Yoga instructor Tracey Fellner demonstrates the supported bridge pose at Yoga Pointe in Lakeland.

LAKELAND | Several studies indicate yoga has the potential to help relieve menopausal symptoms and help women feel better.

In small groups of women studied, yoga helped some cope with hot flashes and night sweats, along with improving their sleep and quality of life.

A 2010 review by West Virginia University School of Medicine researchers, analyzing 21 papers on 18 clinical trials from six countries, said their collective findings "suggest that yoga-based and certain other mind-body therapies may be beneficial for alleviating specific menopausal symptoms."

They called for larger studies.

One large trial, MsFLASH, Menopause Strategies: Finding Lasting Answers for Symptoms and Health, could be a deciding factor once outcomes of yoga in the multi-site trial are published. Several alternative treatments are being studied.

"There is not good data on menopause and yoga, the reason for our trial," said Dr. Susan D. Reed, director of women's reproductive health research at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Asked her personal opinion of yoga, she said:

"Yoga is great for so many things. I definitely recommend it to my patients."

Women can investigate themselves at a Yoga Pointe workshop from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 10.

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Yoga May Help Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms.