Abstract

Aim: This study designed and conducted with the aim of specifying the Hatha Yoga effects on anxiety reduction among the women of age 20-49 years. As mental health is an inevitable part of public health, attention to it is one of the World Health Organization (WHO) plans. The organization has been considered anxiety as the most prevalent mental disorder around the world. Since women face more anxiety than men, concentrating on the women mental health is an ever-increasing social concern. Method: This is a quasi- experimental study conducted before and after intervention. The place has been Eqbal sport complex in Tehran-district 12. Samples were selected using random method among the patients with different anxiety levels. The samples were thought Hatha Yoga including one hour Asana and half an hour relaxation at each session by an experienced trainer. The intervention was done for 3 months and three 90-min sessions each week. Data collection instruments were demographic and anxiety questionnaires distributed before and three months after the intervention. The mean score of anxiety was calculated and then the collected data were analyzed using SPSS-16 software, descriptive statistical test, pair t-test and chi square test. Results: There was a significant difference between the mean score of anxiety among the samples, before and after the intervention (p<0.05) Conclusion: Conducting cheap, simple and fun exercises of Hatha Yoga reduces anxiety among women and as a result leads to increase society mental health and perhaps population quality of life. Therefore, it seems applying such exercises can reduce anxiety, efficiently.

Keywords:

Anxiety, hatha yoga (asana and relaxation), women,

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