Yoga May Help Depression and Anxiety
Boston researchers believe that yoga may help depression and anxiety by raising levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. According to these scientists at the Boston University School of Medicine and McLean Hospital, depression and anxiety disorders are associated with low levels of this substance.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Chris Streeter, used magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging to compare the GABA levels of eight subjects prior to and following one hour of yoga with the GABA levels of 11 subjects who did no yoga and read for one hour.
Dr. Streeter found a 27 percent increase in GABA levels in those who did yoga, but no increase in those who did not.
The sudy was published in the May issue of Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Comments
I fully agree that yoga/gentle exercise and breathing/meditation strategies help depression - the problem is finding a yoga class/teacher who practices gentle/restorative/rehabilitative yoga - this is especially important for those suffering from depression related to recovery from physical injury. Does anyone know of anyone/any class in the NYC area? Although many people discuss the benefits of yoga, lots of injury is also related to some of these classes. I’ve had an instructor who admitted that she had injured herself doing yoga in the past. It’s best to have someone with some sort of medical background - preferably a licensed physical therapist (or maybe an RN specializing in orthopedics). I would be grateful to know if anyone out there knows of such a yoga instructor or program in Manhattan area??