Hatha Yoga Intervention Research Articles

Hatha Yoga for Pediatric Obesity: A Pilot Study

Objective: Little is known about the benefits of yoga for pediatric obesity, and no studies have examined the benefits of yoga for physical activity in either adults or children. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine whether Hatha yoga would improve overall, physical and psychosocial functioning in youth with severe obesity. We also sought to determine whether participants would increase the vigor of, and time spent in, physical activity. Methods: This study utilized a pre-test/post-test design. Sixteen youth with severe obesity completed an 8 week Hatha yoga intervention involving fifteen, 60-minute classes. Physical and psychosocial functioning, fitness and state-anxiety were assessed at baseline and post-intervention; parents completed proxy-reports of physical and psychosocial functioning at both time points. To assess physical activity, participants wore an Actical Accelerometer for 7 days pre and post-yoga. Results: Significant improvements were found in: Overall, Physical and Psychosocial functioning, back and hamstring flexibility, and state-anxiety. Changes in the proportion of time spent in both light and moderate levels of physical activity were marginally significant. Although 3 tests of fitness, and time spent in physical activity did not improve significantly, trends were in the expected direction. Conclusions: Youth with severe obesity may benefit from a Hatha yoga intervention. Yoga may also offer a way to engage in physical activity that is not precluded by bodily pain.

Effect of an office worksite-based yoga program on heart rate variability: outcomes of a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundChronic work-related stress is an independent risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases and associated mortality, particularly when compounded by a sedentary work environment. The purpose of this study was to determine if an office worksite-based hatha yoga program could improve physiological stress, evaluated via heart rate variability (HRV), and associated health-related outcomes in a cohort of office workers.MethodsThirty-seven adults employed in university-based office positions were randomized upon the completion of baseline testing to an experimental or control group. The experimental group completed a 10-week yoga program prescribed three sessions per week during lunch hour (50 min per session). An experienced instructor led the sessions, which emphasized asanas (postures) and vinyasa (exercises). The primary outcome was the high frequency (HF) power component of HRV. Secondary outcomes included additional HRV parameters, musculoskeletal fitness (i.e. push-up, side-bridge, and sit & reach tests) and psychological indices (i.e. state and trait anxiety, quality of life and job satisfaction).ResultsAll measures of HRV failed to change in the experimental group versus the control group, except that the experimental group significantly increased LF:HF (p = 0.04) and reduced pNN50 (p = 0.04) versus control, contrary to our hypotheses. Flexibility, evaluated via sit & reach test increased in the experimental group versus the control group (p < 0.001). No other adaptations were noted. Post hoc analysis comparing participants who completed ≥70% of yoga sessions (n = 11) to control (n = 19) yielded the same findings, except that the high adherers also reduced state anxiety (p = 0.02) and RMSSD (p = 0.05), and tended to improve the push-up test (p = 0.07) versus control.ConclusionsA 10-week hatha yoga intervention delivered at the office worksite during lunch hour did not improve HF power or other HRV parameters. However, improvements in flexibility, state anxiety and musculoskeletal fitness were noted with high adherence. Future investigations should incorporate strategies to promote adherence, involve more frequent and longer durations of yoga training, and enrol cohorts who suffer from higher levels of work-related stress.Trial registrationACTRN12611000536965

Effects of Hatha Yoga on Stress in Middle-Aged Women

Stress is considered a crucial trigger for physical and mental illness. Stress reduction is a known long-term benefit of regular Hatha yoga practice. The efficacy of a single-session Hatha yoga class on stress reduction is not currently known. This study investigated the comparative effectiveness of a single 90-minute Hatha yoga class and an 8-week, 90-minute-class-per-week course. We used a quasiexperimental design and recruited 63 female community residents in New Taipei City aged 40-60 years. Participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 33). The experimental group received the 8-week Hatha yoga course. The control group received no intervention. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and heart rate variability (HRV) assessed stress reduction effectiveness. Chi-square, independent t test, paired t test, and generalized estimating equations were used for data analysis. After a single 90-minute class of Hatha yoga, experimental group PSS scores were significantly less than those of the control group (p = .001). Although experimental group HRV (low-frequency norm and high-frequency norm) had improved, these changes were not statistically significant (p = .059). PSS scores for the single 90-minute class and 8-week course did not significantly differ (p = .157) and HRV of statistics is significant (p = .005). Generalized estimating equations analyzed changes in the effectiveness over time of stress reduction (HRV and PSS) after the Hatha yoga intervention. Results showed the postintervention HRV and PSS of the experimental group decreased significantly (p < .001) more than the control group. Our findings support the position that regular, long-term practice of Hatha yoga provides clear and significant health benefits. Participation in a single 90-minute Hatha yoga class can significantly reduce perceived stress. Doing Hatha yoga regularly can reduce perceived stress even more significantly.

