The science behind yoga
22 June 2016
NICM PhD Candidate, Michael de Manincor discusses his latest research findings in the new international film, The science behind yoga, featuring Dr Bruce Lipton, Dr Farzahana Siraj and Sat Bir S. Khalsa.
The film features scientists, spiritual leaders and yoga teachers discussing yoga as both a science and an art, and how modern scientific research is now documenting the ancient science of yoga.
Michael discusses his research in the field of yoga for depression anxiety disorders, and his results which showed a reduction in measures of depression.
"We saw a 33 per cent reduction in the group pf people who were doing the yoga practice compared with treatment as usual, we observed significant reduction in scores in anxiety, in overall psychological distress, an increase in resilience – an important measure in mental health – and increases in the frequency of positive experiences that participants were reporting and a reduction in the frequency of negative experiences.
"The average amount of yoga that people were doing was 12 minutes, on a regular basis, most days of the week over six weeks.
"The evidence supports the whole idea that if people do something that includes movement, breath, mindful attention and relaxation, using the framework of yoga, a little bit each day really does bring about some pretty significant results."
The film was launch on 22 June at the Yoga Day Summit series.
Michael's paper was published in Depression and Anxiety journal, and in May Michael presented a 15 minute talk at the Happiness and its causes conference discussing his research and findings.
