Abstract P196: Hot Yoga and Hypertension: Exploration of a Novel Lifestyle Intervention

Abstract

The practice of hot yoga is becoming widespread as marked by a growing number of yoga studios offering classes in heated rooms ranging in temperature from 27 to 41°C. Previous research has shown reductions in ambulatory blood pressure (BP) with thermoneutral (nonheated) yoga interventions; however, to date, no studies have investigated the safety and efficacy of hot yoga in hypertension (HTN). The purpose of this ongoing trial is to determine whether hot yoga can reduce ambulatory BP, augmentation index (AIx), and perceived stress in unmedicated adults with elevated BP and stage I HTN. Sedentary men and women (ages 20-65yrs) were enrolled if the averages of 3 seated BP measurements were within the elevated BP (120-129 mmHg for systolic with a diastolic <80 mmHg) or stage I HTN (130-139 mmHg for systolic or 80-89 mmHg for diastolic BP) ranges at two separate visits. Twenty-four hours of ambulatory BP monitoring was completed prior to randomization to the yoga or control groups. Yoga group participants (n=5) completed 3 60min Bikram yoga classes (40.5°C) and the control group (n=5) was instructed not to change their physical activity for 12 weeks. AIx and perceived stress were assessed using the SphygmoCor and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Most study participants were African-American (n=3) or Hispanic/Latinx (n=3) and no adverse events occurred. Twenty-four-hour systolic (126±17 to 121±14 mmHg; p=0.01) and diastolic (82±12 to 79±12 mmHg; p=0.04) BPs and PSS scores (14±9 to 10±6; p=0.047) were reduced following the yoga intervention. When comparing waking versus sleeping BPs according to subjects’ reported sleep times, only waking systolic (129±15 to 122±15 mmHg; p=0.016) and diastolic (85±11 to 81±12 mmHg; p = 0.024) BPs declined while no changes in sleeping BPs were detected in the yoga group. AIx (23% to 21%; p =0.58) and body mass were unaltered following the yoga intervention and no outcome variable changed in the control group. Preliminary results support the safety and efficacy of hot yoga in improving ambulatory BP and reducing mental stress, a correlate of HTN, in adults with elevated BP and stage I HTN. These BP reductions were observed in the absence of BP medications or weight loss, and do not appear to be associated with improvements in pulse wave analysis.