the absolute yoga

Reducing stress People often practice yoga to reduce stress and aid relaxation. Scientists are now learning the mechanisms behind how yoga lowers stress. Persistent surges of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, may damage blood vessels and elevate blood pressure. However, research has shown that people who practice yoga regularly have low cortisol levelsTrusted Source. Studies have also found that practicing yoga for at least 3 months may lower cortisol and perceived stressTrusted Source and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause inflammation. Relieving anxiety Although most people feel anxious from time to time, anxiety is also a symptom of many conditions, including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and phobias. A 2016 meta-analysisTrusted Source found that practicing Hatha yoga had a promising effect on anxiety. Yoga was also most beneficial in people who had the highest levels of anxiety at the start of the studies. An older study from 2010Trusted Source demonstrated that yoga improved mood and anxiety levels more than walking. The researchers suggest that this was due to higher levels of the brain chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA activity tends to be lower in people with anxiety and mood disorders. The researchers tested GABA activity and found that yoga increased GABA levels in the participants. Managing depression Major depression affects around 17.3 millionTrusted Source adults in the U.S. in any given year. Although medication and talk therapy are common treatments for depression, yoga has had some promising results as a complementary therapy. A 2017 systematic review found that yoga could reduce depressive symptoms in many populations, including people with depressive disorder, pregnant and postpartum women, and caregivers. Research from 2017Trusted Source looked at people with depression that had not responded well to antidepressants. Decreasing lower back pain Lower back pain affects around 80%Trusted Source of adults at some point in their lives, and it affects their ability to perform daily tasks, exercise, and sleep. Yoga may be a convenient and inexpensive way to provide some relief. Improving quality of life during illness Prostate cancer Stroke Ulcerative colitis Rheumatoid arthritis