International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159) Volume: 6 (Suppl), November 2017 Yoga Therapy in Anxiety and Depression: A Clinical Round Up Annapoorna K 1, Vasanthalaxmi K 2, Govardhan Reddy G 1, Lavya Shetty 1 1. Division of Yoga, CIMR, Manipal University, Karnataka. Email:
[email protected] 2. Associate Professor, Department of Phisiology, Kasturba Medical Collage, Manipal University, Karnataka. Abstract Anxiety and Depression are recognized as common, serious disorders and debilitating mental health problems in the changing social context and are afflicting adolescents and student population to a large extent. Lifetime prevalence increases drastically from 1% of the population under age 12 years to 17–25% of the population by the end of adolescence, with an increase in cases in age-group of 15–18 years. Yoga therapy practice includes clinical yoga, which involves evidence based yoga techniques, such as asana , pranayama and meditation and relaxation . Yoga therapy appears to be a promising treatment in anxiety and depression. Anxiety and Yoga Therapy The following yoga therapy 5,6,7,8 for one hour daily may be beneficial in patients Anxiety is the normal reaction of an suffering from anxiety. organism to a stressor, may be external or internal. The anxiety reaction has Physical postures: Swastikasana , Parivrt- physiological and psychological atadasana, Trikonasana, Bhujangasana. components, mediated by the adrenergic Breathing practices: Anulomaviloma neurotransmitter system. 1 Pranayama, Bhramari Pranayama. Meditation practice: Nadanusandhana Yoga therapy is a practical discipline, Dhyana. offers a good tool for anxiety management Relaxation practice: Makarasana, and relaxation. A general feature of yoga Shavasana. practices is their capability of inducing a coordinated psycho physiological Asanas should be practiced with gentle response, which is the antithesis of the stretching of the muscles, without any anxiety response.