Researchers at three American medical universities have theorized that yoga helps relieve the symptoms of stress-related mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
The researchers have developed a theory based on neurophysiology and neuroanatomy that shows that yoga corrects specific imbalances in the central nervous system to help persons with mental illness feel better.
In a previous comparative analysis between walking and yoga, yoga was shown to decrease anxiety and increase levels of GABA, while walking did not alter GABA levels. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter; low levels of GABA are associated with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, depression, and chronic pain. The results of this study will be used to incorporate mind-therapy activities such as yoga in future studies.
See the online synopsis of this research on Science Daily, “Yoga Helps Ease Stress Related Medical and Psychological Conditions” at www.sceincedaily.com.