Influence of Hatha Yoga on Physical Activity Constraints, Physical Fitness, and Body Image of Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study

Breast cancer survivors often experience changes in their perception of their bodies following surgical treatment. These changes in body image may increase self-consciousness and perceptions of physical activity constraints and reduce participation in physical activity. While the number of studies examining different types of yoga targeting women with breast cancer has increased, studies thus far have not studied the influence that Hatha yoga has on body image and physical activity constraints. The objective of this study was to explore the changes that occur in breast cancer survivors in terms of body image, perceived constraints, and physical fitness following an 8-week Hatha yoga intervention. This study used a nonrandomized two-group pilot study, comparing an 8-week Hatha yoga intervention with a light exercise group, both designed for women who were at least nine months post-treatment for breast cancer. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the areas of body image, physical activity constraints, and physical fitness. Findings indicated that quantitatively, yoga participants experienced reductions in physical activity constraints and improvements in lower- and upper-body strength and flexibility, while control participants experienced improvements in abdominal strength and lower-body strength. Qualitative findings support changes in body image, physical activity constraints, and physical fitness for the participants in the yoga group. In conclusion, Hatha yoga may reduce constraints to physical activity and improve fitness in breast cancer survivors. More research is needed to explore the relationship between Hatha yoga and improvements in body image.

Hatha yoga program determinants on cardiovascular health in adult and physically active women

Background: Hatha Yoga (HY) is an alternative exercise system for improving health in adults and older people with low physical capacity. Although the HY benefits on cardiovascular health have been demonstrated, its physical determinants haven’t been demonstrated. Therefore, this study evaluates the effect of an HY intervention on cardiovascular risk factors, in physically active adult women. Methods: Sixteen healthy and physically active adult women (56.31±10.47 years) were enrolled into an 11-week HY program (55 sessions/ 90 min each session). The program adherence, asana performance and work intensity were assessed along the intervention. Anthropometry and biochemical analysis were evaluated before, and after HY intervention. Cardiovascular fitness and dietary parameters were evaluated before and after HY intervention. Results: A decreased of ~1.5 kg of body fat and ~17 mm of skinfold thickness (p<0.05) was detected in women. Total serum cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose and lactate increased 27 mg/dl, 11 mg/dl, 19 mg/dl, 11 mg/dl and 5 mM, respectively (p<0.05). The maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2 peak) increased ~3 ml/kg/min. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased 6 mmHg and 3 mmHg respectively (p<0.05). Heart rate (56 ± 8 beats/min) during HY determined changes in the Σ skin folds and systolic blood pressure (78 and 58% of the variance, respectively). Likewise Asana performance skills determined changes in HDL-C, glucose and maximal lactate (79, 42 and 89% of the variance, respectively). Finally, the program adherence, measured as % session attendance”, determined changes in diastolic blood pressure (55% of the variance). Conclusions: The proposed HY intervention improves physical fitness and reduces CVD risk factors in physically active adult women. In addition, heart rate during HY exercise, asana performance skills and percentage assistance to the intervention program, determined about 42-89% of the changes in cardiovascular health in senior physically active women.

The Effects of a Yoga Intervention on Balance, Speed and Endurance of Walking, Fatigue and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis

The Effects of a Yoga Intervention on Balance, Speed and Endurance of Walking, Fatigue and Quality of Life in People with Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that results in many symptoms including mobility limitation, fatigue and redacted quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a yoga intervention on balance, speed and endurance of walking, fatigue and quality of life in MS patients. 21women with MS (34.38±5,68) with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores 1.0 to 4.0, have been randomly assigned to a yoga group or control group. Yoga group subjects participated in a thrice weekly 60-70 minute sessions of Hatha yoga intervention for 8-weeks. Balance, speed and endurance of walking, fatigue and quality of life were measured by Berg Balance scores; 10-m time and 2-minute distance walking, Fatigue Severity Scale (FFS) and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 questionnaire (MSQOL-54) respectively. Comparison of results of pre and post intervention revealed significant improvement on balance score, walking endurance, FFS and some of MSQOL-54 scale scores in the yoga group (p≤0.05 respectively). There were no clear changes in10-m times (p= 0.132), related to yoga group. No changes were observed for control group. These results suggest that yoga intervention can be beneficial for patients with MS

The effects of unilateral force nostril breathing on cognition and physiology

People in reentry from prison or jail (returning citizens) living with HIV and substance use problems often experience numerous stressors and are at high risk for resumed substance use. Interventions are needed to manage stress as a pathway to reduced substance use.This study explored the effect of a hatha yoga intervention as compared to treatment as usual on stress and substance use among returning citizens living with HIV and substance use problems.Participants were randomized to either a 12-session, 90-minute weekly yoga intervention or treatment as usual. All participants were clients of a service provider for returning citizens that offered case management, health care, and educational classes. Outcomes included stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale at the completion of the yoga intervention (three-months) and substance use as measured by the Timeline Followback at one-month, two-months, and three-months.Seventy-five people were enrolled, two of whom were withdrawn from the study because they did not have HIV. Of the 73 remaining participants, 85% participated in the three-month assessment. At three-months, yoga participants reported less stress than participants in treatment as usual [F (1,59) = 9.24, p < .05]. Yoga participants reported less substance use than participants in treatment as usual at one-month, two-months, and three-months [X2 (1) = 11.13, p < .001].Yoga interventions for returning citizens living with HIV and substance use problems may reduce stress and substance use. This finding is tentative because the control group did not receive an intervention of equal time and intensity.