In another instance in support of the ancient healing arts, a new report has revealed that Hatha yoga increased the quality of life of asthma sufferers while decreasing the severity of their symptoms and lessening their reliance on their asthma medication.

The findings, reported at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, were described as both “dramatic,” but “not surprising,” especially when you consider the fact that yoga fundamentally based on the concept of controlling of one's breathing.

Hatha yoga is a system of yoga introduced around the 15th century in India as a preparatory stage for higher meditation. Hatha yoga is in fact what most people in this country are referring to when we think of the practice of yoga.

Up to now, there has been a small body of evidence that supports the health benefits of yoga for asthma sufferers, but they generally employed a strenuous level of participation that was neither realistic or sustainable.

In light of this, the study’s leaders decided to take a more reasonable approach and examine the effects of an actual yoga regimen. Over the course of ten weeks, asthma sufferers between the ages of 20 to 65 were separated into two groups. One group practiced Hatha yoga for two and a half hours each week, while the other “control” group did not. Individuals in the yoga group were all beginners and took part in exercises where poses, which were held for up to one minute, focused on deep breathing.

The results were quantified by way of a standardized questionnaire that was administered before and after the ten week period. The purpose of the information was to assess the level and frequency of their symptoms, their overall health, as well as their perception of how they were feeling from a psychological and emotional perspective.

Interestingly, after the ten week regimen, those in the yoga group showed an average improvement of over 40%, as indicated by their responses to the questionnaire. To people who are active participants in yoga, however, the findings merely support what they have known all along: yoga is all about breathing, especially deep breathing, which can have huge benefits to people suffering from asthma.

Further research still needs to be done before any concrete conclusions can be made, but yoga is nonetheless becoming increasingly embraced by Western medicine. In fact, some doctors admit that they recommend it to their patients without hesitation. This is especially true in light of the fact that many modern therapies, like corticosteroids to treat asthma, can have their own share of adverse side effects. Yoga, on the other hand, has none while benefiting the body in so many other ways.

Asthma is a condition whereby the flow of air into the lungs is restricted due to inflammation of the passageways, usually as the result of exposure to an allergen (dust or pollen) or irritant (chemicals). Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing. If extreme cases are left untreated, it can be fatal. Currently it is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans (20 million people) suffers from asthma, and its prevalence has been increasing over the past twenty-five years across all demographic groups. It is the most common chronic condition in children