The Science of Yoga: Study by Wellesley faculty member reveals medical benefits

College's faculty yoga specialists, recently co-authored a study examining the psychological benefits of yoga.  The study's conclusion is groundbreaking–for the first time, yoga has been scientifically proven to improve mood and decrease anxiety.  The possible implications for patients suffering from depression are stunning, as it is possible that yoga may someday be prescribed as a substitute for antidepressant drugs.

"It's really exciting," Owen said.  She designed the protocol for the study, created the team of yoga teachers and helped write the study itself.

The study is based on a neurotransmitter in the brain called γ-aminobutyric acid, or GABA.  Decreased levels of GABA are present with depression and anxiety.  The medical community wanted to know how to increase GABA levels in order to combat depression, and Owen and her ten co-authors hypothesized that yoga would serve that exact purpose.

The study was the first of its kind to prove its results with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans.  Within the study, two groups—walkers and yoga practitioners—participated in metabolically matched exercise for one hour, three times a week, for a total of twelve weeks.  The conclusion? "Yoga, just the practice of yoga, increases GABA levels," Owen said.  According to the published study, "The yoga subjects reported greater improvement in mood and greater decreases in anxiety than the walking group [did]."

Owen added that participants said they felt better after practicing yoga.  "The great thing about the study is that yoga is now going to be studied as a modality for the treatment of depression," she said.  The possibilities are extraordinary—considering the difficulties doctors have with prescribing proper medications and doses of antidepressants to patients with depression, establishing yoga as a non-medicated alternative could literally save lives.  Owen indicated that yoga is at least capable of saving individuals with psychological problems from being "spaced out" from drugs.  

"They can be fully present in their own bodies, and fully present in their lives,"  Owen said.  "It can make a huge difference in people's lives.  It's great, the best thing ever."

Of course, yoga isn't only useful as a treatment for depression; Owen recommends it for everyone. "It brings mental and emotional centering and space.  You feel happier after yoga and you feel more contentment.  It's easier to deal with people you work and have relationships with."

With this in mind, it makes sense that yoga is especially beneficial to college students.  "Yoga breathing practices are so easy and so simple," Owen stated.  "You could be sitting in a stressful classroom situation and you could just take a yoga inhale and do a yoga exhale, and it might make a difference."

Elizabeth Campbell '13, an intended psychology major, seconded this idea.  "Having to focus on your breathing is a huge factor in reducing anxiety," she said.  "By controlling your breathing, you reduce your heart rate, which in turn reduces the flow of adrenaline in your bloodstream.  And your muscles can't be tense when your heart rate is really low.

"It kind of cleans your mind out," she added.  "You have to focus on the movements you're doing, your breathing, and maintaining your balance.  It's challenging."

Dorlin Armijo '12 agreed.  "It's really calming to do yoga," she said.  Armijo uses yoga to help her unwind even in the summer, but it's particularly effective during the high-stress school year.  "It helps you think about your body and mind.  It gets you in shape, too—you'd be amazed.  You can lift your body with your arms after a couple of years of yoga."