A new study from Boston University indicated that yoga, combined with breathing exercises, really improves symptoms of major depressive disorder. It was the first study to try to identify the optimal “dose”/duration of yoga practice. Participants were split into two groups: one did three 90-minute Iyengar yoga classes and four 30-minute breathwork sessions per week, while the other did two 90-minute Iyengar yoga classes and three 30-minute breathwork sessions…
A new, large meta-review of 60 clinical trials (6,400 participants) showed that mind-body approaches, such as meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy, improved pain in people who have been taking prescription opioids and led to reductions in the drug’s dose. ACCESS STUDY
People Who Nap 1-2 Times a Week 48 Percent Less Likely to Have Heart Attack A new observational study from the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, found that people who nap once or twice a week (for between five minutes and an hour) were 48 percent less likely to have a heart attack, stroke or heart failure than non-nappers. ACCESS THIS STUDY
A large new study shows that people that move around during the day, no matter how modestly, are less likely to die prematurely. It’s a meaningful study because it looked at what people were actually doing via fitness trackers (and not just what they self-reported), and it found that the biggest life expectancy gains came from people that shifted from being almost totally sedentary to…
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania found that music therapy was as effective as a common sedative (midazolam) in reducing anxiety in patients before surgery. The song that was played is called “Weightless” by the band Marconi Union—and you can listen to it here. ACCESS STUDY
A new study indicates that women who exercise while pregnant may bring lasting benefits to their babies. The babies of mothers who exercised while pregnant performed better on a range of motor skills and measurements of how they react and move. And the gains were most notable among baby girls. ACCESS STUDY
