Medical yoga is defined as the use of yoga practices for the prevention and treatment of  medical conditions. Beyond the physical elements of yoga, which are important and effective for  strengthening  the  body,  medical  yoga  also  incorporates  appropriate  breathing  techniques,  mindfulness, and meditation in order to achieve the maximum benefits. Multiple studies have  shown that yoga ca...

This study involves an exploratory examination of the effects of a 12-week school-based yoga intervention on changes in grade point average (GPA) in 9th and 10th grade students. Participants included 95 high school students who had registered for physical education (PE) in spring 2010. PE class sections were group randomized to receive either a yoga intervention or a PE-as-usual control conditi...

BACKGROUND The current study described patterns of yoga practice and examined differences in physical activity over time between individuals with or at risk for type 2 diabetes who completed an 8-week yoga intervention compared with controls. METHODS A longitudinal comparative design measured the effect of a yoga intervention on yoga practice and physical activity, using data at baseline and ...

BACKGROUND Stress and back pain are two key factors leading to sickness absence at work. Recent research indicates that yoga can be effective for reducing perceived stress, alleviating back pain, and improving psychological well-being. AIMS To determine the effectiveness of a yoga-based intervention for reducing perceived stress and back pain at work. METHODS Participants were recruited fro...

BACKGROUND Fatigue is an important problem in paediatric cancer patients and yoga may be an effective intervention. The primary objective was to determine the feasibility of individualized yoga for hospitalized children receiving intensive chemotherapy. METHODS We included English-speaking children and adolescents aged 7-18 years receiving intensive chemotherapy or haematopoietic stem cell tr...

BACKGROUND An earlier study showed that a week of yoga practice was useful in stress management after a natural calamity. Due to heavy rain and a rift on the banks of the Kosi river, in the state of Bihar in north India, there were floods with loss of life and property. A week of yoga practice was given to the survivors a month after the event and the effect was assessed. METHODS Twenty-two v...

Introduction  Tinnitus is a perception of sound in the absence of an external source and it is a distressing issue. Yoga is a system of mind-body practices with the goal of uniting the body, mind and soul. It has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress, as well as improving the quality of life. Objective  The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of yoga in patients suffering from chr...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the extent to which a hatha yoga practice would improve mood as compared to a seated meditation practice. Methods: This was an eighteen week, cross-over design study in which forty-four hatha yoga students, largely inexperienced with seated meditation, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group started with an eight week practice o...

Objective: Veterans evaluated at the WRIISC present with multiple and chronic health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain, and fatigue. These patients often experience poor symptom relief. A pilot project was designed to determine whether such veterans would practice yoga as an adjunct to conventional medical care. We also used a range of standard screening measures to ...

OBJECTIVE To test feasibility of yoga within a high school curriculum and evaluate preventive efficacy for psychosocial well-being. METHODS Grade 11 or 12 students (N = 51) who registered for physical education (PE) were cluster-randomized by class 2:1 yoga:PE-as-usual. A Kripalu-based yoga program of physical postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation was taught 2 to 3 times a...