Yoga for Stress and Mental Health

Exclusion Criteria

• •Have practiced yoga or engaged in other mind-body practices (e.g., tai chi, meditation) regularly (i.e., once a week or more) within the last year.
• •Lifetime history of psychotic disorders of any type, bipolar disorder (I, II, or NOS), schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, or anorexia nervosa.
• •Current alcohol or drug dependence.
• •Screening BDI ≥ 30 (severe depression).
• •Known or suspected to have significant personality dysfunction that could, in the investigator's opinion, interfere with trial participation.
• •Currently at risk of self-harm or harm to others, in the Sponsor's opinion, based on clinical interview.
• •Currently a psychiatric inpatient; have been hospitalized for a psychiatric condition within the past year.
• •Have ever been diagnosed with organic brain syndrome, mental retardation, or other cognitive dysfunction that could interfere with their capacity to participate in the study protocol.
• •Body mass index ≥ 40 (in order to screen out individuals with Class III obesity who might be more prone to musculoskeletal injuries than individuals with a BMI \< 40.0) or \< 18.5 (in order to screen out individuals whose hormone levels may be impacted by their low weight).
• •Resting blood pressure ≥ 160 systolic and/or 100 diastolic. Individuals currently being treated for high blood pressure and meeting these criteria are eligible.
• •Receiving concurrent psychotherapy of any kind.
• •Use of any psychotropic medications.
• •Positive result on pregnancy test at Screening; plan to become pregnant during the course of the trial.
• •Insufficient command of the English language (i.e., they cannot carry on a conversation with an interviewer in the English language or read associated text).