International journal of yoga therapy最新文献

Previous studies showed that patients' satisfaction with conventional medical treatment positively influences their health outcomes. However, this association is less clear for complementary and integrative medicine and has not been reported for yoga therapy. Three hundred four people (age 49.48 ± 14.73; 145 males, 159 females) were recruited from admissions to a residential wellness center in India. Their most common conditions were: (1) endocrine, nutritional, or metabolic diseases (25.99%); (2) digestive system disorders (22.37%); and (3) diseases of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue (9.87%). Assessments were: (1) patient satisfaction with treatment after 7 days of yoga and associated therapies using a questionnaire; and (2) outcomes at baseline and after 7 days of yoga and associated therapies using the Physical Health Questionnaire, EuroQol 5D-3L questionnaire, and Global Perceived Effect scale. The intervention included therapies such as hydrotherapy and ayurveda for approximately 40% of the time. Multivariable regression analyses (controlled for variation due to age, gender, education, and baseline scores) demonstrated that treatment satisfaction positively predicted favorable health outcomes. Participant satisfaction with accessibility and convenience of treatment, as well as with communication and time spent with the doctor, positively predicted improvement in health indices such as sleep, digestion, and freedom from headache. In contrast, satisfaction with financial or technical aspects of treatment did not influence outcomes. These findings suggest that to optimize treatment satisfaction and benefits yoga therapy programs should emphasize communication and time spent with the doctor or therapist while aiming for accessibility.

Previously, three yoga breathing practices showed varying short-term effects on heart rate variability (HRV) when studied separately. The present study assessed the effects of the three yoga breathing practices on HRV, respiration, and mood states in a randomized crossover design, compared to two control conditions. There were 42 participants (mean age 23.64 ± 3.66 years, male:female ratio 1:1, with a mean of 43.62 ± 33.04 months of yoga breathing experience). Five sessions (with 15 minutes of intervention) were conducted on separate days in random order: bumblebee yoga breathing, bellows yoga breathing, high-frequency yoga breathing, breath awareness (as an interventional control), and quiet rest (as a noninterventional control). HRV, blood pressure, and respiration were assessed before, during, and after each session, whereas mood state was assessed before and after each session. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc tests showed increased low-frequency power, with a mean breath rate of 4 breaths per minute in bumblebee yoga breathing (where breathing was very slow, deep, and inhalation was shorter than exhalation), whereas in bellows yoga breathing (deep breathing, inhalation longer than exhalation, and marginal slowing) the root mean square of successive differences increased. In contrast, during high-frequency yoga breathing (where breathing was rapid, deep, and inhalation was longer than exhalation) root mean square of successive differences decreased (all comparisons were with the preceding state; p < 0.05). Pleasant and positive mood states increased following bumblebee yoga breathing, while pleasant mood states increased and negative mood states decreased following breath awareness. Bumblebee yoga breathing and bellows yoga breathing appeared to increase vagally mediated HRV, whereas high-frequency yoga breathing reduced it. As the participants were yoga-experienced and only short-term effects were reported, generalizability of the results is limited to experienced practitioners and acute effects.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a typical, organ-specific, autoimmune disease characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of the thyroid gland. The most common symptoms are cold intolerance, fatigue, weight gain, joint pain, depression, and menstrual irregularities. A mind-body add-on intervention like yoga may be effective in managing the symptoms of HT. A 32-year-old married female diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis presented with symptoms of fatigue, lethargy, cold intolerance, weight gain, constipation, painful menstruation, excessive blood loss in menstruation, dry skin, and indigestion. After obtaining informed consent, the subject started yoga practice along with standard medical treatment. After the 6-month yoga and medical intervention, the results showed a reduction in TSH levels (67.29%), anti-TPO antibodies (11.45%), BMI (5.29%), systolic blood pressure (21.33%), total cholesterol (8.92%), depression (80.95%), anxiety (85.71%), and stress (90.47%). Additionally, improvements in diastolic blood Pressure (8.11%), hemoglobin level (16.84%), T3 (1.38%), T4 (4.22%), sleep quality (73.33%), and overall quality of life (68.39%) were noted. Positive changes in physiological and psychological variables were seen in this individual with Hashimoto's thyroiditis after 6 months of yoga practice concurrent with standard treatment. However, the case report cannot quantify the contribution of yoga therapy alone. Randomized controlled trials that account for the effects of medication are needed in large populations to determine the true contribution of yoga in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

