Study: Yoga Helps With Anxiety, Depression

Researchers at the University of Duh! have published a study showing that yoga can help those struggling with anxiety and depression:

Brain scans of yoga practitioners showed a healthy boost in levels of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) immediately after a one-hour yoga session. Low brain levels of GABA are associated with anxiety and depression, the researchers said.

"I am quite sure that this is the first study that's shown that there's a real, measurable change in a major neurotransmitter with a behavioral intervention such as yoga," said lead researcher Dr. Chris Streeter, assistant professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine.

One of the more interesting aspects here was the fact that the type of yoga -- which included hatha, ashtanga, bikram, vinyasa, and kripalu -- didn't seem to matter. Much of the article is actually a slap at the study, suggesting that any movement-based activity might result in the same conclusions.

The study appeared in the May issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

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