Effects of Yoga on Your Heart Rate

Yoga has gained the interest of Westerners. According to Mind Disorder website, six million individuals in the United States practiced yoga in 2002; with more than a million and a half practicing it regularly. Yoga is a combination of breathing and physical exercises, postures and meditation to enhance your mental, physical and spiritual states.

Research Study
A study published in the International Journal of Psychosomatics, 1994, entitled Physiological and Psychological Effects of Hatha-Yoga Exercises in Healthy Women, by F.J. Schell et.al., University of Wurzburg, Germany, reports on a control group of young female volunteers. While reading in a comfortable position during the experimental period their heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol and growth hormones, prolactin and certain psychological parameters were compared against a yoga practicing group of young females.

Results indicated a significant decrease in the heart rate of the yoga group during the practice, higher scores in life satisfaction, and lower scores in aggressiveness, excitability, emotionality and somatic complaints and higher scores in spirits and extravertedness.

Pilot Study
An article authored by Robin Hindery, University of California; April 23, 2009,reports about a first-of-its-kind-pilot study lead by Jill Howie Esquivel, RN, PhD, on the "Effects of Yoga on Heart Rate Variability In Patients With Heart Failure." In an eight week program with 18 men and women who participated in one hour yoga classes twice per week based on each patient's physical ability. Heart rate measurements were taken and recorded using an Holter monitor 24 hours before the first class and at the end of the program.

Participants also practiced at home with a CD of yoga instructions and kept a diary of their home practice. According to Howie Esquivel, it is not known whether yoga improved heart rate variability; however they are ecstatic about the improvements in their mood, energy level and ability to manage stress.

Effects On The Cardiovascular System
According to the Ohio State University Medical Center website, studies show that after yoga the cardiovascular system showed improvement in its function, in blood circulation and a decrease in blood pressure. In addition aerobic power and endurance were increased and there was a decrease in heart rate.

Other Health Benefits
Yoga not only lowers heart rate measurements; it also improves focus and concentration and reduces stress. Yoga improves posture, range of movement, flexibility, muscle tone and balance. In addition it relaxes the body, prevents insomnia, improves your mood, helps with weight loss and promotes a feeling of health and wellbeing.

http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Yoga.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7843867

http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2009/04/8173/ucsf-studies-effects-yoga-heart-failure-patients

http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/viewer/Pages/index.aspx?ItemID=139

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/yoga/CM00004