The study is one of two pilot studies being carried out as part of an effort of the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine (OCIM) and the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA) to create an international collaboration for research on the health effects of yoga.

Yoga and related meditation practices represent one of the most important complementary and alternative medicine systems used in Asia and the United States. SVYASA is one of India’s leading institutions for yoga practice and research.

The overall goal of this pilot study is to assess feasibility of recruitment of the target population and acceptability of the intervention, and to provide pilot data for planning larger clinical trials of HIV.

The primary aims of the study are:

1. To assess the efficacy of yoga intervention in reducing depression and psychological morbidity in HIV infected individuals;

2. To assess the efficacy of yoga intervention in improving quality of life and mental adjustment to the disease;

3. To evaluate the efficacy of yoga in immune modulation in HIV subjects.

The study will take place in Bangalore, India and all participants will be recruited from Bangalore and surrounding areas. Fifty persons with HIV who are not on antiretroviral therapy and who do not plan to be on therapy for the next six months will be randomized to either a yoga therapy program (Intervention Group) or a wait list control group.

Participants who are not on antiretroviral therapy are the target group for this pilot study because this will facilitate measuring changes in immunologic and virologic measures that may be related to the intervention. The Intervention Group will participate in a structured yoga therapy program for two three months. After two three months, participants randomized to the wait list will receive the yoga therapy program.

Assessments will be carried out at the beginning of the study, at the end of three three months, and at the end of six months (Control Group). Participants will not be discouraged, however, from starting antiretroviral therapy if this is indicated.