In a clinical trial conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital, adults with moderate-to-severe depression experienced a 50% reduction in symptoms after participating in heated yoga sessions. The trial, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, suggests that heated yoga could be a potential treatment option for depression. Participants in the yoga group had significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms compared to the control group. In addition, 59.3% of yoga participants had a 50% or greater decrease in symptoms, with 44% achieving remission. The study also found that even receiving only half the prescribed yoga sessions still resulted in symptom reduction. The study’s authors are planning further research to explore the specific contributions of heat and yoga to the observed effects on depression. The heated yoga sessions were well-received by participants, with no serious adverse effects reported. The study was supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2023/10/heated-yoga-may-reduce-depression-in-adults/