Effects of Yoga on Objective and Self-reported Health Indicators Among Female and Male Individuals

Karolinska Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stress, Psychological, Physiological

Treatments: Other: Yoga intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01305096

2011/248-31/1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether inversions (specific yoga postures in which the heart is higher than the head) and other dynamic and static yoga postures affect heart rate variability, oxygen uptake, blood pressure, blood parameters and other objective measures of health, and a variety of subjective and objective measures of health in female and male individuals in Sweden.

Full description

This randomized, controlled trial involving 44 male and females in Sweden will investigate whether yoga inversions and semi-inversions and other dynamic and static yoga postures will affect the following variables: heart rate variability, oxygen uptake, anthropometric variables, common symptoms in general practice, sleepiness, sleep quality and recovery/recuperation after sleep, blood pressure, blood lipids, blood proteins, blood sugar, salivary cortisol, hand grip strength, relaxation and recovery perceived stress, self-rated health, rating of perceived exertion, satisfaction with life, and work-family conflict.

Participants will be divided into an intervention group and a passive control group. The intervention group will participate in six to ten weeks of yoga classes. The classes will be held 1-2 times a week for approximately one hour each and will include yoga poses and breathing techniques. The control group will not participate in any intervention but will conduct their lives as usual.

The variables will be assessed at baseline; at the end of the intervention; and three, six, and twelve months after the end of the intervention.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 20-40 years old

Exclusion criteria

• Aged 40 or more years
• Takes medication for high blood pressure or other strong medication
• Recently had an operation
• Diagnosed with eye disease (e.g., glaucoma)
• Diagnosed with depression or burnout syndrome
• Diagnosed with serious back or neck problems
• Participates in intense physical activity more than once a week
• Has digestive problems such as acid reflux
• Serious disorder that affects the ability to do the yoga postures

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

Yoga group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will take part in six to eight weeks of yoga classes. The classes will be held once a week and each class will be approximately one hour long. The classes will consist of yoga inversions, sun salutations and other yoga postures with deep breathing.

Treatment:

Other: Yoga intervention

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Matched control