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Background: Hypothyroidism is a highly prevalent endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. Patients with hypothyroidism often develop obesity, which further increasesthe risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Yoga has positive effects on hypothyroidism indices. Aim: This retrospective study evaluates the effects of a two‑week residential Yoga intervention on blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) among women with hypothyroidism and obesity. Materials and methods: Data of 98 females with a clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism and obesity, aged between 18 and 60 years, who received two weeks of residential Yoga intervention between 2013 and 2020 at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, India, was retrieved retrospectively. The residential Yoga intervention consisted of integrated Yoga sessions, breathing practices, devotional sessions, a simple and wholesome diet, and educational sessions every day. Data on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) were analyzed. Records of patients with cardiac disease, cardiorespiratory compensatory disease, hypertension, or patients on antihypertensive drugs were excluded. Results: There was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and BMI at two weeks compared to baseline. Conclusion: A two‑week residential Yoga intervention has a positive impact on blood pressure and BMI in women with hypothyroidism and obesity. Future randomized controlled trials with larger samples and long‑term follow‑ups are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Yoga was associated with significant improvements in PTSD and depression symptoms. • TCTSY, Kundalini, Satyananda, and Holistic yoga were most effective for PTSD. • No serious adverse events were indicated in the six studies that reported them. Yoga is an increasingly popular complementary intervention to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and related comorbidities, but its safety and treatment efficacy are not firmly established. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing randomized control trials (RCTs) of yoga interventions for PTSD and related secondary outcomes (e.g., depression). Initial search results found over 668 potential papers. Twenty met inclusion criteria (e.g., RCTs on adult participants with PTSD that evaluated safety or efficacy outcomes). Meta-analysis indicated that, compared to control interventions, participation in yoga interventions significantly improved self-report PTSD (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -0.51; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: -0.68, -0.35) and immediate (SMD: -0.39; 95 % CI: -0.56, -0.22) and long-term (SMD: -0.44; 95 % CI: -0.74, -0.13) depression symptoms. However, using clinician-reported assessments, yoga interventions were not associated with improved PTSD symptoms. Type of yoga differentially predicted outcomes. Sensitivity analysis showed consistent effect sizes when omitting each study from main analyses. Six studies reported whether any serious adverse events occurred. None were indicated. No publication bias was found, although individual intervention studies tended to be high in bias. Results suggest yoga is likely a safe and effective complementary intervention for reducing PTSD and depressive symptoms in individuals with PTSD. More rigorous RCTs are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distress is a growing public health concern. In this three-armed randomized controlled trial, n = 102 adults with elevated stress levels and stress-related symptoms were randomly assigned to (1) "integrative" yoga classes which combined physical exercises, mindfulness training, and ethical/philosophical aspects of traditional yoga; to (2) Iyengar yoga classes which entailed primarily physical exercises; or to (3) mindfulness training without physical training. We hypothesized the synergistic effects of physical yoga exercises, mindfulness, and ethical/philosophical aspects. The primary outcome was the group difference on Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) after 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included burnout, quality of life, physical complaints, depression, anxiety, mindfulness, interoceptive awareness, self-regulation, spirituality, mysticism, and posttraumatic stress. All outcomes were evaluated at baseline (V0), after 12 weeks (V1), and after 24 weeks (V2). A subset of participants took part in qualitative interviews. A lasting and clinically relevant stress reduction was observed within all groups (PSS ΔV0–V1Integrative Yoga = −6.69 ± 6.19; ΔV0–V1Iyengar Yoga = −6.00 ± 7.37; ΔV0–V1Mindfulness = −9.74 ± 7.80; all p < 0.00). Effect sizes were also statistically large at the end of the follow-up period (Cohen's d Integrative Yoga = 1.41; d Iyengar Yoga = 1.37; d Mindfulness = 1.23). There were no significant group differences or evidence of relevant synergistic effects from combining mindfulness and physical yoga exercises. All three interventions were found to be equally effective methods of stress reduction. Their use in practice should be based on availability and patient preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a standard treatment for secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in high income countries (HICs), but it is inaccessible to most patients in India due to high costs and skills required for multidisciplinary CR teams. We developed a low-cost and scalable CR program based on culturally-acceptable practice of yoga (Yoga-CaRe). In this paper, we report the rationale and design for evaluation of its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Methods This is a multi-center, single-blind, two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial across 22 cardiac care hospitals in India. Four thousand patients aged 18–80 years with AMI will be recruited and randomized 1:1 to receive Yoga-CaRe program (13 sessions supervised by an instructor and encouragement to self-practice daily) or enhanced standard care (3 sessions of health education) delivered over a period of three months. Participants will be followed 3-monthly till the end of the trial. The co-primary outcomes are a) time to occurrence of first cardiovascular event (composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke and emergency cardiovascular hospitalization), and b) quality of life (Euro-QoL-5L) at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes include need for revascularization procedures, return to pre-infarct activities, tobacco cessation, medication adherence, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Conclusion This trial will alone contribute >20% participants to existing meta-analyses of randomized trials of CR worldwide. If Yoga-CaRe is found to be effective, it has the potential to save millions of lives and transform care of AMI patients in India and other low and middle income country settings. Highlights • Yoga-CaRe trial is one of the largest trials which provides information on much needed data on CR from LMICs • The study is sufficiently powered to address research questions on policy relevant clinical outcomes • Yoga-CaRe programme, if proven to be beneficial may reduce the unmet needs of cardiac rehabilitation across the globe [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yoga seems to exert its effect against arterial hypertension mainly through the associated breathing and meditation techniques, and less so through yoga postures. The goal of this trial was to compare the blood pressure-lowering effect of yoga interventions with and without yoga postures in patients with arterial hypertension. Methods: 75 patients taking medications for arterial hypertension (72% women, mean age 58.7 ± 9.5 years) were randomized into three groups: a yoga intervention group with yoga postures (25 patients, of whom 5 dropped out of the trial before its end), a yoga intervention group without yoga postures (25 patients, 3 dropouts), and a wait list control group (25 patients, one dropout). The interventions consisted of 90 minutes of yoga practice per week for twelve weeks. The data collectors, who were blinded to the intervention received, assessed the primary outcome measures "systolic 24-hour blood pressure" and "diastolic 24-hour blood pressure" before and after the intervention. In this report, we also present the findings on secondary outcome measures, including follow-up data. Results: After the intervention, the systolic 24-hour blood pressure in the yoga intervention group without yoga postures was significantly lower than in the control group (group difference [Δ]= -3.8 mmHg; [95% confidence interval (CI): (-0.3; -7.4) p = 0.035]); it was also significantly lower than in the yoga intervention group with yoga postures (Δ = -3.2 mmHg; 95% CI: [-6.3; -0.8]; p = 0.045). Diastolic blood pressures did not differ significantly across groups. No serious adverse events were encountered in the course of the trial. Conclusion: In accordance with the findings of earlier studies, we found that only yoga without yoga postures induced a short-term lowering of ambulatory systolic blood pressure. Yoga is safe and effective in patients taking medications for arterial hypertension and thus can be recommended as an additional treatment option for persons in this category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is a means of balancing and harmonizing the body, mind, and emotions. Yoga practice is useful in the management of various lifestyle diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Psycho-neuro-endocrine and immune mechanisms are involved in the beneficial effects of yoga on diabetes. Incorporation of yoga practice in daily life helps to attain glycaemic control and reduces the risk of complications in people with diabetes. In this review, we briefly describe the role of various yoga practices in the management of diabetes based on evidence from various clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yogic practices are known to affect the cardiac, respiratory and mental status of people. Objective: To investigate if the regularly supervised training of pranayama and meditation affects the basic cardio-respiratory parameters and short-term-memory (STM) of mentally challenged young adults. Material and methods: 80 mentally challenged young adults attending a special school were randomly divided into the control group and Yoga group. Yoga group performed Naadishodhan, Kapalbhati pranayama and Aum Chanting under total supervision for 30 min daily for 3 weeks, except on Sundays. Control group was involved with the regular school curriculum. The parameters were measured twice, before (baseline) and after (follow-up) the study period. STM was evaluated under two subcategories, first by the ability to repeat the numbers in reverse order and second, repeating the words in the same order. Respiratory rate, pulse, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured as cardio-respiratory parameters. Results: Both groups had similar baseline scores. At follow-up, highly significant improvements were observed in Yoga-group as compared to control. In the Yoga-group scores of both the sub-categories of STM were higher, respiratory-rate and heart-rate were lower but was within normal range. However, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures of Yoga group showed no changes as compared to control. Conclusion: The pranayama and meditation has beneficial influences on heart rate, breathing rate and STM of mentally-challenged people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The neural substrates of Yogic meditation are not well understood. Meditation is theorized to be a conscious mental process that induces a set of complex physiological changes within the areas of the brain termed as the "relaxation response." Aims and objective: Pilot data of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study is presented to observe and understand the selective activations of designated brain regions during meditation. Material and methods: Four trained healthy Patanjali Yoga practitioners in their mid-60s participated in this prototype interventional study. A three-part 1-min block design alternating between meditation (test) and relaxation (control) phase with an imaginary visual fixation and auditory stimulation was used. Result and observation: The fMRI images revealed strong activation in the right prefrontal regions during the visual and auditory fixation meditation phases compared to no activations during the relaxation phase. A comparison between the visual and auditory fixations revealed shifts within the prefrontal and temporal regions. In addition, activation in occipital and temporal regions was observed during the meditation phase. Occipital lobe activation was more apparent during visual meditation phase. Conclusion: It is concluded that specific fMRI brain activations are observed during different forms of Yogic meditation (visual and auditory phases). Occipital and prefrontal activation could be modulating the known neurophysiological and biological effects of meditation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Patients with breast cancer commonly use complementary and integrative therapies as supportive care during cancer treatment and to manage treatment-related side effects. However, evidence supporting the use of such therapies in the oncology setting is limited. This report provides updated clinical practice guidelines from the Society for Integrative Oncology on the use of integrative therapies for specific clinical indications during and after breast cancer treatment, including anxiety/stress, depression/mood disorders, fatigue, quality of life/physical functioning, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, lymphedema, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, pain, and sleep disturbance. Clinical practice guidelines are based on a systematic literature review from 1990 through 2015. Music therapy, meditation, stress management, and yoga are recommended for anxiety/stress reduction. Meditation, relaxation, yoga, massage, and music therapy are recommended for depression/mood disorders. Meditation and yoga are recommended to improve quality of life. Acupressure and acupuncture are recommended for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Acetyl-L-carnitine is not recommended to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy due to a possibility of harm. No strong evidence supports the use of ingested dietary supplements to manage breast cancer treatment-related side effects. In summary, there is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of integrative therapies, especially mind-body therapies, as effective supportive care strategies during breast cancer treatment. Many integrative practices, however, remain understudied, with insufficient evidence to be definitively recommended or avoided. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:194-232. © 2017 American Cancer Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a key developmental period for preventing substance use initiation, however prevention programs solely providing educational information about the dangers of substance use rarely change adolescent substance use behaviors. Recent research suggests that mind-body practices such as yoga may have beneficial effects on several substance use risk factors, and that these practices may serve as promising interventions for preventing adolescent substance use. The primary aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of yoga for reducing substance use risk factors during early adolescence. Seventh-grade students in a public school were randomly assigned by classroom to receive either a 32-session yoga intervention ( n = 117) in place of their regular physical education classes or to continue with physical-education-as-usual ( n = 94). Participants (63.2 % female; 53.6 % White) completed pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing emotional self-regulation, perceived stress, mood impairment, impulsivity, substance use willingness, and actual substance use. Participants also completed questionnaires at 6-months and 1-year post-intervention. Results revealed that participants in the control condition were significantly more willing to try smoking cigarettes immediately post-intervention than participants in the yoga condition. Immediate pre- to post-intervention differences did not emerge for the remaining outcomes. However, long-term follow-up analyses revealed a pattern of delayed effects in which females in the yoga condition, and males in the control condition, demonstrated improvements in emotional self-control. The findings suggest that school-based yoga may have beneficial effects with regard to preventing males' and females' willingness to smoke cigarettes, as well as improving emotional self-control in females. However additional research is required, particularly with regard to the potential long-term effects of mind-body interventions in school settings. The present study contributes to the literature on adolescence by examining school-based yoga as a novel prevention program for substance use risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga is increasingly becoming a popular method of addressing mental health symptoms. While there is research to support the use of yoga for depression, there is limited literature examining yoga in combination with talk therapy groups as a treatment for depression. The results of this case study series (n=4) provide support for the clinical efficacy of yoga in combination with talk therapy. Treatment consisted of 6 weeks of group sessions (90-min sessions each week) with weekly home practice. Each group consisted of yoga, meditation, breathwork, and emotional processing. Decreases in depressive symptoms and increases in self-compassion were found. The findings of the case study are relevant because growing numbers of clients are presenting with depression and seeking alternative treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which is originated in ancient India. There is a broad variety of yoga schools, practices, goals, and also for people to come out of their depression. People with more stress and depression can undergo certain asanas for themselves to calm down and be in a normal posture. The study is done to evaluate the effect of Vrikshasana on depression people. Materials and Methods: A total of 20 depression patients were chosen from yoga center. Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D) was used to analyze the depression level before and after Vrikshasana. Results: Using the values taken by the HAM-D, it is proven that Vrikshasana has an effect on depression. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that Vrikshasana has a positive impact on depression patients. Vrikshasana will relieve depression patients from long-term medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the benefits of first-person experience and yoga research towards studying the neural correlation of an intentional practice. The author focuses on the necessity of studying intentional and experiential aspects of movement-based contemplative practices (MBCP) and the underlying yoga practice. She also outlines the effect on the neural correlates of yoga practice to an individual.

The purpose of this study was to control psychosomatic disorders through yoga and meditation. The sample of this study comprised of 45 male and female indoor patients from the Naturopathy Center of Bapu Nagar and Shastri Nagar, Jaipur ranging between 35 and 50 years. Multidimensional health questionnaire which was developed by Snell and Johnson (2004) measuring physical and mental health of adults was employed. The scale is usually used to identify the psychopathological symptoms. It consists of 20 sub scales and 100 items. The results revealed that practicing yoga and meditation has proved to be beneficial. Regular practice of yoga and meditation up to 3 months has decreased the psychosomatic symptoms to a great level in the subjects. Practicing yoga and meditation regularly for 3 months have reduced the quantity of medicinal intake of these subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing interest in meditation as a tool for alternative therapy of stress-related and psychosomatic diseases, brain mechanisms of beneficial influences of meditation practice on health and quality of life are still unclear. We propose that the key point is a persistent change in emotional functioning, specifically the modulation of the early appraisal of motivational significance of events. The main aim was to study the effects of long-term meditation practice on event-related brain potentials (ERPs) during affective picture viewing. ERPs were recorded in 20 long-term Sahaja Yoga meditators and 20 control subjects without prior experience in meditation. The meditators’ mid-latency (140–400 ms) ERPs were attenuated for both positive and negative pictures (i.e. there were no arousal-related increases in ERP positivity) and this effect was more prominent over the right hemisphere. However, we found no differences in the long latency (400–800 ms) responses to emotional images, associated with meditation practice. In addition we found stronger ERP negativity in the time window 200–300 ms for meditators compared to the controls, regardless of picture valence. We assume that long-term meditation practice enhances frontal top-down control over fast automatic salience detection, based on amygdala functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

These are the 39 accepted abstracts for IAYT's Symposium on Yoga Research (SYR) September 24-24, 2014 at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health and published in the Final Program Guide and Abstracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natya yoga therapy is an integrative approach that combines yoga with movement, music, and conventional psychotherapy. The word natya refers to movement and music while yoga refers to practice of the eight guiding principles of yoga (ashta anga yoga) that lead to meditation. Individual psychotherapy includes cognitive restructuring of self-concept strengthened by behavioral discipline that builds self-competence. Concurrent group therapy offers meditative relief and intuitive reiteration of a strong self. This study is dedicated to developing a group meditation model that includes natya and yoga practices, specifically for patients with schizophrenia. Action research methodology is used to include the voices of administrators, staff, therapists, researcher, and patients as co-creators of an effective meditation model that feels comfortable and safe. Data analysis and knowledge creation reflect a reiterative cycle of practical, experiential, and presentational epistemology. Study validated that for this population, practices of natya and yoga did create inner meditative calm, free from agitation and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the present scenario, people are the victim of stress and stress related problems which caused the disruption in their life. Yoga widely used across the world as a technique of relief from stress and for improvement in physical and psychological health. Yoga is an ancient Indian practice focusing on breathing and physical exercises, muscle relaxation, meditation and physical workout. People can be able to maintain their physical, mental as well as spiritual well-being through regular yogic practices. Thus, the present study aims at examining the effects of yogic practices on the stress level of middle age people. The study was conducted with 100 male participants aged 35-45 years by using a stress index and introducing them an intervention program. In order to assess the role of yogic practices in relieving stress, participants were divided into two groups (experimental and control groups). Both groups were exposed to pre and post-test. Results of the present study reported significant reduction in the stress level of middle age people as a result of one month intervention program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yogic techniques produce consistent physiological changes in the body and have sound scientific basis. Aims and objectives: The present study was designed to study the effect of pranayams and meditation on heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and 40 mm endurance test. Material and Methods: This study was done in Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad. Ethical approval was taken from the research committee of the Institution. Fifty healthy male volunteers in the age group of 20-30 years were recruited for the study. Pranayams and meditation was done under yoga expert's supervision for 3 months. Cardio-respiratory parameters were recorded before and after 3 months of yoga training.ECG was done using RMS(Chandigarh) machine .Heart rate was calculated from the RR interval in lead II.Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured by auscultatory method with the help of mercury sphygmomanometer. Respiratory rate was counted for full one minute in resting supine position.40 mm endurance test was conducted by asking the subject to take in, a full breath and blow against the mercury column of sphygmomanometer, to the pressure of 40mm Hg, maintaining it as long as possible. The time for which the student could maintain the mercury level at 40mmHg was noted. Rate pressure product was calculated as HR XSBP/100 (mmHg/min). Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA with SPSS version 17.0 using paired't' test. Results: Results showed that there was significant decrease in the heart rate, SBP, DBP, PP, MBP, RR and significant increase in 40 mm endurance test after 3 months of pranayams and meditation. Conclusions: Pranayams and meditation are of beneficial value in improving the cardio-respiratory efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tactile acuity in the back relates to voluntary lumbo-pelvic control and is lower in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. Two-point discrimination (TPD) thresholds are higher, indicating decreased tactile acuity in patients with CLBP. Yoga has been shown to help relieve CLBP. Objectives: This study investigated the hypothesis that regular practitioners of yoga have increased tactile acuity (i.e., lower TPD thresholds) when compared to matched controls who regularly perform gym-based (resistance training or aerobic-type) exercise. Method: Tactile acuity in the low back was assessed using TPD in 16 long-term practitioners of yoga (5 Ashtanga, 5 Bikram, and 6 Iyengar practitioners) and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy controls who exercise (with weights and aerobic exercise). Results: The yoga practitioners' TPD was lower than that of the exercisers, indicating greater tactile acuity in the low back. While there was no difference between the TPD of the practitioners of different yoga styles, the TPD of the Ashtanga yoga participants were significantly lower than those of the exercisers. The yogis whose main reasons to practice yoga were for 'meditation or increased mindfulness' and for 'well-being' showed a nonsignificant trend of higher tactile acuity than those who did yoga for 'physical exercise.' There was no association between TPD threshold and cumulative amount of yoga practice in terms of hours per week and years of experience. However, increased hours of exercise per week correlated with higher TPD. Conclusion: The findings suggest that there may be a relationship between yoga practice and enhanced tactile acuity in the low back. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This pilot study examines iRest, a form of guided mindfulness meditation, and its ability to reduce symptoms associated with sexual trauma, including military sexual trauma (MST), in a sample of women seeking psychotherapy services at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. Methods: 90-minute sessions were held 19 times, twice a week for 10 weeks, except for the week with a holiday. Participants completed self-report measures Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI), Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI), and the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Check List (PCL) pre- and post-treatment. Sixteen women were recruited: 15 enrolled, 5 dropped due to transportation issues, and 10 completed the protocol. Results: Completers reported significant decreases in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL, t (9) = 3.17, p < 0.01, d = 0.66), negative thoughts of self-blame (PTCI t (9) = 2.96, p < 0.05, d = 0.52), and depression (BSI, t (9) = 2.33, p < 0.05, d = 0.64). Participants also offered verbal reports of decreased body tension, improved quality of sleep, improved ability to handle intrusive thoughts, improved ability to manage stress, and an increased feeling of joy. Participants also enthusiastically endorsed the class and stated they would take it again and recommend it to others. Conclusions: This small pilot study showed promising results for delivering iRest to women with sexual trauma in a VA medical center. Further research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, chronic inflammatory disorder that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, loss of joint function, and reduced quality of life. Yoga therapy may help individuals with RA manage stress and increase well-being. This study focused on the identification of therapeutic objectives and a methodology to achieve symptom relief, regain function, and enhance quality of life for individuals with RA. Methods: Four women with RA participated in private yoga therapy sessions for 2.5 months. Assessment based, tailored home practices were developed and modified to address participant - identified goals. Results: Participants reported decreased pain, fatigue, swelling, and flares; increased energy; pain-free range of motion and strength around affected joints; and a heightened sense of well-being. Conclusions: Tailored yoga therapy that emphasizes stress reduction may be beneficial for individuals with RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The limited success of current smoking cessation therapies encourages research into new treatment strategies. Mind–body practices such as yoga and meditation have the potential to aid smoking cessation and become an alternative drug-free treatment option. The aim of this article is to assess the efficacy of yoga and other meditation-based interventions for smoking cessation, to identify the challenges of clinical trials applying mind–body treatments, and to outline directions for future research on these types of therapies to assist in smoking cessation. Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature. Results: Fourteen clinical trials met the inclusion criteria defined for this review. Each article was reviewed thoroughly, and evaluated for quality, design, and methodology. Although primary outcomes differed between studies, the fourteen articles, most with limitations, reported promising effects supporting further investigation of the use of these practices to improve smoking cessation. Conclusions: The literature supports yoga and meditation-based therapies as candidates to assist smoking cessation. However, the small number of studies available and associated methodological problems require more clinical trials with larger sample sizes and carefully monitored interventions to determine rigorously if yoga and meditation are effective treatments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is highly prevalent and the most costly cardiovascular illness in the United States. Yoga is known to be effective in lowering stress, lessening depression, and increasing physical fitness and may be used as an adjuvant management program for CHF patients. Primary Study Objective: To determine the feasibility of a yoga intervention program among a multiethnic CHF population living in underserved neighborhoods. Methods: Uncontrolled intervention trial. Setting: Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers, Richmond and Oakland, California. Participants: 14 CHF patients (7 female), mean age 64 (SD = 6.4) years, and 62% African-American. Intervention: Eight-week, 2x/week, 1-hr yoga classes that included meditation, breathing exercises, gentle yoga poses, and relaxation. Primary outcome measures: The intervention feasibility was measured by recruitment rates, participant retention and adherence. Body weight and self-reported depression and quality of life were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Among the 14 patients enrolled, 13 completed the intervention. Of those who completed the trial, 92% attended at least 50% of the classes. There was a significant reduction in weight (-3.5 lb, p = 0.01) and improvement in the severity of depression (p < 0.05), as well as a trend toward increased quality of life (p = 08). No adverse events were observed. Conclusions: This pilot trial demonstrates that it is feasible for patients with CHF to incorporate yoga into their lifestyle. Yoga may help with routine disease management, prevention of fluid retention, and improvement of depression and quality of life. A larger trial is needed to confirm efficacy and to determine the long-term effects on other important outcomes, such as hospital re-admission rates or prognostic biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain, sleep disturbance, stiffness, fatigue, headache, and mood disorders. Recent research has resulted in an improved understanding of fibromyalgia and its possible causes. This article highlights some of the current research, discusses a strategy for using yoga and meditation as a therapy for fibromyalgia sufferers, and presents the results of a preliminary 8-week study using yoga and meditation to help manage fibromyalgia symptoms. The study of 11 participants found significant improvement in the overall health status of the participants and in symptoms of stiffness, anxiety, and depression. Significant improvements were also seen in the reported number of days "felt good" and number of days "missed work" because of fibromyalgia. Nonsignificant improvements were seen in measures of pain, fatigue, and how one felt in the morning. Effect sizes were medium to large for most tested areas. This study supports the benefits of yoga and meditation for individuals with fibromyalgia and encourages further research to explore their use as standard therapies for fibromyalgia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of yoga therapy is in the midst of a paradigm shift that will affect our education and clinical practice. Some yoga therapists are seeking additional professional training to work with special populations, while others prefer to conduct treatment in much the same way they have for decades. Some yoga therapists have chosen to align with IAYT's move toward accreditation, and perhaps to explore third-party reimbursement and licensure, while others elect to solidify their identity as "renegade" practitioners or educators. The fields of psychotherapy and psychiatry have also entered a period of transition. Many clinicians now acknowledge the body's integral role in transformation. Some have begun to study yoga or incorporate yogic interventions into treatment, while others choose to practice psychotherapy and support yoga therapy as a valuable adjunct treatment. Yoga has also made its way into psychotherapy training programs, and has become a hot topic at psychology conferences. IAYT's membership reflects this significant trend toward the integration of yoga and psychology. Of its nearly 3,000 members, 40% hold a medical license, and almost half those licenses are in mental health. The great wall between yoga therapy and mental health treatment is crumbling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga is an effective complementary approach to health maintenance and promotion for older adults and has been demonstrated to support many dimensions of psychological wellbeing, from everyday stress to anxiety, depression, and coping with health challenges. Yoga has the potential to be even more effective when consciously and systematically integrated into an individual's overall self-care and medical care program, through deliberate and open dialogue among patients, healthcare professionals, and yoga professionals. The purpose of this article is to (1) briefly review the psychological benefits of yoga practice for older adults; (2) outline practice guidelines for older adult yoga, including key postures; and (3) provide some basic practical guidelines for both healthcare professionals referring patients to yoga and yoga teachers interested in working with older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two pilot studies demonstrate that a comprehensive