Participating in yoga and deep breathing classes twice or thrice a week may effectively reduce the symptoms of depression, says research. The findings provide support for the use of yoga-based interventions as an alternative or supplement to pharmacologic treatments for depression, researchers said.
“This study supports the use of a yoga and coherent breathing intervention in major depressive disorder in people who are not on antidepressants and in those who have been on a stable dose of antidepressants and haven’t achieved a resolution of their symptoms,” said researcher Chris Streeter. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is common, recurrent, chronic and disabling. The study used Iyengar yoga that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture and breath control.
According to Streeter, compared with mood altering medications, this intervention has the advantages of avoiding additional drug side effects and drug interactions.
“While most pharmacologic treatment for depression target monoamine systems, such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, this intervention targets the parasympathetic and gamma aminobutyric acid system and provides a new avenue for treatment,” said Streeter.
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