title: Is there more to yoga than exercise?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Yoga is increasing in popularity, with an estimated 15 million practitioners in the United States, yet there is a dearth of empirical data addressing the holistic benefits of yoga.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the physical and mental benefits of an exercise-based yoga practice to that of a more comprehensive yoga practice (one with an ethical/spiritual component).
  
  
  METHODS
  Students with mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or stress and who agreed to participate were assigned to one of three groups: integrated yoga, yoga as exercise, control.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 81 undergraduate students 18 years and older at a university in the southeastern United States participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Depression, anxiety, stress, hope, and salivary cortisol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over time, participants in both the integrated and exercise yoga groups experienced decreased depression and stress, an increased sense of hopefulness, and increased flexibility compared to the control group. However, only the integrated yoga group experienced decreased anxiety-related symptoms and decreased salivary cortisol from the beginning to the end of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yoga, practiced in a more integrated form, ie, with an ethical and spiritual component, may provide additional benefits over yoga practiced as an exercise regimen.
authors.affiliation: The University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, USA.
authors.forename: J Andy
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sheets
authors.forename: Sheree
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012649:Self Concept; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone