Abstract
Background
In a randomized, parallel group study conducted over a six month treatment period on geriatric population, the yoga group showed a significant decrease in the time taken to fall asleep, an increase in the total number of hours slept and in the feeling of being rested in the morning, while the Ayurveda and wait-list control groups showed no significant change.
Methods
One hundred and thirty six participants (group average age ± S.D., 44.0 ± 14.4 years) who were attending a residential yoga therapy program for one week were assessed for quality of sleep based on a self rated questionnaire at the beginning (Day 1) and end (Day 7) of the program. All the participants had enrolled for yoga therapy with different ailments which were being treated with conventional treatment, which was not altered during the period.
Results
After 7 days of yoga intervention (with Day 1 and Day 7 for assessments), participants showed a significant decrease in time taken to fall asleep (P<0.001), number of awakenings in the night (P<0.001), day time sleep (P<0.05), duration of day time naps (P<0.001) and increase in the feeling of being rested in the morning (P<0.001), while no significant change was seen in the duration of sleep each night.
Conclusion
Yoga practice improved different aspects of quality of sleep in participants with different ailments.
Key words
Yoga,
self rated sleep,
therapy
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