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| Dr. Susan Turner |
Over the past several years, yoga has become mainstream. Up to 7.5 percent of American adults admit to having practiced yoga at one point in their lives. According to the American Psychological Association, over 15 million adults regularly practice yoga in the United States.
Psychiatrists are also increasingly turning to this form of therapy as a complementary, long-term health care alternative to pharmaceutical prescriptions. This is supported by a broad array of medical research that has linked yoga to a reduction in depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and mood swings, while improving group collectivity.
Psychiatrists attribute yoga’s stress management properties to the reduction of the hormone cortisol and its effects on the sympathetic nervous system, modulating the body’s stress response mechanism. This reduces psychological arousal, lowering the heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.
By practicing yoga, patients can increase their mind-body awareness, helping them to adjust their behavioral habits based on their feelings.
