The Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University recently conducted a study, and discovered that after a single session of yoga, levels of the stress hormone cortisol dropped, even in first time participants.

The study conducted by Dr. Brainard and his colleagues, used 16 healthy individuals who had never engaged in yoga before, and measured levels of cortisol in the blood before and after 50-minutes of rest.

Cortisol is the hormone that is secreted by the adrenals during stressful times.

The researchers then measured cortisol levels before and after a 50-minute yoga session. Participants then practiced in yoga for another five days, and had their cortisol levels tested before and after the seventh yoga session.

The team found that cortisol levels decreased more after a session of yoga than after the period of rest, even on the first day of practice.

They observed a decrease in cortisol after the first time they were introduced to yoga, and after the seventh time as well.

Just how that drop in cortisol might benefit yoga practitioners, however, is less clear. There is no way to know how long hormonal changes will last.

The Dr. explained that cortisol levels fluctuate. But, when one is stressed, cortisol levels can spike, and tend to rapidly drop once the stress disappears.

Further research will have to be conducted to determine whether the decrease in cortisol after yoga is continued, and whether the hormonal change has a positive health benefit.

This information was extracted from http://www.tju.edu/webindex/index.cfm

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