Hot Yoga Found Effective in Reducing Symptoms of Depression: Harvard Study
In a groundbreaking clinical trial conducted by Harvard Medical School, hot yoga has been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of depression. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, analyzed 80 participants with depression over an 8-week period.
The participants were divided into two groups, with one group attending at least two 90-minute sessions of hot yoga per week and the other group serving as a control on a yoga waitlist. Surprisingly, even attending just one session of hot yoga per week was found to significantly reduce symptoms of depression.
Over the course of the study, on average, participants attended 10.3 hot yoga classes. Astonishingly, 44% of the hot yoga group reported that their depression scores were so low that their condition was considered in remission. Comparatively, only 6.3% of the control group saw a decrease in their depression overall.
The lead study author, Dr. Maren Nyer, believes that yoga and heat-based interventions could provide a non-medication-based approach to treating depression. This study supports the findings of previous research, including one from the University of South Australia, which suggests that regular exercise can be more effective than medication for treating mental illness.
These findings are significant, especially when considering that mental health issues are prevalent in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental health problem or disorder in their lifetime. In fact, a recent Gallup poll revealed that 29% of Americans have already been diagnosed with depression.
With these numbers in mind, the effectiveness of hot yoga in reducing symptoms of depression offers a promising alternative treatment option. By engaging in regular exercise like hot yoga, individuals may be able to alleviate symptoms of depression without relying solely on medication.
Overall, this groundbreaking study provides further evidence that hot yoga could be a beneficial and accessible intervention for individuals struggling with depression. As more research continues to emerge, it is hopeful that alternative treatment options like hot yoga will gain recognition in the medical community and offer individuals new solutions for their mental health struggles.
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