Study Compares Yoga and Meditation for Anxiety Reduction
Summary
A study in India found that both Hatha yoga and meditation helped reduce anxiety over six weeks, with yoga showing a slightly larger drop in scores. Experts caution that the small, short trial should not be used to treat persistent or severe anxiety without consulting a doctor.
Key Points
- An India-based study compared Hatha yoga, meditation, and a control group to see which method better reduces anxiety.
- After six weeks, anxiety scores fell in both the yoga and meditation groups, while the control group’s score increased slightly.
- The study was small, with only 81 participants and a six-week duration, so its results should not be generalized widely.
- Persistent anxiety, sleep disturbance, or panic-like symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor rather than relying only on yoga or meditation.
