Intervention of Yoga in Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

Yoga is not only an art but also an ancient science that evolved more than 5000 years ago. It is practised by people from all walks of life in almost every part of the world. In the past, the practice, which was seen to be spiritual and divine, used to be confined to smaller groups of individuals who were seeking moksha or liberation; however, the trend has transformed over the decades. Today, there are so many yoga studios worldwide, and this has made it easy for yoga enthusiasts. This chapter investigates the effectiveness of yoga not only as a complementary therapy but also as a viable option in the management of stress, anxiety and depression. Articles were retrieved using PubMed, MEDLINE and PsychInfo databases. The findings reveal that the practice of yoga as a complementary therapy and stand-alone therapy is effective in managing stress, anxiety and depression. However, further research is needed as all the studies reviewed were limited in terms of heterogeneity, sample size, intervention styles, frequency and duration of practice, and also teaching methods. The chapter concludes with suggestions for home practice.