Yoga: First Global Scientific Study On Yoga Shows That It Can Help In Managing Mental Health
Yoga: The first study on yoga in the world conducted in collaboration with the Federal University of Santa Maria, University Of New South Wales-Sydney, Kings College London, University Of South Australia and Western Sydney University found that movement-based yoga improves the mental health of individuals living with a range of mental disorders, with the benefits being incremental with the amount of yoga they practiced.
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Dr Jacinta Brinsley, from the University of Southern Australia, lead researcher, and Ph.D. candidate, says it is a welcome and timely finding given strict social distancing measures that limit exercise options.
Dr Brinsley told Thailand Medical News, "As self-isolation escalates and individuals find themselves working from home and unable to physically catch up with their friends and family, we're likely to see more people feel lonely and disconnected."
She added, "Exercise has always been a great strategy for individuals struggling with these feelings as it boosts both mood and health. But as gyms and exercise classes of all kinds are now closed even jogging with a friend is strongly discouraged, individuals are looking for alternatives, and this is where yoga can help.”
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The new research shows that movement-based yoga improved symptoms of depression (or improved mental health) for individuals living with a range of mental health conditions including anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and major depression. So, it's very good news for individuals struggling in times of uncertainty."
The study findings, published in the
British Journal of Sports Medicine, examined 19 studies (1080 participants) across six countries (US, India, Japan, China, Germany and Sweden), where individuals had a formal diagnosis of a mental disorder, including depression and anxiety.
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/early/2020/04/05/bjsports-2019-101242
The study team defined movement-based yoga as any form of yoga where participants are physically active at least 50% of the time, that is forms of yoga that emphasize holding poses and flowing through sequences of poses.
Worldwide at the present , around 450 million people suffer from mental health issues, with the World Health Organization reporting that one in four people will be affected by a mental health condition or a neurological disorder at some point in their lives. In Australia alone, almost half of adults (aged 18-85 years) will experience mental illness.
Dr Simon Rosenbaum , an Associate Professor from University Of New South Wales Department Of Psychiatry and a member of the research tea
m says while the results are promising, challenges remain.
He added, "Importantly, the most vulnerable in our community are often the least likely to have access to exercise or yoga programs despite the potential benefits. Our results have significant implications and demonstrate that you don't necessarily need to go for a jog to benefit from movement"
The research was the first study of its kind in the world to date that actually scientifically monitored the mental benefits of just practicing Yoga alone.
For more on health benefits of
Yoga, keep logging on to Thailand Medical News
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