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22 Sep 2014
New research undertaken to explore benefits and drawbacks of hatha yoga for bipolar sufferers
BY
Chris Dodd
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A number of respondents reported positive benefits from hatha yoga
photo: Shutterstock.com/aerogondo2
A new research scheme has set out to explore the positive and negative impacts of hatha yoga on those suffering from bipolar disorder, with the investigation being led by the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in the United States. The lead author of the study, Lisa Uebelacker, has stated that there is currently no scientific literature exploring the impact of the yoga practice on bipolar sufferers, while the results from the first phase of research have been published in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.
The first phase saw 70 people answer the study's online survey asking about how yoga has impacted on the lives of sufferers of the disorder.
"There is reason to think that there are ways in which it might be wonderful and ways in which it might not be safe,” said Uebelacker. “We are interested in studying hatha yoga for bipolar as an adjunctive treatment to pharmacotherapy."
Respondents of the survey were largely in favour of yoga, with sufferers alluding to the benefits of the practice. When asked the question: "What impact do you think yoga has on your life?", a large majority of people were positive – with around one in five respondents characterising yoga as "life changing.”
It was found that twenty-nine other respondents believed yoga decreased anxiety and had other emotional benefits. People also felt that it promoted calm feelings, with 23 participants reporting beneficial impacts on the symptoms of mania. Other positives included distraction from depressive thoughts and increased clarity of thought.
However, in relation to bipolar disorder, some people did report issues with hatha yoga, though it was a noticeably smaller percentage than those experiencing benefits.
For example, five respondents cited cases whereby rapid or energetic breathing made them feel agitated, while one person felt it was too relaxing and this was problematic when they were already in a depressed state.
Others alluded to the physical pain sometimes caused by yoga, with nods also being made to self-criticism after yoga sessions.
“There is clearly evidence that yoga seems to be a powerful practice for some individuals with BD (bipolar disorder)," researchers added. “It was striking that some of our respondents clearly believed that yoga had a major positive impact on their lives.”
Increasing amounts of evidence has drawn links between exercise and the potential treatment of mental, psychiatric and behavioural disorders.
One recent study has shown how exercise could help stave off depression in older men, while another investigation has highlighted findings showing that physically fit schoolgirls are less prone to the development of fluctuating moods.
Elsewhere, a trial has revealed that exercise before school could help to reduce symptoms of ADHD in children.
In terms of hatha yoga, work published in the The Journals of Gerontology has suggested that the form of exercise could help to improve the cognitive function of sedentary, older adults.
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