Huffington Magazine Issue 83 | Page 81

Exit THE THIRD METRIC HUFFINGTON 01.12.14 IMPROVED SEXUAL FUNCTION. A 2009 Harvard study published in the The Journal of Sexual Medicine showed that yoga could boost arousal, desire, orgasm and general sexual satisfaction for women. Yoga can also improve women’s sex lives by helping them to become more familiar with their own bodies, according to a review of studies published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, as reported by CNN. GETTY IMAGES/CAIAIMAGE REDUCED CHRONIC NECK PAIN. A German study published in The Journal of Pain showed that four weeks of practicing Iyengar yoga (a type of Hatha yoga that stresses proper alignment and the use of props) is effective in reducing pain intensity in adults suffering from chronic neck pain. ANXIETY RELIEF. A 2010 Boston University study showed that 12 weeks of yoga could help to reduce anxiety and increase gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels in the brain (low levels of GABA have been linked with depression and anxiety disorders). RELIEF FROM CHRONIC BACK PAIN. Researchers at West Virginia Uni- Just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga can improve cognitive function, boosting focus and working memory.” versity found Iyengar Yoga to be more effective in reducing pain and improving mood than standard medical treatment among those with chronic lower back problems. STEADY BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS IN PEOPLE WITH DIABETES. Adding yoga to a typical diabetes care regimen could result in steady blood sugar levels, according to a 2011 Diabetes Care study. Reuters reported that just three months of yoga in addition to diabetes care resulted in a decrease