Oakridge Yoga & Wellness

While researchers with Boston University completed the first study to try to identify the optimal “dose” / duration of yoga practice, they discovered that yoga combined with breathing exercises improves symptoms of major depressive disorder.

The trial split participants into two groups: one did three 90-minute Iyengar yoga classes and four 30-minute breathwork sessions per week; the other did two 90-minute Iyengar yoga classes and three 30-minute homework sessions per week. Sleep quality, energy, positivity, and anxiety and depression symptoms significantly improved within a month for both groups – and significant additional improvement was observed at three months.

Iyengar yoga is a form of Hatha yoga that emphasizes perfecting form and is appropriate for people at any age or fitness level. Classes have a slow and deliberate pace and the focus is on proper alignment and healing the body.