The Connection between Yoga and Mood

Boston University Medical Researchers have conducted an experiment to figure out if practicing yoga would affect their GABA levels. They believe that practicing yoga would give a better effect on mood and anxiety, rather than regular exercise movements, because it was recently proven that in between yoga positions, GABA levels increased and anxiety decreased. (Low levels of GABA usually results in depression.) The experiment that the researchers conducted consisted of two groups of healthy people during a twelve week time period. Before the experiment began, each individual’s brain was scanned using a magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) imaging and everyone was asked to take notes on their psychological state during the twelve weeks. One group of people practiced yoga for an hour three times a week, and the other group of people walked for an hour three times a week. After the last exercising period, the researchers reported the GABA levels of each individual. The results of the experiment were that higher levels of GABA and lower levels of anxiety were detected in the group that practiced yoga three times a week, than the people that walked.

We should care about this topic because knowing that there is a cure for times that are stressful can be very helpful, because some moods can lead to illnesses and with the help of yoga we can fight back and reduce our anxiety levels and come back to a good mood. According to the article, this research can also serve as a possible therapy for specific mental disorders that people may have.

Source: Boston University Medical Center. "New Study Finds New Connection Between Yoga and Mood." Science Daily 23 August 2010. 26 August 2010 .