How Yoga Can Help With Anxiety, Research Reveals

 / 

, ,
Yoga Generalized Anxiety Disorder Research

Not many might know this, but if you suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) then yoga can be extremely beneficial for you. Apart from therapy and medication, yoga helps with anxiety and can do wonders for people suffering from the debilitating effects of GAD. International yoga day is near, so let’s discuss how yoga benefits people with anxiety.

The ancient tradition of yoga has been heralded as good medicine for the body. Multiple studies show that yoga helps to regulate blood glucose levels, improve muscle-skeletal ailments, moderate the nervous system, and regulate the cardiovascular system. The pace is slow and steady, and the poses are relatively easy.

Kundalini yoga blends several basics that work directly on physical vitality and increased consciousness: stretching, body poses, controlled breathing, focused attention, mental awareness, and the meditative process.

The basic technique is to stretch and concentrate on holding different postures as you control your breathing. This practice draws you away from ruminating thoughts and worries as you move through poses with names like cobra, archer, or the cat-cow that require balance and concentration. Staying focused on your body and breath gives your brain a long-overdue break.

After just one session, it’s possible to come away with a quieter mind, lighter feeling, refreshed, and clear headed.

The New Study

But how effective is yoga in improving mental health, specifically with regard to conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which includes chronic nervousness and worry? GAD is common, impairing, and undertreated. Although many patients with GAD seek complementary and alternative interventions, including yoga, data supporting yoga’s efficacy or how it compares to first-line treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—a therapeutic approach that helps patients identify and re-frame negative thinking—are lacking.

recent study randomly assigned 226 adults, diagnosed with GAD, to one of three study groups. The goal of the study was to determine whether Kundalini yoga (93 participants) and CBT (90 participants) are each more effective than a control group that included stress education (43 participants) and whether yoga is as effective as CBT for the treatment of GAD.

After three months, groups engaged in either Kundalini yoga or CBT treatment showed greater improvement in GAD symptoms than the stress-education group did, but CBT was more effective than Kundalini yoga. Fully 54 percent of those who practiced yoga met response criteria for meaningfully improved symptoms, compared to 33 percent in the stress-education group.

Of those treated with CBT, 71 percent met these symptom improvement criteria. The investigators concluded that, although yoga seems to be effective for GAD, CBT remains the gold standard treatment.

Related: 6 Yoga Mudras To Heal Common Ailments

Implications of This Study

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, GAD is a common condition affecting 6.8 million adults (3.1 percent of the U.S. population) every year.

People with GAD might overfocus on potential disasters or be overly concerned about money, career, or other issues. The disorder causes unwarranted concerns when there is no apparent evidence for concern. Unfortunately, many sufferers are reluctant or unable to access evidence-based treatments, and many adults are unwilling to take medications for the disorder.

The new study builds on the research to suggest that the popular, available, and inexpensive practice of yoga may be helpful for treating anxiety in adults. According to lead researcher Dr. Naomi Simon, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at New York University’s Langone Health, “Our findings demonstrate that yoga, which is safe and widely available, can improve symptoms for some people with this disorder and could be a valuable tool in an overall treatment plan.”

So, this yoga day 2023, I hope you start a new journey to overcome anxiety disorder with the help of yoga. Happy International Yoga Day!!!

References:

Simon, N.A. et al. (2020). Efficacy of yoga vs cognitive behavioral therapy vs stress education for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 2020 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.2496


Written By Bryan E. Robinson 
Originally Appeared In Psychology Today

If you are someone who has struggled with or is struggling with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, then definitely give yoga a try. Doing yoga takes a bit of patience, but hang in there because it’s benefits can astound you. Try it out and see how better and calm you feel on the inside.

Yoga Generalized Anxiety Disorder Research pin

— Share —

— About the Author —



Up Next

How To Control Obsessive Thoughts: 7 Tips To Embrace Mental Clarity And Find Serenity

Obsess No More: How to Control Obsessive Thoughts Like a Pro

Do you ever feel disturbed by never-ending intrusive and distressing thoughts? Do you feel trapped in a loop of obsessive thoughts that invade your mind? Thoughts that affect your mental peace and keep you from enjoying the present moment? If yes, then it’s time you find out how to control obsessive thoughts.

Obsessive thoughts can be persistent, overwhelming, and exhausting. So let’s explore what are obsessive thoughts, their signs, their causes, and most importantly, effective strategies to gain control over them. 

So, let’s embark on a journey of self-discovery and learn how to tame the wild horses of our minds.

What are Obsessive Thoughts?



Up Next

Waking Up Feeling Anxious In The Morning? How To Deal With Morning Anxiety

Morning Anxiety: How To Deal With Anxiety After Waking Up

Do you experience anxiety after waking up in the morning? A terrible anxiety in the morning you just don’t know how to deal with it? Well, you’ve come to the right place. This article is going to talk about morning anxiety and how to deal with morning anxiety, so that your mornings feel more relaxed, calm and peaceful.

If you commonly wake up in the morning filled with anxiety, you are not alone. Many people wake up with fight-or-flight sensations and feel baffled as to how they can already feel anxious when their feet haven’t even touched the floor yet.

A variety of factors can play a part in morning anxiety: excess stress,



Up Next

13 Ways To Quiet A Worried Mind

Ways To Quiet A Worried Mind

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s easy for our minds to be overloaded with worrisome thoughts. So, how to deal with anxious thoughts? Here are 13 effective ways to quiet a worried mind, offering you the serenity and clarity you need to navigate life’s challenges with ease.

Our minds are basically recorders that play (and replay) their soundtracks all day long, sometimes all night long too. Some people have recordings that tend to be more pleasant and present. Some people’s thinking patterns lean towards the optimistic or realistic side.

Others, not so much. Many people are plagued with worrisome thoughts that lead them to feel chronically stressed, anxious, dep



Up Next

Is Your Child Anxious? 3 Anxiety Symptoms In Children You Shouldn’t Ignore and How To Help

Anxiety Symptoms In Children You Shouldn't Ignore

Does your child struggle with irrational fears and worries? While these could be a normal part of growing up, they could also be signs of something more serious. Let’s take a look at anxiety symptoms in children.

As parents, we often strive to create a safe and nurturing environment for our children, but sometimes, we may overlook the subtle signs of mental health issues that they exhibit. Today, we are going to shed light on what causes anxiety in children, its signs, and how to treat anxiety in children.

By understanding these crucial aspects, we can provide the support and care our children need to navigate their anxiety and flourish.

What is Anxiety in Children?



Up Next

6 Hallmarks Of A High Strung Personality: Navigating The Taut Wire

Signs Of A High Strung Personality

Do you ever feel like you’re wound up like a tight spring? If your answer is yes, then chances are you have a high strung personality. You feel like you are on the edge all the time and only a little flick will throw you off.

Stress and anxiety are your best friends, and no matter how much you may try to relax and let go of your uptight nature, it just doesn’t seem to work. However, don’t think that there’s something wrong with you. You are a perfectly normal human being, who just feels a bit more anxious than other people (stop being too hard on yourself!)

Today, we are going to talk about what does being high strung really means, what causes high strung personality, and how to stop being high strung. Let’s first talk about what is a high strung personality.



Up Next

Debunking Anxiety Myths: 9 False Beliefs About Anxiety That You Shouldn’t Fall For

Anxiety Myths: Lies You've Been Told About Anxiety

Do you often feel anxious or have worries that seem to consume your thoughts? If so, you may be suffering from anxiety. Unfortunately, anxiety is often misunderstood, leading to the perpetuation of various anxiety myths and misconceptions.

Anxiety is a common experience that affects millions of people worldwide. Today, let us delve into the realm of anxiety myths, debunking them one by one to shed light on the truth behind these widely held misconceptions. 

So, let’s embark on this journey together and challenge our preconceived notions about anxiety.

9 Anxiety Myths You Must Know About

Ready to debunk common



Up Next

Know The Key Variances: 7 Major Differences Between Anxiety And Stress

Understanding Major Differences Between Anxiety And Stress

Whenever you feel overwhelmed or frazzled, you tend to chalk it up to being stressed out. Even though it is definitely possible, sometimes there’s more to it than stress. In this article we are going to talk about a couple of differences between anxiety and stress.

Anxiety and stress might appear like two peas in a pod, but they are more like distant cousins at a family gathering. For sure, they have similarities yet each has its own unique symptoms.

So, let’s explore the differences between stress vs anxiety, and find out more about them. But first, let us understand what they mean.