Yoga's body-satisfaction benefits

Shape, Feb, 2006 by Amanda Vogel

yoga has long been cited as a proven stress buster. Now a study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests practicing poses regularly may be linked to better body image. Female study participants who took ashtanga or lyengar yoga classes reported higher body satisfaction and fewer disordered-eating attitudes compared with women who either attended Step classes or did traditional fitness activities, such as walking, running or gym workouts.

Yes, it's true that women who are drawn to yoga might start out with better body images, says researcher Jennifer Daubenmier, Ph.D., but yoga's emphasis on stress relief, meditation and body awareness (rather than burning calories and shedding pounds) also may help explain the difference.--AMANDA VOGEL, M.A.