Can Yoga Really Help with Depression?

I recently asked my students what it is they like about my class and the response I heard most was, "You remind us over and over to breathe and relax our lips!"

You see, we can't hold on and let go.

No and stop it.

Look, our heart knows, ' to pump blood in-out, in-out, in-out.' Therefore, holding our breath isn't something our heart understands. It kinda flips out. Kinda like.. "OMG!!! Am I ever gonna breathe again? What do I do?!?!" Ahhhh!!!

Well now... here is an article I read about Yoga helping with depression. And what did they use in their study? Breathing!

That's right! Breathing! Here try this one.

Aside from all the other good stuff we know about yoga, we can now add.. WITH A REAL STUDY...

That yoga can help with depression. Now, I know from my own experience, yoga saved my life.

Dramatic? Maybe. But yoga helped me when I was living in NYC while I was going through a crap divorce in 2001, then 9/11 and one more time when I had breast cancer. My life turned up side down. I lost my home, my savings and had to move in with my mom.

Here is a list of things yoga can probably help you with:

Yoga can make your posture better

Yoga can improve flexibility

Yoga can help with stress

Yoga can help me get more flexible

Yoga helped me sleep

Yoga can help with injuries

Yoga can increase your blood flow

Yoga can drop your blood pressure

Yoga can regulate your adrenal glands

Yoga can gives your lungs room to breathe

While all of these can are are sometimes true, unless there is research behind it, it is just an example.

Today, I read this great piece that stated "Taking yoga classes can help ease depressive symptoms"

Now we all know that previous studies have shown that yoga increases the production of serotonin - a mood stabilizer in the brain.

However, the study conducted between Harvard University in Massachusetts and Columbia University in New York, found that those with depression reduced their symptoms through the workout. (aka yoga practice)

So what did it take to get these results?

Specifically, they practiced coherent breathing, where you take just five breaths per minute. Now this might sound hard to do.. and it might take some practice, but you can do it!

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