Title: Hot Yoga Shown to Significantly Reduce Symptoms of Depression, Harvard Study Finds
Published: Oct. 23, 2023, 11:08 a.m. ET
By Alexandra Klausner
Feeling downward, dog? Hot yoga could fix that.
A recent clinical trial conducted by Harvard Medical School has found that hot yoga can lead to a “significantly greater” reduction in symptoms for people with moderate to severe depression compared to no treatment at all. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, followed 80 participants with depression over an 8-week period.
The participants were divided into two groups, with one group prescribed at least two 90-minute sessions of hot yoga per week, while the other group was placed on a waiting list. Surprisingly, even with just one session per week, participants experienced a decrease in their depression symptoms. On average, participants attended 10.3 classes over the course of the trial.
The results were promising, as 44% of individuals in the hot yoga group reported such low depression scores that their condition was considered in remission. In contrast, only 6.3% of the group on the yoga waitlist saw a decrease in their depression. This suggests that hot yoga may offer a non-medication-based approach to treating depression, with additional physical benefits.
Lead study author Dr. Maren Nyer expressed optimism about the future application of yoga and heat-based interventions in depression treatment. Dr. Nyer stated, “We are currently developing new studies with the goal of determining the specific contributions of each element—heat and yoga—to the clinical effects we have observed in depression.”
These findings are supported by previous studies, including research conducted by the University of South Australia, which suggests that regular exercise could be more effective in treating mental illness than medication. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with some form of mental health problem or disorder in their lifetime, with depression affecting as many as 29% of Americans, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Hot yoga has gained popularity in recent years, with celebrities like Drew Barrymore swearing by its benefits for mental health. The combination of physical activity, mindfulness, and the added element of heat may provide a holistic approach to managing depression.
As researchers continue to explore the efficacy of hot yoga in depression treatment, it offers a promising alternative for those seeking non-medication-based interventions to improve mental health.