Chronic stress is a problem of growing importance in industrialized nations as it is accompanied by several health problems. Yoga is a holistic concept which reduces perceived stress by distinct body postures, breathing techniques and meditation. As a reliable measure of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) was utilised. It describes the cortisol rise in reaction to awakening which is supposed to prepare the organism for the upcoming day and is altered in different health conditions. The CAR, psychological health variables (BDI-II, SCL-90-R,...