Multiple studies find that yoga can reduce the symptoms of depression
(Natural News) Yoga is a practice that has long been associated with a relaxed body and mind. New studies have suggested that yoga may help relieve the symptoms of depressions as well, especially when utilized as a complement to traditional therapy. These studies were presented at the 125th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) held in Washington, D.C., according to ScienceDaily.com.
One of the studies, led by Lindsey Hopkins from the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center in California, focused on the effects of hatha yoga on male veterans. Hatha yoga is a branch of yoga that places emphasis on physical exercises, breathing exercises, and meditation, and is considered to be ideal for beginners. The 23 participants attended twice-weekly yoga classes for a period of eight weeks, then were tasked with ranking their level of enjoyment on a scale of one to 10.