A new clinical trial suggests that a combination of mindfulness meditation and gentle yoga may aid in reducing the discomfort of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
In the study, test subjects who were assigned mindfulness training saw greater improvement in IBS symptoms over a three month period than those assigned to a support group. These findings suggest that mindfulness training should be an option for treating IBS.
You can learn more about the study here.
In a news release by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Rachel Rohde stated that “Women who are expecting can benefit greatly from exercise, especially yoga — they just need to be aware of their limitations. A pregnant woman’s body goes through a lot of changes that will alter the way she practices yoga, whether she is a veteran or a beginner.” The AAOS concluded that overall, the benefits of a yoga regimen outweigh the risks for pregnant women. However, the organization stressed that maintaining correct alignment is critical to ensuring general safety and avoiding muscle or joint injury. The AAOS says that if performed properly, yoga affords expectant mothers a good opportunity to build strength and flexibility, while achieving a measure of relaxation and breath control.
Read the AAOS News Release Here.
A new study performed at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York has demonstrated that a routine composed gentle hatha yoga, pranayama, visualization and guided meditation can have dramatic results for cancer survivors. Study participants that practiced the prescribed yoga plan reported a 22% increase in sleep quality as well as a significant increase in quality of life and decreases in fatigue and and daytime sleepiness.
You can learn more about the study here: University of Rochester Medical Center
A 2005 study conducted by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) revealed that a moderate regimen of Hatha Yoga (three 55-minute classes per week for 8 weeks) had significant positive benefits in the areas of flexibility, balance and muscular strength and endurance. It also showed no significant benefits toward pulmonary function or aerobic capacity. A follow-up study was done that compared the physiological effects of Hatha yoga with those of Power yoga. The results of these study can be found here.
Researchers at OSU have shown that small amounts of yoga and meditation in the workplace lowered feelings of stress and improved sleep quality in sedentary office workers. (Big shocker!) Find out more here.
OSU Researchers have found that a regular yoga practice may reduce levels of the cytokine interleukin-6, an inflammation promoting protein produced by the immune system. Said one researcher: ““Hopefully, this means that people can eventually learn to respond less strongly to stressors in their everyday lives by using yoga and other stress-reducing modalities.” Find out more here.
New research shows that doing some moderate exercise, including yoga, in later life could reduce your risk of cognitive impairment by as much as 40%. The research, conducted by an MD at the Mayo clinic and colleagues, results were published in the January Archives of Neurology. Find out more here.
A dated, but fascinating study reported in the British Medical Journal finds “a highly significant improvement in the number of attacks per week and drug treatment scores in the patients who practised yoga.” Available in pdf format. Find it here.
From the British Medical Journal: yoga mantra practice and rosary prayer both caused striking, powerful, and synchronous increases in existing cardiovascular rhythms when recited six times a minute. Text of the research is available in pdf form. Find it here.
Research into the effectiveness of yoga in treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is a pdf that I downloaded from the Journal of the American Medical Association. Find it here.