Adding Yoga to group CBT for depression and anxiety improved outcome (study)
Evidence supports the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as treatment for anxiety and depression (1). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy uses strategies to address unhelpful thoughts and patterns of behavior to enable mechanisms that help to make a shift in the conditions that trigger and exacerbate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Even though CBT is considered an effective therapy, fifty percent of adults who complete CBT continue to have symptoms (2). Therefore, adding strategies to augment the effectiveness of CBT is a path that warrants attention and research. Incorporating mindfulness into CBT has shown promising results. Yoga is an ancient practice that integrates mindfulness and physical exercise through the combination of breathing, gentle movements and physical postures. Research has shown that yoga as a mind-body discipline has multiple benefits on health and wellbeing (3). Also, small studies have indicated that the practice of yoga may be beneficial to relie