multimodality intervention of Transformative Life Skills (TLS) consisting of Yoga poses (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) can reduce perceived stress and increase self-control and self-awareness in at-risk and incarcerated youth. As part of a countywide violence prevention effort, Niroga Institute conducted daily 60-minute TLS programs at Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center (ACJJC). Additionally, a condensed 15-minute TLS protocol was implemented at El Cerrito High School, a large urban public high school. The effectiveness of TLS was evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Tangney's Self-Control Scale (TSCS-13). Statistical analyses indicate a significant improvement in stress resilience, self-control, and self-awareness among the youth exposed to Niroga's TLS protocols. These results have substantial relevance to education and community-wide violence prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship between women's participation in different types of Yoga classes and different facets of body image. Ninety-two women at five different sites of Yoga instruction completed assessments of Yoga experience, internalization of Yoga principles, body satisfaction, body awareness, body consciousness, and eating attitudes. Yoga experience was coded according to months/years of practice, self-rated expertise, and how much the classes attended emphasized the "mind" aspects of Yoga (e.g., meditation, breathing, mindfulness, and chanting) as well as the "body" aspects (postures, fitness). Participants in Yoga classes that included more emphasis on the mind showed significantly greater levels of internalizing the teachings of Yoga, as well as greater body awareness and satisfaction. Greater experience with Yoga was associated with lower objectified body consciousness. Greater internalization of Yoga principles was associated with greater body satisfaction and sense of control of the body. Greater self-rated expertise in Yoga was associated with greater body awareness and fewer body shape concerns. None of the Yoga measures was significantly associated with the Eating Attitudes Test, which is designed to measure attitudes and behaviors associated with eating disorders. Although correlational, the results of this study suggest that further attention be paid to how the psychological benefits of Yoga differ across different types of Yoga classes. Future experimental research on the psychological benefits of Yoga should examine the importance of emphasizing a fully integrated mind-body practice rather than only the fitness aspects of Yoga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanisms underlying the modulating effects of yogic cognitive-behavioral practices (eg, meditation, yoga asanas, pranayama breathing, caloric restriction) on human physiology can be classified into 4 transduction pathways: humoral factors, nervous system activity, cell trafficking, and bioelectromagnetism. Here we give examples of these transduction pathways and how, through them, yogic practices might optimize health, delay aging, and ameliorate chronic illness and stress from disability. We also recognize that most studies of these mechanisms remain embedded in a reductionist paradigm, investigating small numbers of elements of only 1 or 2 pathways. Moreover, often, subjects are not long-term practitioners, but recently trained. The models generated from such data are, in turn, often limited, top-down, without the explanatory power to describe beneficial effects of long-term practice or to provide foundations for comparing one practice to another. More flexible and useful models require a systems-biology approach to gathering and analysis of data. Such a paradigm is needed to fully appreciate the deeper mechanisms underlying the ability of yogic practice to optimize health, delay aging, and speed efficient recovery from injury or disease. In this regard, 3 different, not necessarily competing, hypotheses are presented to guide design of future investigations, namely, that yogic practices may: (1) promote restoration of physiologic setpoints to normal after derangements secondary to disease or injury, (2) promote homeostatic negative feedback loops over nonhomeostatic positive feedback loops in molecular and cellular interactions, and (3) quench abnormal 'noise' in cellular and molecular signaling networks arising from environmental or internal stresses. Mt Sinai J Med 77: © 2010 Mount Sinai School of Medicine [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yoga is an ancient practice with Eastern roots that involves both physical postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayamas). There is also a cognitive component focusing on meditation and concentration, which aids in achieving the goal of union between the self and the spiritual. Although numerous empirical studies have found a beneficial effect of yoga on different aspects of physical and psychological functioning, claims of yoga's beneficial effects on sexuality derive from a rich but nonempirical literature. The goal of this article is to review the philosophy and forms of yoga, to review the nonempirical and (limited) empirical literatures linking yoga with enhanced sexuality, and to propose some future research avenues focusinging on yoga as a treatment for sexual complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Breathing exercises practiced in various forms of meditations such as yoga may influence autonomic functions. This may be the basis of therapeutic benefit to hypertensive patients. Design: The study design was a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study using three groups. Subjects: The subjects comprised 60 male and female patients aged 20–60 years with stage 1 essential hypertension. Intervention: Patients were randomly and equally divided into the control and other two intervention groups, who were advised to do 3 months of slow-breathing and fast-breathing exercises, respectively. Baseline and postintervention recording of blood pressure (BP), autonomic function tests such as standing-to-lying ratio (S/L ratio), immediate heart rate response to standing (30:15 ratio), Valsalva ratio, heart rate variation with respiration (E/I ratio), hand-grip test, and cold presser response were done in all subjects. Results: Slow breathing had a stronger effect than fast breathing. BP decreased longitudinally over a 3-month period with both interventions. S/L ratio, 30:15 ratio, E/I ratio, and BP response in the hand grip and cold pressor test showed significant change only in patients practicing the slow-breathing exercise. Conclusions: Both types of breathing exercises benefit patients with hypertension. However, improvement in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic reactivity may be the mechanism that is associated in those practicing the slow-breathing exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meditation has long been suggested as a means for improving mental health. This study examines whether meditation may be helpful to persons with intrusive thoughts. Fifty-three meditators from five sites of meditation reported their experience with meditation (how long they had been meditating and how much meditation they were currently doing per week), as well as their current experience of cognitive intrusions and related distress. Number of weeks experience with meditation was found to be negatively correlated with both severity of intrusive thoughts and negative evaluation of intrusive thoughts. Intensity of current meditation practice (minutes per week) was not found to be correlated with severity or evaluation of intrusive thoughts. It is concluded that experience with meditation provides psychological benefits consistent with the aims of both meditation traditions and many contemporary cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches. Meditation is theoretically and pragmatically compatible with contemporary cognitive-behavioral approaches and may be a useful supplement for treating clinical and nonclinical intrusive thoughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low back pain is a significant health problem. Current conventional medical interventions seem largely ineffective and do not address the contributing issues of low back pain in a comprehensive or holistic manner. The holistic approach of Yoga makes it an ideal intervention for low back pain, as it addresses the multifactorial physical, psychological, and social factors associated with low back pain. The objectives of this research review were to (1) identify all relevant published studies that identify Yoga as an intervention for low back pain; (2) draw conclusions about whether Yoga is an effective treatment for low back pain and comparable to other interventions; and (3) summarize interventions used in studies to better inform practitioners, healthcare providers, and researchers about how Yoga may be used to treat low back pain. Seven studies were identified: five moderate- to high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two case series. Participants of six out of the seven studies had chronic low back pain with a duration of greater than three months. The main outcome measures were disability questionnaires and pain. Styles of Yoga included Anusara, Iyengar, Viniyoga, a combined intervention of Yoga and Pilates, and Hatha Yoga, not further specified.The findings of this review suggest that Yoga has a positive effect on low back pain and function, with effects comparable to education combined with aerobic and strengthening exercise and more effective than education alone or no treatment. Yoga may provide an inexpensive and easily accessible way for those with low back pain to manage their symptoms. However, the small number of studies prevents definite conclusions from being drawn. This demonstrates a need to increase the evidence base through larger, well-designed RCTs in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grief and bereavement are universal human experiences that can have profound effects on body, mind, and spirit. Yoga, as part of a therapeutic approach, can help relieve suffering during the grieving process. This article describes one approach to offering Yoga as a therapy for grief and bereavement. Transpersonal Integrative Yoga Therapy is a multidimensional group protocol that combines Yoga with conventional and transpersonal psychological therapies. Transpersonal Integrative Yoga Therapy has eight main practices: (1) asana (postures), (2) pranayama (breathing), (3) guided relaxation, (4) selected readings, (5) experiential integration, (6) meditation, (7) selected music, and (8) sharing and/or witnessing. Transpersonal Integrative Yoga Therapy holds as a guiding principle that grieving is a natural state of response to profound loss, not a pathological one. The therapeutic process creates a safe and sacred space for processing sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Part 1 of this article describes how the eight core practices of Transpersonal Integrative Yoga Therapy can be used to address grief and bereavement, and provides guidance to Yoga therapists and mental health professionals interested in developing their own protocols. Part 2 describes an evaluation of an eight-week intervention using Transpersonal Integrative Yoga Therapy for grief and bereavement. Grieving adults who participated in the Yoga therapy intervention showed significant improvements in vitality and positive states and a trend toward improved satisfaction with life. Exit interviews and end-of-intervention surveys provide more detailed understanding of how Yoga can influence the grieving process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss and death are ongoing, universal, natural aspects of life. Yoga therapy is a profession that inherently addresses the many physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects within end-of-life care and requires extensive preparation both professionally and personally. This article introduces concepts, tools, and specific guidelines that can assist Yoga therapists to more effectively and compassionately serve those who are living with serious illness, loss, and end-of-life issues. Yoga philosophy that supports end-of-life therapy is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]