This review focused on the evidence for the efficacy of hatha yoga for depression and possible mechanisms by which yoga may have an impact on depression.
The researchers did a literature search for clinical trials examining yoga for depression and uncovered eight trials: 5 including individuals with clinical depression, and 3 for individuals with elevated depression symptoms. "Although results from these trials are encouraging, they should be viewed as very preliminary because the trials, as a group, suffered from substantial methodological limitations." The authors argue that there are several reasons to consider constructing careful research on yoga for depression and detail their reasons for continued research.
Abstract: PubMed. "Hatha yoga for depression: critical review of the evidence for efficacy, plausible mechanisms of action, and directions for future research," Journal of Psychiatric Practice [2010 Jan;16(1):22-33]
