Yoga as a stress reduction technique for women

Background: In the United States, over 15 million adults practice yoga, the majority of which are women. Significant clinical research has demonstrated yoga's potential psychological benefits; however, personal practice has not been emphasized. Purpose: This study provides data on the use and benefit of yoga by women to manage stress, a lifestyle factor contributing to negative health states. Methods: During September 2008 to January 2009, one-hundred and ninety-nine yoga students (82% female) were surveyed via an on-line tool upon registering in a 4-week beginner yoga program in Austin, Texas. A subgroup of seventy-five female respondents (mean age 36 years, s.d. 11) completed study surveys and a 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at baseline and endpoint. Results: At baseline, 75% of respondents reported stress management as a reason for practicing yoga. Mean baseline and endpoint PSS scores were 16.9, s.d. 6.2 and 13.5, s.d. 5.5, respectively, demonstrating an average decrease of 3.4. This result shows a statistically significant improvement as evaluated by a paired t test with 74 d.f. (p<.0001, [95% CI 2.05, 4.73]). Conclusion: Our data shows that women view yoga as a way to manage stress; and that yoga may be an effective technique for significantly reducing stress in this population. As an accepted risk factor in the development and exacerbation of conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, stress is a viable public health issue that may benefit through further study of yoga use outside of clinical settings.