This observational study analyzed data from the Yoga Outpatient Department register at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, over a 5-year period (2019-2023) to assess the demographics and medical conditions of presenting patients. The study included 2,819 new patients. Disorders were classified using the ICD-10 diagnostic system, and lifestyle was classified based on individuals' self-report. The majority of patients (80.9%) described their lifestyle as moderately active. Musculoskeletal disorders were the most prevalent medical condition, accounting for 37.2% of cases, followed by mental and behavioral disorders at 19.3%. These findings provide valuable insights into the demographic profile of patients attending the Yoga Outpatient Department that can facilitate tailored healthcare delivery and highlight key areas for future research and intervention.

A previous study reported an exclusive increase in positive mood states with backward-bending postures, with some changes common to both forward- and backward-bending postures, in 11 yoga beginners. To further determine any unique effects of forward- or backward-bending postures, the present trial examined six yoga postures in 64 yoga-experienced participants (mean age 22.81 ± 2.01; male-to-female ratio 24:40). We assessed mood states (Brief Mood Introspection Scale), relaxation (Relaxation State Questionnaire), and attention (Letter-Digit Substitution Test) before and after six yoga postures performed on 6 separate days in random order. There were two forward-bending postures (forward sitting, or seated forward bend, and forward standing, or hand-to-foot pose), two backward-bending postures (backward sitting, or camel pose, and backward standing, or half-wheel pose), and two control postures (control sitting, or easy pose, and control standing, or mountain pose), each done for 90 seconds. Both forward sitting/seated forward bend and forward standing/hand-to-foot increased peppy feelings and decreased drowsy feelings (p < 0.05 in all cases, repeated-measures ANOVA). Both backward sitting/camel and backward standing/half-wheel increased feeling calm and active. Forward sitting/seated forward bend increased feeling happy and content, whereas backward standing/half-wheel increased content and loving feelings. Control sitting/easy pose alone decreased feeling gloomy and drowsy and increased overall relaxation. All postures increased net attempts (suggesting enhanced attention) in the Letter-Digit Substitution Test, while forward standing/hand-to-foot alone decreased incorrect attempts (indicating enhanced accuracy). The results suggest that both forward- and backward-bending yoga postures have unique as well as common effects on mood states. Specific yoga postures may be selected to modify mood states, while research in clinical populations would support therapy applications.

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of falls and fractures. Upper-extremity fractures because of forward falls are common in women in their 50s and 60s, but little research has focused on the potential fall and injury risk factors within this age bracket and ways to mitigate the risks. Yoga is a promising intervention for older women to improve balance, muscle strength, and upper-body reactions for a safer fall landing. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of a hatha Balance Flow Yoga class on forward fall and injury risk factors in postmenopausal women. Thirty-six women between the ages of 50 and 70 participated in an intervention study where they were tested at baseline (base), 12 weeks after a control period (pre), and again 12 weeks after participating in the group-based yoga intervention offered twice per week (post). Outcome measures included fall risk factors (balance, balance confidence, lower-body strength, and dual task) and forward fall injury risk factors (upper-body strength, range of motion, and response time). Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance found a significant time improvement in fall risk factors and forward fall injury risk factors (p = 0.004). Specifically, there was significant improvement in balance (one-leg stand), lower-body strength (30-second sit to stand), and upper-body response time after the intervention. Tailoring yoga classes for older women to focus on improving fall-related risk factors may help to provide effective options to improve their ability to prevent serious consequences of fall-related injury.

Techniques for rapid blood pressure modification without the side-effects associated with pharmaceuticals are urgently needed, especially for individuals with spinal cord injuries above thoracic level six (T6). Such cervical injuries lead to sympathetic nervous system dysfunction, negatively affecting cardiovascular health and quality of life. Our biofeedback protocol aimed to teach participants to self-modulate their blood pressure using yoga breathwork (kapalabhati and brahmari pranayama), virtual reality imagery, autogenics, and interoceptive attention. In this cohort study, we trained 13 participants with spinal cord injuries and 7 noninjured controls for 1 hour per session across 8 sessions in a month. The goal was to decrease mean arterial pressure by at least 5 mmHg during relaxation cycles and increase it by at least 5 mmHg during stimulation cycles. We assessed hemodynamic responses to head-up tilt testing, the Valsalva maneuver, and paced deep breathing before and after the 8 trainings and evaluated quality of life and interoception with qualitative surveys. Heart rate variability changes were also assessed. The protocol was effective in modulating mean arterial pressure and heart rate variability in individuals with chronic cervical spinal cord injuries, as well as in noninjured control participants.

