A yoga intervention for young adults with elevated symptoms of depression

METHODS: Twenty-eight young adults pre-screened for mild levels of depression were randomly assigned to a yoga course or a wait-list control group. Subjects in the yoga group attended two 1-hour Iyengar yoga classes each week for 5 consecutive weeks. The classes emphasized yoga postures thought to alleviate depression, particularly back bends, standing poses, and inversions. RESULTS: Subjects who participated in the yoga course demonstrated significant decreases in self-reported symptoms of depression and trait anxiety. These effects emerged by the middle of the yoga course and were maintained by the end.