Center for the Study of Yoga and Health
Evidence-Based Yoga
Researching the Intersection
Between Yoga and Health
Basic Overview
Evidence-Based Yoga
The academic research literature contains over 200 scientific articles on Yoga covering its effects on a wide range of health conditions, with new ones appearing all the time.
Many of these studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of specific Yoga postures and series. Evidence-based Yoga...
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New Research
Breast Cancer
February, 2009
Author Summary: Group differences favoring the yoga group were seen for mental health, depression, positive affect, and spirituality (peace/meaning). Significant baseline group interactions were observed for negative affect and emotional well-being. Women with higher negative affect and lower emotional well-being at baseline derived greater benefit from the yoga intervention compared to those with similar values at baseline in the control group. The yoga group demonstrated a significant within-group improvement in fatigue; no significant difference was noted for the control group.
Mood/Anxiety
February, 2009
Author Summary:
In depressive disorders, yoga may be comparable to medication and the
combination superior to medication alone. There is reasonable evidence
for its use as second-line monotherapy or augmentation to medication in
mild to moderate major depression and dysthymia, with early evidence of
benefit in more severe depression... Yoga appears to be superior to no treatment and
progressive relaxation for both depression and anxiety, and may benefit
mood and anxiety symptoms associated with medical illness. It shows
good safety and tolerability in short-term treatment
Pregnancy and Childbirth
February, 2009
Author Summary:
women who took part in the prenatal yoga programme reported
significantly fewer pregnancy discomforts than the control group at 38–40 weeks of gestation. The subjects who participated in the yoga programme exhibited higher outcome and self-efficacy expectancies during the active stage of labour and the second stage of labour compared with the control group.
Yoga Practice
January, 2009
Author Summary:
All participants acknowledged a variety of benefits of yoga. Barriers
outweighed benefits among persons who had never practiced despite
knowledge of benefits. Positive experiences with yoga and yoga
instructors facilitated practice.
Depression and
Anxiety
March, 2009
Author Summary:
Participation in a two-month yoga class can lead to significant
reduction in perceived levels of anxiety in women who suffer from
anxiety disorders. This study suggests that yoga can be considered as a
complementary therapy or an alternative method for medical therapy in
the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Breast Cancer
January, 2009
Author Summary:
A GLM-repeated measures ANOVA showed overall decrease in both self-reported state anxiety and trait anxiety in yoga group as compared to controls. There was a positive correlation between anxiety states and traits with symptom severity and distress during conventional treatment intervals.