title: Yoga reduces perceived stress and exhaustion levels in healthy elderly individuals.
abstract: This study investigated whether a 7-week yoga intervention could improve physical function, perceived stress, and mental/emotional wellness in elderly participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  8 participants (66.5 ± 0.3 years) attended 2 60-min Hatha yoga sessions/week for 7 weeks, and performed pre- and post-intervention assessments. Balance was assessed using a 5-test battery. Flexibility was measured by sit-and-reach and shoulder flexibility tests. Functional mobility tests included 8-ft up-and-go, 5 chair stands, and 4-m walk. Participants completed SF-12, exhaustion level, and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SF-12 Mental Component Summary scores, exhaustion levels, and PSS scores improved post-intervention. No differences were found for physical function measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yoga participation can improve mental/emotional wellness, exhaustion levels, and stress levels in elderly individuals, even without measurable improvements in physical function. Clinicians and health practitioners who work with the elderly should consider yoga as a potential therapeutic modality for improving important aspects of quality of life in this population.
authors: Integrative Physiology Lab, Dept. of Biology, Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102, USA. Electronic address: elindahl01@hamline.edu.
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Lindahl
authors: Integrative Physiology Lab, Dept. of Biology, Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102, USA. Electronic address: ktilton01@hamline.edu.
authors: Katherine
authors: K
authors: Tilton
authors: Century College, 3300 Century Ave N, Saint Paul, MN 55110, USA. Electronic address: keepitgoing84@gmail.com.
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Eickholt
authors: Integrative Physiology Lab, Dept. of Biology, Hamline University, 1536 Hewitt Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102, USA. Electronic address: lstegall01@hamline.edu.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Ferguson-Stegall
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D010465:Perception; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015013:Yoga
keywords: Elderly; Emotional wellness; Exhaustion; Stress; Yoga