Hatha Yoga Improves Cognition in Older Adults

A new research shows that doing Hath yoga thrice a week for eight weeks improves cognitive function in older adults.

Hatha yoga is an ancient spiritual practice that involves meditation and focused breathing as the person moves through a series of stylized postures. For the study, the researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign examined 108 adults aged between 55 and 79.

Researchers said that these participants were quicker and more accurate on information recall, mental flexibility and task-switching following the yoga. The results were compared to other participants who were told to follow stretching and toning exercises.

"Hatha yoga requires focused effort in moving through the poses, controlling the body and breathing at a steady rate," lead researchers Neha Gothe and University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor Edward McAuley, said in a press release.

"It is possible that this focus on one's body, mind and breath during yoga practice may have generalized to situations outside of the yoga classes, resulting in an improved ability to sustain attention," they added.

Past researches have shown that Hatha yoga also triggers immediate positive psychological effects by reducing feelings of anxiety, depression and stress.

"These studies suggest that yoga has an immediate quieting effect on the sympathetic nervous system and on the body's response to stress," researchers noted. "Since we know that stress and anxiety can affect cognitive performance, the eight-week yoga intervention may have boosted participants' performance by reducing their stress," Gothe added.

The study findings were published in The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.