Therapeutic Effects Of Yoga On Depression

Of the many techniques people use to reduce stress, yoga is among one of the more popular. Although some may believe that effects of yoga are merely physical, there is research that suggests that yoga has direct impacts on one’s mental state. According to Forbes, in addition to the benefits on the heart and blood flow, yoga helps release dopamine and gaba and serotonin (Walton, 2012). All of these are known to create feeling of happiness in a person (K. W. Brown, personal communication, Sept. 7). For this lab, I decided I would try yoga for myself to test the results.

Kundalini yoga doesn’t only help with calming the mind and other everyday problems, but also treat many serious medical problems. Kundalini meditation techniques are, “also taught that were specific for treating anxiety, fatigue, stimulating the immune system for treating solid tumor, expanding, and integrating the mind, developing a comprehensive, comparative and intuitive mind, and one for regenerating the central nervous system” (An introduction to kundalini yoga meditation technique that are specific for treatment of psychiatric disorder). This demonstrates how it has been proved that kundalini yoga has many beneficial benefits that one can have if it is practice. Also, when it comes to the method of meditation in kundalini yoga there many forms depending on what area one wishes to be work

Yoga, according to a study by, Jones, is a “4,000-year-old practice” that incorporates spirituality, breathing methods, and meditation that cultivates techniques to decrease stress factors in order to obtain a state of relaxation through emphasizes on the “body, mind and the breath” (2016). According to, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, approximately 9.5% of U.S. adults (21 million)” have incorporated the used of yoga, whose origins have been rooted in the early history of “Indian philosophy” (2015).

Since meditation and breathing techniques can be done at the exact moment stress has occurred , meditation and relaxation plus breathing techniques correlate with decreasing stress around the brain. Common types of neurological side effects of stress are headaches and dizziness, so through different types of meditation techniques, Mind and Body Therapies could help with attention disorders and reducing depression,“...long-term meditation practice is associated with an enhancement of cerebral areas related to attention. From a clinical viewpoint, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has shown efficacy for many psychiatric and physical conditions and also for healthy subjects, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is mainly efficacious in reducing relapses of depression in patients with three or more episodes”(Chiesa & Serretti, 2010, p. 1239-1252 ). Mindfulness meditation, or paying attention in a specific way, is able to calm the body down, which enhances the body's ability to concentrate creating a better thinking atmosphere, and decreasing depression by calming down the body which decreases a depression relapse. Another type of Mind and Body Therapy is relaxation and breathing techniques that are also used with reducing stress. Other than meditation there are, relaxation and breathing techniques which utilize awareness of breathing rate, rhythm, and volume. Often breathing techniques are used to minimize physiologic responses to stress, possibly by increasing parasympathetic response” (Wahbeh, Elsas, & Oken, 2008, para 2). The breathing techniques are able to create a more calm nature, which is able to decrease the stress that is surrounding the brain. A simple exercise like deep breathing can be done everyday and anytime without having to go to a yoga class, which is why it is so beneficial because it helps at

This review article was published recently in 2015 in an international journal called Nutritional Neuroscience. Nutritional Neuroscience first published in 1998 and had an impact factor, in 2015, of 2.616 by Journal citation reports. It reports basic and clinical research on the effects of nutrition on the central and peripheral nervous system. Moreover, the authors consist of a collaborative team involving three different countries and reputable universities consisting of Iran, Australia and Italy. The article at hand discusses the ever-growing epidemiological problem of depression. The WHO Global Burden of Disease estimates depression to be the leading cause of long-term disability by the year 2030. However, the use of antidepressants such as serotonin-reuptake inhibitors and monoamine oxidase inhibitors often involves using multiple drugs, has numerous undesirable side effects and lastly, are marginally effective compared to placebos. As a result, more attention is being given to dietary supplements and their role in attenuating the neurobiological symptoms of depression. The authors have therefore conducted a review of available literature on the probable

As we continue to understand the important and vital role that yoga practice has will hopefully continue to emerge in Western culture. As indicated from research, yoga plays a significant role in the reduction of stress management and reduction of risk factors in chronic disease. In comparison to traditional forms of medicine, yoga can be an integral part as a holistic alternative.

Two of the studies found that yoga did not influence the level of depression, while the other three showed a decrease in depression with integration of yoga (citation needed)

Dr. Saeed’s specific publication, Exercise, Yoga, and Meditation for Depressive and Anxiety Disorders closely mirrors my research topic. His knowledge, data, and experience beyond what he published will be an asset in my further research. Dr. Saeed has published in the areas of evidence-based practices; anxiety and mood disorders; telepsychiatry; cross-cultural issues; psychiatric administration; and psychiatric treatment integration. His current scholarly and research interest areas include: the study of the process and impact of implementing evidence-based practices in mental health settings; telepsychiatry; and systems approach to psychiatric administration and management. It will be very useful to compare Dr. Saeed’s laboratory results

As mentioned previously, the problem of depression disorder requires immediate action from different approaches to pharmacological treatment (Mala et al., 2015). According to Karpati, Giacosa, Foster, Penhune, & Hyde (2015), dance movement therapy (DMT) allows for consistent practicing of sensorimotor skills, which are important in the study of the human brain plasticity and the interaction between the brain and behavior. The studies show evidence of the reliability of DMT on health-related areas, particularly on the treatment of depression disorder (Karpati et al.,2015). Dance movement therapy has been practiced in more than 35 countries around the world, treated people who suffered from depression and other correlated problems as anxiety

Which brings me to present day when life’s stresses only seem to grow in stature as we “grow up” and we take on more and more in life, it begins to weigh us down. With this in mind, my own curiosity about how yoga was able to let me free myself from our over stressed world. Coupled with the staying power it has had in my life over an extended period of time has lead me to further my research on the subject of yoga. More specifically though I wanted to see how yoga can relieve stress and therefore assist in overall health and wellbeing. During many interesting readings that I have encountered in my research, I read a particular article that I chose for my source critique, The Most Important Part of a Yoga Pose, written by Jill Miller. I chose this article because Jill answers some of the original questions I had when I started yoga years ago.

“Yoga can supposedly improve depressive symptoms and immune function, as well as decrease chronic pain, reduces stress, and lower blood pressure. These claims have all been made by yogis over the years, and it sounds like a lot of new age foolishness. Surprisingly, however, everything in that list is supported by scientific research.”(psychologytoday.com) The main struggle in yoga is to overcome the challenge, each pose is challenging, and your goal is to breathe and remain calm throughout the struggle and to find your inner peace and keep going. This is a strong concept to conquer; the mind of course often does whatever it wants. The true gain one finds is when one does overcome the struggle; it is the process where one benefits. Studies have shown a correlation between yoga and how one handles stress.

However, some people choose not to continue taking their medication due to thinking the medication not being effective and being effective. Yoga therapy has been an alternative to treating mental health. The study was a 6-week yoga intervention to investigate if yoga is associated with reducing depression and anxiety. Individuals who kept up with 6-weeks were effective, compared to regular care alone and for the ones who dropped out. A strength of integrating yoga was that individuals were more aware of their body, and positive and negative

I have gone through bouts of depression where it is even hard for me to leave the bed, but when I practiced yoga it released me from the depression. Not to say after one yoga class that I was suddenly not depressed, but the intentionality that I practiced with helped me feel normal. My consistent yoga practice pushes me farther and farther out and away from depression. It brings me closer to becoming more intentional with everything I do in life. Yoga helps me to become more present and helps me focus on my mind on my spirit in times of tasking physical work. It brought me to presence in the moment, leading me to become more of the person I want to be. Furthermore, the connection my mind body has is incredible. After I practice yoga, I feel this bliss wash over

Yoga's psychological benefits include; improvement of anxiety, depression, stress tolerance, addictive disorders, bi polar disorders, eating disorders, insomnia and overall emotional balance. Physical benefits include; improvement of chronic pain, reduction of heart rate and blood pressure, increased circulation, and function. The benefits continue; improvement in venous return of the

In today’s environment, many people are suffering with the stress and anxiety of day to day living and are finding themselves unable to cope with life’s little emergencies. Prescription drugs are on the rise due to the increasing need for people to deal with their stress and anxiety. However, many people are searching for ways to be less stressed and live a happy and healthy life without drugs. If stress and anxiety are getting the best of you, then think about grabbing a mat and giving yoga and meditation a spin. With that in mind, this paper will take a look at the benefits of yoga and meditation to create a more peaceful and healthy lifestyle.