BOSTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) — Yoga may positively affect mood and decrease anxiety — and may be therapeutically beneficial for some mental disorders, U.S. researchers said. Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine say they found a connection between yoga and levels of a neuro-transmitter called gamma-aminobutyric. Increased gamma-aminobutyric availability is linked to greater relaxation, less anxiety and anti-convulsive effects. The study findings, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, indicate those who practice yoga report greater decreases in anxiety...

By Jennifer LaRue Huget Does embracing yoga mean saying goodbye to cheeseburgers? One of the persistent debates in the yoga community is whether yogis should be vegetarian. One side finds evidence in ancient texts that eschewing meat is among the central precepts of yogic tradition. Others find in yoga’s teachings a more inclusive bent, a belief that yoga is for everyone, no matter what they choose to eat. Data seem to support the latter stance. A 2008 “Yoga in America” survey conducted for Yoga Journal magazine found that almost 16 million people in this country practice yoga,...

Three yoga teachers address potentially harmful mistakes and offer easy ways to correct them. By Jeannine Stein Yoga is more than just striking a pose. But how you strike that pose is nonetheless critical. Maintaining correct form is essential not only for building a solid yoga practice but also because improperly doing the same yoga poses repeatedly — even the most basic ones — can lead to strains, sprains and chronic aches. Yet it’s easy to go awry. Many popular classes are overcrowded, making it difficult for teachers to correct every swayed back and hunched shoulder. Read more…