Effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure control.
OBJECTIVE
The present study investigates the effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure control.


METHODS
The prospective observational cohort study enrolled two study groups: those receiving treatment from the International Sahaja Yoga Research and Health Center (meditation group) and those receiving treatment from the Mahatma Gandhi Mission Hospital (control group). Researchers measured quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Sixty-seven (67) participants in the meditation group and 62 participants in the control group completed the study. The two groups were comparable in demographic and clinical characteristics. At baseline, the meditation group had higher quality of life (p<0.001) than controls but similar anxiety level (p=0.74) to controls. Within-group pre- versus post-treatment comparisons showed significant improvement in quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure in the meditation group (p<0.001), while in controls, quality of life deteriorated and there was no improvement in blood pressure. The improvement in quality of life, anxiety reduction, and blood pressure control was greater in the meditation group. The beneficial effect of meditation remained significant after adjusting for confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
Meditation treatment was associated with significant improvements in quality of life, anxiety reduction, and blood pressure control.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. s.chung@ucl.ac.uk
Sheng-Chia
SC
Chung
Maria M
MM
Brooks
Madhur
M
Rai
Judith L
JL
Balk
Sandeep
S
Rai
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015013:Yoga