Yoga and Psychological and Physiological Health

The Effects of Yoga on Psychological and Physiological Health in a Population Based Cohort

This study aims to evaluate the benefits of yoga as a 'mind-body' practice, by measuring it's effects on health-related psychological and physiological variables. The study also aims to investigate whether an association exists between subjective (psychological) and objective (physiological) measures, with a particular focus on stress as the primary outcome.

Stress and worry in everyday life are common features of Western society. Stress is a biological mechanism tapping the fight-or-flight-response via activation of the sympathetic nervous system. When exposed to stress during prolonged periods of time, the immune system is affected, leading to physiological as well as psychosocial problems. The consequences of untreated high stress can not only turn into reduced job capacity, and work roles conflicts, but also into cardiovascular disease, and mental illness such as an anxiety disorder or/and depression.

One common and recommended strategy to manage stress is to exercise regularly. Yoga is an umbrella term for a wide variety of physical, mental, and spiritual practices with its roots in ancient India. Most previous research on the health effects of yoga has demonstrated benefits on psychological health factors including mental stress, anxiety, depression and sleep problems.

The aim of the study is thus to investigate the effects of two types of yoga intervention on psychological and physiological health.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A score on four items of the Perceived Stress Scale between 8-16, thereby indicating a current stress experience of at least moderate level.
• Ability to participate in the intervention during the time-period.
• Comprehensive in Swedish.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ongoing yoga practice or any regular practice of yoga or meditation within the last 6 months.
• Any known physical limitations that may prevent light physical activity (yoga postures).
• Current psychological or psychopharmacological treatment.
• Inability to attend more than 5 of the scheduled 10 yoga sessions.