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Essay on Yoga Practice on Major Depression in Adult Females

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The National Institute of Mental Health cites findings from a 2005 study that depression affected 6.7% of adults in the United States (2005). The majority of adults affected were between the ages of eighteen and sixty, and more women than men exhibited symptoms of major depression (NIMH 2005). Various antidepressant medications are advertised via television commercials, but I wondered if alternate treatments were available, and if so, how effective those treatments might be. I am currently enrolled in a Yoga class, and I have found that this focused practice results not only in the relaxation of my body, but also in the clarity of my mind. I was curious if regular, consistent Yoga practice could have a beneficial effect on women who suffer …show more content…

In addition to providing “mood state” surveys to each participant, the researchers also collected urine samples from the participants in order to compare the levels of “stress-related biochemicals” such as cortisol (Yoshihara et al., 2011). Through subsequent survey results, researchers found that the participants who had engaged in Yoga practice prior to the study exhibited better mental states, but they did not find any “significant differences” regarding their biochemical levels (Yoshihara et al., 2011). After reviewing these articles, I considered that Yoga is a form of mindful practice. I hypothesized that regular, consistent Yoga practice would reduce depression symptoms in adult females who suffer from this disorder. To test my hypothesis, I will use an experimental study design. As previously stated, the National Institute of Mental Health (2005) notes that adult females are most likely to experience depression. For this reason, my population of study will be comprised of adult females between the ages of eighteen and sixty years old who exhibit symptoms of depression and who reside in the United States. In addition to these requirements, the participants cannot have previously practiced Yoga, have any physical ailments or dietary restrictions, nor can they currently be taking prescribed antidepressants or be meeting with a therapist. These parameters will help to focus on the effects of Yoga while removing other variables.

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