Samyama is an 8-day Isha Yoga intensive residential meditation experience requiring several months of extensive preparation and vegan diet. As other forms of meditation have shown benefit for physical and psychological health, we hypothesized that participation in Samyama would offer enhanced physical and psychological benefits. This was an observational study of adults before and after the Isha Samyama retreat, along with non-meditating controls (household significant others). Surveys assessed anxiety, depression, mindfulness, joy, vitality, and resilience through validated psychometric scales at 4 timepoints (T1, baseline; T2, just before Samyama; T3, just after Samyama; T4, 3 months later). Blood biomarkers were assessed including hemoglobin (Hb), HbA1c, lipid profile, and C-reactive protein (CRP). This clinical trial was registered at Clinical Trials.gov (NCT04366544; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04366544). Results: Depression and anxiety scores significantly decreased in Samyama participants from T1 to T3, with the effect most pronounced in those with baseline depression or anxiety. Vitality, resilience, joy, and mindfulness increased in participants from T1 to T3 (sustained at T4), body weight decreased by 3% from T1 to T3, and triglycerides (TG) were lower from T2 to T3. Compared with controls, Samyama participants had lower HbA1c and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) at T2, and lower CRP at all timepoints. Conclusions: Isha Samyama participants had significantly reduced depression and anxiety, and improved well-being for at least 3 months after the retreat. Physical health improved as evidenced by weight loss and lower TG, and improved HbA1C, HDL, and CRP compared with controls. Samyama preparation and retreat are effective in improving physical and mental health. Future studies may examine Samyama as an alternative non-pharmacological therapy in patients with clinical depression and/or anxiety.

中文翻译：

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Isha瑜伽练习和参加Samyama冥想静修会减少血红蛋白A1c和全身性炎症，并改善血脂状况和心理健康

Samyama是为期8天的Isha Yoga密集住宅冥想体验，需要几个月的大量准备工作和纯素食。由于其他形式的冥想已显示出对身心健康的好处，我们假设参加Samyama会带来更大的身心好处。这是对Isha Samyama撤退前后的成年人以及非冥想控制者（家庭中其他重要）的一项观察性研究。通过在四个时间点（T1，基线； T2，在Samyama之前； T3，在Samyama之后； T4，三个月之后）通过有效的心理测验量表，调查评估了焦虑，抑郁，正念，欢乐，活力和韧性。评估了血液生物标志物，包括血红蛋白（Hb），HbA1c，脂质分布和C反应蛋白（CRP）。该临床试验已在Clinical Trials.gov（NCT04366544; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04366544）上注册。结果：Samyama参与者从T1到T3的抑郁和焦虑评分显着降低，在基线抑郁或焦虑的人群中这种影响最为明显。从T1到T3（在T4维持），参与者的活力，适应力，欢乐和正念增加了，从T1到T3体重降低了3％，而甘油三酸酯（TG）从T2到T3降低了。与对照组相比，Samyama参与者在T2时具有较低的HbA1c和高密度脂蛋白（HDL），在所有时间点均具有较低的CRP。结论：Isha Samyama的参与者在撤退后至少3个月内显着减轻了抑郁和焦虑，并改善了其幸福感。体重减轻和TG降低证明身体健康得到改善，与对照组相比，HbA1C，HDL和CRP有所改善。三山的准备和静修对改善身心健康有效。未来的研究可能会将Samyama视为临床抑郁症和/或焦虑症患者的替代性非药物疗法。