session Yoga course in which three different types of Yoga poses were compared: back bends,
forward bends, and standing poses. Each 90-minute class focused on one of the three types of
poses with three repetitions of each type of class. Self-ratings of 15 moods dealing with positive,
negative, and energy-related emotional states were obtained before and after each class.
Personality traits of depression, anxiety, and hostility were assessed at an initial orientation.
Independently of the specific pose, positive moods increased, negative moods decreased, and
energy-related moods increased from before to after classes with most changes lasting for two
hours. Specific poses resulted in differences in how moods were affected, with back bends
associated with greater increases in positive moods. Some mood changes were dependent on
one’s characteristic personality traits. The positive mood effects of back bends were greater for
participants who were relatively hostile or depressed. The specific and nonspecific effects of
different bodily postures and movements on psychological processes in Yoga and other forms of
physical activity deserve further study. Yoga practices should be investigated for their potential
clinical application in mood disorders and depression.
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