Effect of Yoga on Mental Health: An Overview

Komal Kumari; Sweta Pathak

doi:10.21760/jaims.9.11.26

Komal Kumari Research Scholar, P. G. Department of Psychology, T. M. Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.
Sweta Pathak Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, T. N. B. College Bhagalpur, Bihar, India.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21760/jaims.9.11.26

Keywords: Yoga, Mental health, Well-being, Mental illness

Abstract

Self as well as community development depends on mental health, which is a fundamental human right. Mental health problems can affect our thought pattern, mood states and different types of behaviors at every stage of life. A state of mental well-being is known as mental health which enables individuals to fulfill their potential, learn new skills and work productively, overcome obstacles of the life, and contribute back to their communities. This review assessed the effectiveness of Yoga as an intervention for improving mental health and its different aspects. The present review carried out from databases including Google scholar and PubMed using key terms Yoga, mental health, and well-being. Only randomized control trials and experimental studies were included based on their relevance. Inappropriate and qualitative studies were excluded from the present review. On the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria, only seven studies published between 2014 and 2024 have been included for this review. Overall, the studies showed that comprehensive Yoga program is an effective tool to manage different aspects of mental health. The review suggests that Yoga and its various techniques shows considerable improvement in mental health and its various aspects. Yoga is the key to accomplishing both emotional and physical well-being.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

SAMHSA (Substance abuse and mental health service administration). What is mental health? https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health; April, 2023

American psychiatric association (Nov, 2022). What is mental illness? https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness

Galderisi S, Heinz A, Kastrup M, Beezhold J, Sartorius N. Toward a new definition of mental health. World psychiatry: official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA); 2015; 14: 231–233. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20231

Meghrajani VR, Marathe M, Sharma R, Potdukhe A, Wanjari MB, Taksande AB. A Comprehensive Analysis of Mental Health Problems in India and the Role of Mental Asylums. Cureus; 2023; 15: e42559. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.42559

India-state level disease burden initiative mental disorders collaborators. The burden of mental disorders across the states of India: the global burden of disease study 1990-2017. The Lancet Psychiatry; 2020; 7: 148-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30475-4

Centers for Disease control and prevention. Mental Health. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm; April, 2023

Miller R. Yoga Therapy: Definition, perspective and principles. The international association of Yoga Therapist. https://www.iayt.org/page/YogaTherapyDefinitio; n.d.

Basavaraddi IV. Yoga: its origin, history and development. Ministry of external affairs.https://www.mea.gov.in/search-result.htm?25096/Yoga:_su_origen,_historia_y_desarrollo; 2015

Taspinar B, Aslan UB, Agbuga B, Taspinar F. A comparison of the effect of Hatha Yoga and resistance exercise on mental health and well-being in sedentary adults: a pilot study. Complementary therapies in medicine; 2023; 22: 433-440.

Rathod T, Vishwakarma S. A comparative study on mental health and personality among Yoga and non-Yoga practitioners. Indian Journal of humanities and social sciences; 2022; 3: 7-13.

Chang TF, Ley BL, Ramburn TT, Srinivasan S, Hariri S, Purandare P, Subramaniam B. Online Isha Upa Yoga for student mental health and well-being during COVID-19: A randomized control trial. Applied psychology. Health and well-being; 2020; 14: 1408-1428.

Immink MA, Hillier S, Petkov J. Randomized controlled trial of Yoga for chronic poststroke hemiparesis: motor function, mental health, and quality of life outcomes. Topics in stroke rehabilitation; 2014; 21: 256–271. https://doi.org/10.1310/tsr2103-256

Baklouti S, Fekih-Romdhane F, Guelmami N, Bonsaksen T, Baklouti H, Aloui A, Masmoudi L, Souissi N, Jarraya M. The effect of web-based Hatha Yoga on psychological distress and sleep quality in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Complementary therapies in clinical practice; 2023; 50: 101715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101715

Adhikari M, Rathi A. Comparison of mental health between yogic and non-yogic school students. Journal of survey in fisheries sciences; 2023; 10: 4382-4389.

Dubey P, Sarva M, Singh PP. The application of Yoga on effective mind body and stress reduction among students. 10.13140/RG.2.2.30696.60169; 2021

Kumar P. Effect of Yoga on mental health of adolescents. International journal of science and consciousness; 2016; 2: 6-12.

Tiwari GK. Yoga and mental health: An under relationship. The international journal of Indian psychology; 2021; 4: 20-31.

Ray BI. A mechanism model for Yoga as a preventive and therapeutic modality. International journal of Yoga; 2021; 14: 152-157. 10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_136_20.

Streeter CC, Whitfield TH, Owen L, Rein T, Karri SK, Yakhkind A, Perlmutter R, Prescot A, Renshaw PF, Ciraulo DA, Jensen JE. Effects of Yoga versus walking on mood, anxiety, and brain GABA levels: a randomized controlled MRS study. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.); 2010; 16: 1145–1152. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2010.0007

Riley D. Hatha Yoga and the treatment of illness. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine; 2004; 10: 20-21.

Kabat-Zinn J. Mindfulness-based interventions in context: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice; 2003; 10: 144-156.

Streeter CC, Whitfield TH, Owen L, Rein T, Karri SK, Jensen JE. Effects of Yoga on the autonomic nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and allostasis in epilepsy, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Medical Hypotheses; 2012; 78: 571-579.

Field T. Yoga clinical research review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice; 2011; 17: 1-8.

Balkrishna A. Yog in Synergy with Medical Science. Haridwar, India: Divya Prakashan; 2007.

Kozasa EH, Santos RF, Rueda AD, BeneditoSilva AA, De Ornellas FL, Leite JR. Evaluation of Siddha Samadhi Yoga for anxiety and depression symptoms: a preliminary study. Psychological Reports; 2008; 103: 271-274.

Kaushik RM, Kaushik R, Mahajan SK, Rajesh V. Effects of mental relaxation and slow breathing in essential hypertension. Complementary Therapies in Medicine; 2006; 14: 120-126.