldwide. The authors of an article in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine looked at studies on yoga and its potential benefits for those with depression. Among the findings, yoga showed:
- A substantial decrease in the depression scores, compared with conventional treatment and a control group
- Greater reductions in symptoms and a greater likelihood to achieve remission
- Reduced depression and anxiety in older women
- Significant improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms in college students
- Significant reduction in depression scores in pregnant women
- Significant improvement in state and trait anxiety in women with breast cancer
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