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Research shows yoga's effect on cortisol varies widely between studies and people

Yoga is often touted on the internet for its purported ability to reduce cortisol, the hormone linked to the body's stress response, but Business Upturn reports that the science behind those claims is far less settled than social media suggests. Some studies have found reductions in cortisol or improvements in stress-related measures after yoga practice, while others have not, and researchers say the evidence is not strong enough to say yoga reliably lowers cortisol in every person.

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Why one cortisol-lowering pose does not exist#

Cortisol affects how the body manages energy use, maintains circulatory function, controls immune responses and handles stress reactions, and its levels change naturally throughout the day, so a higher or lower reading at any single moment does not necessarily signal a problem, Business Upturn reports.

Studies on yoga and cortisol differ considerably in the yoga styles used, session lengths, participant groups and methods for measuring the hormone, which Business Upturn says makes it difficult to identify one specific pose that lowers cortisol. Research investigations including systematic reviews and clinical trials have documented cortisol changes after yoga or other mind-body practices, but a result in one study does not mean every person will see the same effect, the outlet reports.

Doctors push back on cortisol-lowering trends online#

The scrutiny of yoga's effects follows a wider backlash against cortisol advice circulating on social media. John Wass, professor of endocrinology at the University of Oxford, told the BBC that the direct link often drawn online between cortisol levels and physical changes such as weight gain or facial swelling is misleading, since factors like poor sleep, medication, salt intake or alcohol can also be responsible.

Writing in the Hindustan Times, a physician described patients arriving convinced their cortisol was too high after searching the internet for ways to lower it naturally, despite no good evidence that remedies such as coconut water, apple cider vinegar or rhodiola reliably manage the hormone. The piece argues that chronic stress, not cortisol itself, is the underlying problem, since cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and is essential for maintaining energy and blood pressure.

Yoga's role in addiction research remains limited#

Separately, Business Upturn reports that researchers have grown interested in yoga as a complementary practice during addiction recovery, since it merges stretching and movement with controlled breathing, mental calm and, in certain variations, mindfulness practices. The outlet stresses that addiction cannot be treated by yoga alone and should not replace evidence-based treatment, counselling or medication, and that some small studies have only begun exploring whether the practice can influence cravings or substance-use outcomes.

To establish whether yoga meaningfully influences sustained healing results, scientists must conduct additional rigorous research with adequate sample sizes, according to Business Upturn.

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