Heated yoga sessions led to a reduction in depression symptoms in a recent trial conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Half of the 80 trial participants were prescribed at least two 90-minute Bikram yoga sessions over an 8-week period, while the other half of the group was placed on a waiting list. depressive symptoms than waitlist participants,” according to a research summary provided by Mass General Brigham. Depressive symptoms were also reduced, even among those who participated in the hot yoga sessions about half as often as expected. Bikram yoga is practiced in a 105-degree room. “Yoga and heat-based interventions could potentially change the course of treatment for patients with depression by providing a non-drug approach with added physical benefits to boot,” said said lead author Maren Nyer, Ph.D., director of yoga studies at the Depression Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Future steps in the research could include comparing Bikram yoga to unheated yoga to determine whether heat is related to the benefits seen in this study, the authors said.
Heated yoga sessions led to a reduction in depression symptoms in a recent trial conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Half of the 80 trial participants were prescribed at least two 90-minute Bikram yoga sessions over an 8-week period, while the other half of the group was placed on a waiting list.
“After eight weeks, yoga participants experienced significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms than waitlist participants,” according to a research summary provided by Mass General Brigham.
Depressive symptoms were also reduced, even among those who participated in hot yoga sessions about half as often as expected.
Bikram yoga is practiced in a room at 105 degrees.
“Yoga and heat-based interventions could potentially change the course of treatment for patients with depression by providing a non-drug approach with added physical benefits as a bonus,” said lead author Maren Nyer, Ph.D. , director of yoga studies at the depression clinical and research program at Massachusetts General Hospital and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Next steps in research could include comparing Bikram yoga to unheated yoga to determine whether heat is related to the benefits seen in this study, the authors said.
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