Yoga and meditation are increasingly recognized for enhancing physical and mental well-being. However, there is limited research on university lecturers' perceptions and willingness to incorporate these practices into their day-to-day teaching and learning activities. The present study explored the benefits of yoga and meditation perceived by university lecturers and their willingness to engage in these practices. A cross-sectional study involving 162 university lecturers selected through convenience sampling was conducted at a university in North India. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed and validated as part of this study. The questionnaire comprised demographic information, perceived benefits, and willingness to practice yoga and meditation. The questionnaire underwent reliability and content validity testing, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.854-0.881. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests were used to analyze the data. More than 95% of respondents perceived positive impacts of yoga and meditation on physical and mental health, stress reduction, sleep quality, immune system strength, self-awareness, work-life balance, and job satisfaction. Despite these positive perceptions, only 11.1% of respondents practiced yoga and meditation daily. However, 89.8% expressed willingness to participate in university-provided sessions. The university lecturers recognized the significant benefits of yoga and meditation, yet their regular practice remained limited. The high willingness to engage in these practices suggests the potential for successfully implementing structured yoga and meditation programs within university settings. Future research should explore long-term impacts and tailor interventions to address specific demographic needs, potentially enhancing well-being and job satisfaction among academic staff.

Yoga is associated with a spectrum of health benefits (e.g., flexibility, balance, strength, and stress management) in diverse populations. Fewer studies have explored yoga's relationship with body composition; this is the first study investigating the effect of yoga on body composition in collegiate athletes. We enrolled 14 Division 1 female athletes (age 18-22) who were active competitors in either track and field or cross-country running. All subjects underwent baseline body composition testing using a Fit3D imaging device. We recorded body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 7) or control group (n = 7). The experimental group participated in 60 minutes of in-person, guided yoga twice weekly. After 4 weeks, both experimental and control groups underwent follow-up testing. Differences in body composition changes were assessed using paired-sample and independent-sample t tests as appropriate. There were no differences between groups at baseline (p > 0.130). At follow-up, trending differences were observed between groups in body fat percentage (p = 0.073), waist circumference (p = 0.080), and hip circumference (p = 0.057). Participants in the yoga intervention experienced reductions in waist circumference (p = 0.021) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.020). Control subjects experienced increases over time in body fat percentage (p = 0.017), waist circumference (p = 0.036), and hip circumference (p = 0.002). These results indicate that yoga may have a protective effect against adverse changes in adiposity. Accordingly, trainers, coaches, and clinicians may consider incorporating yoga practice as a weight-management tool. Future research should examine whether these results are consistent in larger and more heterogeneous samples.

Chronic primary pain is persistent pain that leads to emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. It cannot be explained by any alternative diagnosis and disrupts daily functioning, including sleep and social activities. The present meta-analysis evaluated the impact of yoga on depression and anxiety in people with chronic primary pain; we also evaluated yoga's effect on pain, quality of life, adherence, and adverse effects. Randomized controlled trials involving patients with chronic primary pain and utilizing yoga as an intervention were included. The databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Ovid were searched to extract participant demographics, intervention characteristics, outcomes, and study quality. Data synthesis involved random-effects meta-analysis for effect sizes and subgroup analyses based on control groups. Among the six trials involving 382 subjects, yoga significantly improved depression (standard mean difference -1.54), anxiety (standard mean difference -1.56), pain (mean difference -1.56), and quality of life (standard mean difference -1.26) compared to controls; no significant adverse events were observed. Yoga has a positive effect on levels of depression, anxiety, and pain in people with chronic primary pain, improving their quality of life. The grade of evidence for depression and anxiety ranged from low to very low; however, in comparisons with active and passive control groups, yoga may serve as a valuable nonpharmacological intervention for managing both physiological and psychological symptoms in patients with chronic primary pain, complementing standard medical care. Future studies should explore the optimal duration/ frequency of yoga practices, along with different types of yoga practices and yoga traditions, which may help to formulate delivery models for chronic primary pain management.