YOGA RESEARCH SUMMARIES

IAYT members can access monthly summaries of the latest published research on Yoga. The most recent studies are highlighted on this page, and previous summaries are archived by month.

To view the current summaries, as well as to gain access to all archives, members should log in and click "Research Summaries".

If you would like to conduct a search for older studies, or studies on a specific issue (i.e., Yoga and chronic pain), Pub Med offers a free search engine for published medical research, with summaries of over 800 studies on Yoga. IAYT also has compiled extensive bibliographies of print, online, and media resources on a wide range of topics and health conditions.

Research on Meditation  2006

Research on Pranayama  2006

Research on Asana  2006

Research on Mental Health  2006

Research on Yoga and Integrative Medicine  2006

Research  2007

Research  2008

APRIL 2008

This month's updates, accessible to IAYT members, include the following research summaries:
1. Randomized Controlled Trial of Yoga among a Multiethnic Sample of Breast Cancer Patients: Effects on Quality of Life
2. Effects of Yoga on Natural Killer Cell Counts in Early Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Conventional Treatment

SAMPLE RESEARCH SUMMARIES FROM PREVIOUS UPDATES

A randomized controlled trial of meditation and massage effects on quality of life in people with late-stage disease: a pilot study.

Authors: Williams, A.L., Selwyn, P.A., Liberti, L., Molde, S., Njike, V.Y., McCorkle, R., Zelterman, D., & Katz, D.L.
Source: Journal of Palliative Medicine, 5, 939-52. October 2005.
Contact: Send reprint requests to David L. Katz, MD, MPH, Yale Prevention Research Center, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418. 203-732-1266. katzdl@pol.net

Researchers at the Yale Prevention Research Center conducted a randomized, controlled pilot study of Metta meditation, with and without massage, to investigate the independent and synergistic effects on quality of life among patients with AIDS. The two-year study was conducted at a 40-bed nonprofit, skilled nursing facility dedicated to HIV/AIDS care. The authors note that these two interventions - which both foster a sense of connection to others - may be particularly helpful for individuals with AIDS, a disease that is often accompanied by social stigma and isolation. In particular, the authors hypothesized that physical, healing touch can make individuals more receptive to the practice and benefits of meditation.

Over the course of the study, 58 residents (43% women) nearing end-of-life were randomly assigned to either: a) 1 month of meditation, which included a 90-minute introductory instruction, and daily practice to a 15-minute meditation audiocassette, b) 1 month of Swedish massage therapy, 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week, c) 1 month of both meditation and massage, or d) standard care (no intervention).

The following Metta (lovingkindness and forgiveness) meditation was used:

Phrases offering loving-kindness to self:
May I be free from danger
May I be well
May I be happy
May I be peaceful

Phrases offering loving-kindness to others:
Just as I wish to be free from danger, may you be free from danger
Just as I wish to be well, may you be well
Just as I wish to be happy, may you be happy
Just as I wish to be peaceful, may you be peaceful

Phrases offering forgiveness to self:
For all of the ways I have hurt or harmed myself, knowingly or
unknowingly, I offer forgiveness.

Phrases offering forgiveness to others:
I forgive you for whatever you have done, intentionally or unintentionally-
through your actions, words, even through your thoughts. Through what
you did, and what you failed to do. However the pain came to me through
you, I forgive you.

Phrases asking forgiveness of others:
I ask that you forgive me for whatever I may have done, intentionally or
unintentionally, through my words, my actions, or even through my
thoughts. However I may have hurt or injured you-I ask your forgiveness.

Importantly, the study provided ongoing access to the meditation instructor, so that participants could ask questions about the meditation process, or discuss their experiences.

The study measured five dimensions of well-being at three time points: 1) before the intervention, 2) 8 weeks (one month following the intervention), and 3) 68 weeks (long-term follow-up for those participants still living). 41 residents completed full study; the other 17 participants experienced a decline in mental status, left the facility for more intensive care or to prepare for death, or died while in care at the center.

Results: Only the combined intervention group (meditation plus massage) showed significant improvements in well-being at the 8-week follow-up. In particular, the combined intervention group showed improvement in function, interpersonal well-being, and spiritual well-being. These benefits seemed to persist at the longest follow-up (68 weeks). Both the meditation-only and massage-only groups maintained or improved function, while the standard-care control group showed a decline.

These results suggest that meditation and touch therapy complement each other in end-of-life and advanced-illness care. This is an important idea for both individual yoga therapists, who may be able to supplement instruction with manual/touch therapies or collaborate with other therapists, and for program development at hospitals, hospice centers, and other healing centers.

Effect of a gentle Iyengar yoga program on gait in the elderly: an exploratory study.

Authors: DiBenedetto, M., Innes, K.E., Taylor, A.G., Rodeheaver, P.F., Boxer, J.A., Wright, H.J., & Kerrigan, D.C.
Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 86, 1830-1837. September 2005.
Contact: Send reprint requests to D. Casey Kerrigan, MD, MS, Dept of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 545 Ray C. Hunt Dr, Ste 240, Charlottesville, VA 22908.

Researchers at the University of Virginia's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation tested the effects of a specially-designed yoga program on age-related changes in gait (walking) in a healthy senior population. 19 healthy adults (62-83 years old), all new to yoga, were participated in an 8-week Iyengar yoga program (two 90-minute yoga classes per week) specifically tailored to seniors, and designed to improve lower-body strength and flexibility. Participants were also asked to complete at least 20 minutes of home practice on alternate days.

Each group session included yoga postures and breathing exercises adapted for beginners and seniors. Yoga postures included: surya namaskar (modified sun salutations using a chair and props), virasana (hero pose), vajrasana (thunderbolt pose), tadasana (mountain pose), table pose (including leg-lifts), parsvotanasana (flank stretch), virabhadrasana (warrior pose), salabasana (locust pose), padangusthasana (holding the big toe pose), supta padangusthana (holding the big toe lying down pose), uttitha hasta padangustasana (extended holding the big toe pose), supta baddha konasana (lying down bound angle pose), eka pada bhekasana (one-leg frog pose), raja kapotasana (pigeon or hip stretch pose), and shavasana (corpse pose). Consistent with an Iyengar asana practice, props (blankets, chairs, blocks) were used in many postures.

Researchers examined pre- and post-intervention changes in peak hip extension, average anterior pelvic tilt, and stride length at comfortable walking speed. Peak hip extension and stride length significantly increased, and there was a marginally-significant trend toward reduced average pelvic tilt. Participants who completed the home yoga practices were more likely to show this improvement Both the frequency and duration of yoga home practice predicted changes in hip extension and average pelvic tilt, suggesting that home practice is an important part of yoga interventions.