Yoga | NCCIH ► September Is National Yoga Month

Yoga | NCCIH

September is National Yoga Month! According to a 2012 nationwide survey, yoga is the most popular mind and body approach used by adults in the United States. Research has found that yoga may help improve overall physical fitness, relieve stress, and reduce low-back pain. 

Learn more at https://nccih.nih.gov/health/yoga.

Yoga

Yoga is a mind and body practice with origins in ancient Indian philosophy. The various styles of yoga typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. There are numerous schools of yoga. Hatha yoga, the most commonly practiced in the United States and Europe, emphasizes postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama). Some of the major styles of hatha yoga are Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vini, Kundalini, and Bikram yoga.

The 2007 National Health Interview Survey found that yoga is one of the top 10 complementary and integrative health approaches used among U.S. adults. An estimated 6 percent of adults used yoga for health purposes in the previous 12 months.

FEATURED: 

Scientific Results of Yoga for Health and Well-Being Video

RUNTIME: 

16min 37sec

Scientific Results of Yoga for Health and Well-Being—Full Video

NCCIH’s unique video that looks at yoga from a scientific perspective.

Yoga for Health

This fact sheet provides a general overview of yoga and suggests sources for more information.

For Consumers

General Information

• Yoga as a Complementary Health Approach

See more

Tips

• 7 Things To Know About Complementary Health Approaches for ADHD
• 6 Things You Need To Know About Cancer and Complementary Health Approaches
• 4 Tips: Mind and Body Practices for Common Aging-Related Conditions
• 6 Things To Know About Mind and Body Practices for Fibromyalgia
• 5 Things To Know About Chronic Low-Back Pain and Complementary Health Practices

Research Spotlights

• Preferences for Once-Weekly vs. Twice-Weekly Yoga Classes Don’t Influence Yoga’s Effect on Low-Back Pain 

  (01/31/15)
• Mind and Body Approaches for Smoking Cessation: A Review

  (09/06/13)
• Weekly and Twice-Weekly Yoga Classes Offer Similar Low-Back Pain Relief in Low-Income Minority Populations

  (07/01/13)
• Study Quantifies Physical Demands of Yoga in Seniors

  (01/09/13)
• Pilot Study Suggests Yoga May Help Women Quit Smoking

  (02/02/12)

See all research spotlights

Ongoing Medical Studies

• Find Active Medical Research Studies on Yoga(ClinicalTrials.gov)

Multimedia

• Yoga as a Complementary Health Approach
• The Practice of Yoga  [[3min 57sec]]
• The Science of Yoga  [[9min 43sec]]
• Video Welcome  [[4min 38sec]]
• Scientific Results of Yoga for Health and Well-Being Video  [16min 37sec]

For Health Professionals

General Information

• Yoga Practice May Improve Pain Tolerance and Alter Brain Anatomy

NCCIH Clinical Digest

• Clinical Digest: Complementary and Integrative Approaches for ADHD
• Clinical Digest: Complementary and Integrative Approaches for Cancer Symptoms and Treatment Side Effects
• Clinical Digest: Complementary and Integrative Health for Older Adults
• Clinical Digest: Children’s Use of Complementary Health Approaches
• Clinical Digest: Weight Control and Complementary and Integrative Approaches

Scientific Literature

• Systematic Reviews/Reviews/Meta-analyses(PubMed®)
• Randomized Controlled Trials (PubMed®)