The practice of yoga is becoming increasingly mainstream, not only for physical fitness, but as a way to treat mental and nervous system imbalances such as depression, stress and anxiety. Scientists are taking notice. For example, this new study at the University of Adelaide in Australia is aiming to find out if practicing hatha yoga relieves stress in individuals. In their new trial, called The Yoga for Stress Study: The Effectiveness of a Hatha Yoga Practice on Biochemical Markers of Oxidative Stress in a Chronically Stressed Population, researchers will recruit women to participate in 16 hatha yoga classes, measuring whether there is a decrease in the amount of biochemical markers of oxidative stress at the end of the study. The participants must be new to yoga, women, and between the ages of 35-65.
We’ll be looking forward to hearing the results, although we expect they will be in favor of a regular yoga practice in reducing stress. In this increasingly hectic world, a regular yoga practice has become extremely beneficial. It provides a time for practitioners to forget about their busy schedules, step away from technology like cell phones and e-mail, and focus on only one thing – the breath. It’s a time for the body and mind to recuperate. We believe the researchers will find a decrease in the markers of oxidative stress as each participant inhales, then exhales.
We’ll be looking forward to hearing the results, although we expect they will be in favor of a regular yoga practice in reducing stress. In this increasingly hectic world, a regular yoga practice has become extremely beneficial. It provides a time for practitioners to forget about their busy schedules, step away from technology like cell phones and e-mail, and focus on only one thing – the breath. It’s a time for the body and mind to recuperate. We believe the researchers will find a decrease in the markers of oxidative stress as each participant inhales, then exhales.
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