Objectives: Exercise is considered an acceptable method for improving and maintaining physical and emotional
health. A growing body of evidence supports the belief that yoga benefits physical and mental health via downregulation
of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The
purpose of this article is to provide a scholarly review of the literature regarding research studies comparing the
effects of yoga and exercise on a variety of health outcomes and health conditions.