Objective: We intended to evaluate the efficacy of yogic exercise on
cardio-respiratory fitness; memory, stress, mental health and plasma nitric
oxide level in healthy adult subjects. We also aimed to find out the
correlation between change in cardiorespiratory fitness & mental health
and nitric oxide level due to yoga practice.
Methods: In this yoga interventional study, the most prevalent yoga
exercise model (Asanas, Pranayama and Meditation) was used. The study
samples (n=200) were healthy male (n=120) and female (n=80) adults
(mean age=39.95 years) were recruited by taking written consent.
Subjects with any systemic and/or psychological disorders or under
specific medications, pregnant women were excluded. Subjects who have
never practiced or practicing yoga or other type of physical exercise and
willing to practice yoga (1 hr per day; 6 days per week for 6 months)
were included in the study. Data was collected at baseline (pre-yogic
exercise) and after 6-months of yoga training (post-yogic exercise). The
following parameters were measured at baseline and after yoga practice
for 6 months: Cardio-respiratory parameters and fitness: Resting HR,
resting BP, HR and BP after Harvard Step Test (HST), vital capacity,
FEV1, PEFR, VO2max, physical fitness index (PFI); Mental health:
memory, perceived stress (PSS), anxiety, depression, emotional balance,
loss of behavioral or emotional control, general positive affect, life
satisfaction, psychological distress & well-being, mental health index
(MHI); and plasma nitric oxide level (NOx). The collected data was
statistically analyzed with SPSS (24th version). Paired t-test was applied
to determine the significance difference between baseline and post-yogic
data values. The p-value was established at 5% level of significance.
