People with bipolar disorder who practice yoga say it has a powerful, positive influence on their mood and overall well-being, according to a new study published in the
Journal of Psychiatric Practice. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.
Although the study found yoga is "not without risks" for some people with depression —including potential worsening of symptoms, related to bipolar disorder — the benefits outweigh the downsides for many people.
"Some individuals with bipolar disorder believe that yoga has had a significant positive impact on their life." Said lead researcher Lisa A. Uebelacker, M.D., of Butler Hospital and Brown University.
For the study, researchers interviewed nearly 90 individuals with bipolar disorder who are also yoga practitioners and found the majority — 70 — had positive results on a screening questionnaire for manic symptoms.
Two-thirds of respondents said they practiced yoga for exercise and to improve flexibility and reduce stress and anxiety.
Most participants believed that yoga had benefits for their mental and physical health, including reduced anxiety and worry, increased mindfulness, weight loss, more energy, and improved sleep.
But about one-fourth of respondents reported some type of negative effects related to yoga, including physical pain or injury.
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