08/01/2025
๐ฆ๐ง๐จ๐๐ฌ: Yoga and Anxiety
Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of Kundalini yoga in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) compared to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and stress management education.
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๐งช๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป
Participants: 226 adults diagnosed with GAD
Groups:
โข CBT (structured talk therapy)
โข Kundalini yoga
โข Stress management education (control group)
Duration: 12 weeks of weekly 2-hour group sessions + daily homework
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๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐
* CBT - 71% Meaningful symptom improvement . Most effective, with lasting results at 6-month follow-up.
* Kundalini Yoga - 54% Meaningful symptom improvement. More effective than stress education short-term but not sustained at 6 months.
* Stress Management - 33% Meaningful symptom improvement. Least effective.
Yoga was significantly more effective than stress education in reducing anxiety symptoms after 3 months.
CBT remained superior at the 6-month follow-up, suggesting longer-lasting benefits. Yoga is safe, accessible, and well-tolerated, making it a valuable complementary option for those unable or unwilling to access CBT or take medication.
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๐ง ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
โข Yoga may be a short-term effective tool for managing anxiety, especially for individuals seeking alternative or complementary treatments.
โข Future research should explore which individuals benefit most from yoga, to better personalize treatment plans.
โข Expanding treatment options can help reduce barriers to care and improve engagement with evidence-based therapies.
๐SOURCE: https://nyulangone.org/news/yoga-shown-improve-anxiety-study-finds
