Sat Bir KhalsaA growing number of clinical trials are being published investigating to what extent yoga is a benefit for psychological and emotional health. A PubMed search for "yoga and depression" yielded 25 clinical trials published in 2007, 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 relating to yoga and emotional and psychological health. In addition, three review articles and three systematic reviews published during this period investigated the effects of various combinations of yoga, meditation and yogic breathing on mental health.
Sat Bir Khalsa, PhD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School is currently conducting a research study on evaluation of a yoga intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder on veterans of the war in Iraq. This 18 month study is hosted by Brigham and Women’s hospital and is funded through a grant through the Department of Defense.
The 10-week Kripalu-style yoga treatment will consist of 20 biweekly 90-minute group training/practice sessions. In addition, subjects will also receive CD's and written instructions for daily 15-minute sessions, which they will use to guide them through the yoga procedures to be done at home.
The 10-week Kripalu-style yoga treatment will consist of 20 biweekly 90-minute group training/practice sessions. In addition, subjects will also receive CD's and written instructions for daily 15-minute sessions, which they will use to guide them through the yoga procedures to be done at home.
"The main objective of this study is to establish efficacy and feasibility of a yoga-based treatment for PTSD in military veterans. Secondary objectives are to evaluate PTSD characteristics that may also be improved with the treatment and acceptability and compliance with the treatment. "
( ClinicalTrials.gov)
This study began in August of 2009, as its an 18 month study don't expect to read the results for at least another year. There are many factors which gave me cause for celebration when I read about this study. There are a growing number of classes for veteran's with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research must be done to find the most effective techniques within yoga to address this disorder. Not only if a practice is effective in decreasing symptoms, but the safest and best medicinal practice for this specific disorder. There is another huge factor which makes this particular study so compelling. Funding is crucial in order to develop proper research conditions. If the data indicates treatment is beneficial, since the department of defense is funding this research, it's far more likely the the military will be open to using yoga as a form of therapy for it's veteran's.
It's an exciting time and I have high hopes for the very best outcomes.
Wishing peace to everyone.
1 comment:
Modern yoga retreat is said to have begun by the young Swami Vivekananda from India made a deep impression on the American he introduced to. Yoga masters began to travel to the west, attracting attention and followers. In the 1920's, Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India with the life long work of T. Krishnamacharya . Krishnamacharya traveled through India giving demonstrations of yoga poses and opened the first Hatha Yoga School.
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