Depression Treatment Allies with Yoga over Medications for Anti-depression

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 3, 2006 -- Research has shown that some form of depression treatment medication is offered to over 20 million Americans annually. However, what could be the main cause of concern are the many side effects common to most anti-depression drugs. Consequently, Bodyhealthsoul.com, an alternative health website, founded by an independent researcher and author, Foras Aje, now features a webpage illustrating the use of Yoga as an alternative for depression treatment.

With the use of his website, Aje seeks to enlighten the public on the use of Yoga poses for anti-depression as he believes it may have many beneficial effects on the emotional well-being of depression sufferers- without the side effects of conventional depression treatment medicines. These side effects may include nausea, fatigue, insomnia and even sexual dysfunctions.

Taking these factors into consideration, Aje suggests that the use of Yoga may go far beyond being just a form of physical exercise as it may be a welcome choice for depression treatment. His research shows that with Yoga, alpha waves (relaxation) and theta waves (unconscious memory, dreams and emotions) tend to increase significantly after its execution. This finding is based on a Scandinavian study conducted by Eric Hoffman, Ph.D., that measured brain waves before and after a two-hour Yoga class.

It illustrated that the brain is more relaxed after yoga and the students had better contact with their subconscious and emotions. This may be a breakthrough for depression treatment because after the yoga class, alpha waves increased in the right temporal region of the brain as other studies have shown that people with depression tend to have more alpha activity in the left frontal-temporal region, while optimistic, extroverted people have more alpha activity on the right.

Since Yoga has several poses for practice, to accomplish an effective treatment of depression through its use, Aje narrows the choices down to three simple ones, these being the Sun Salutations, Shoulder-Stand and Relaxation Poses.

Aje explains that the Sun Salutations stimulates and balances all systems of the body including the endocrine and nervous systems that have marked effects on one’s emotions. Furthermore they induce deep breathing, which has been known over the ages to help alleviate many stressful situations. Performed in multiples of three rounds, the sun salutations actually are a series of easy poses executed in a flowing motion and besides aiding as a depression treatment alternative, they are often recommended for increasing physical fitness and even weight loss if that is an added goal of a patient. They are usually practiced as a warm-up to other Yoga poses during a class or session, but as Aje says “They can stand on their own as a Yoga workout routine for their ease and versatility, so one will not have to spend too much time to accomplish Yoga’s many benefits for depression treatment and overall health.”...

To supplement the use of Yoga poses for the treatment of depression, Aje also suggests an adherence to a proper diet-a limb of Yoga in itself-for aiding the body to become healthier as a whole. “This simple discipline helps Yoga work not only mental health” he says “but for one’s overall well being, which is a very important factor for a successful anti-depression regimen.”

Though it may take a while and more long-term, well-funded studies before doctors are ready to prescribe yoga as depression treatment alternative, Aje still suggests considering the side effects most anti-depression drugs do have, one might do well to mix yoga with positive thinking and a healthy diet along with sources of laughter and good company. He believes it definitely won't hurt and could possibly even lead to a successful depression treatment solution.

About the Foras Aje:

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and author of Fitness: Inside and out, a book on improving physical and mental health naturally. For additional information on depression treatment go to: http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com/depression.htm