Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Rapid stress reduction and anxiolysis among distressed women as a consequence of a three-month intensive yoga program.
Emotional distress is an increasing public health problem and Hatha yoga has been claimed to induce stress reduction and empowerment in practicing subjects. We aimed to evaluate potential effects of Iyengar Hatha yoga on perceived stress and associated psychological outcomes in mentally distressed women. ⋯ Women suffering from mental distress participating in a 3-month Iyengar yoga class show significant improvements on measures of stress and psychological outcomes. Further investigation of yoga with respect to prevention and treatment of stress-related disease and of underlying mechanism is warranted.