An alternative health practice that has been used for centuries may be able to aid breast cancer patients, new research suggests.

Suzanne Danhauer of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues studied 44 women with breast cancer. Half of them were taking part in a 10-week yoga program that consisted of 75-minute classes.

At the end of the study, the researchers found that those who were practicing yoga reported a 50 percent decrease in depression and a 12 percent increase in peaceful feelings.

The findings, published in the journal Psycho-Oncology, also indicate those who began the study with more negative feelings and a lower sense of wellbeing were more likely to benefit significantly.

“Given the high levels of stress and distress that many women with breast cancer experience, the opportunity to experience feeling more peaceful and calm in the midst of breast cancer is a significant benefit,” Danhauser wrote.

Yoga is among the health resources recommended for a number of stressful situations.