Hatha Yoga Improves Cognitive Function in Old Adults

Hatha yoga can improve cognitive performance of older adults, a new study states.

Yoga - the ancient art of keeping the body and soul healthy - originated in ancient India and is quite popular among the Americans.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, six percent of survey respondents said that they performed the ancient practice in the last year.

Different styles of yoga are practiced worldwide and the most popular of them is Hatha yoga. This style of yoga emphasizes on postures and breathing exercises. Sub-groups in hatha yoga include Iyengar, Ashtanga, Vini, Kundalini, and Bikram yoga.

"Hatha yoga requires focused effort in moving through the poses, controlling the body and breathing at a steady rate," said Neha Gothe from the University of Illinois, who is also the lead author of the study. "It is possible that this focus on one's body, mind and breath during yoga practice may have generalized to situations outside of the yoga classes, resulting in an improved ability to sustain attention."

The study was based on data from 108 adults aged between 55-79 years. Sixty one participants attended hatha yoga classes, while others were given stretching exercises. Participants underwent hatha yoga or other exercises training for about three days a week for eight weeks.

The researchers found that hatha yoga was linked to better cognitive skills.

"Participants in the yoga intervention group showed significant improvements in working memory capacity, which involves continually updating and manipulating information," said Edward McAuley University of Illinois, in a news release. "They were also able to perform the task at hand quickly and accurately, without getting distracted. These mental functions are relevant to our everyday functioning, as we multitask and plan our day-to-day activities."

The study is published in  The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.