Effects of yoga exercise combined with passive stretching on the flexibility and strength of female students

Introduction: Exercise combining yoga with passive stretching (YPS) represents an alternative approach to enhancing health and physical fitness, particularly in terms of improving flexibility and muscular strength. However, there remains a scarcity of research investigating the effects of this combined exercise modality specifically within female student populations. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a combined yoga and passive stretching program on the flexibility and muscular strength of female university students. Methods: Twenty female students aged 18–22 from the Faculty of Science, Buriram Rajabhat University, participated in the study. All provided informed consent. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: the experimental group (EXG; n = 10), which performed YPS training for eight weeks (three 60-minute sessions a week), and the control group (CG; n = 10), which received no training. Flexibility and both upper and lower body strength were assessed before the program, at week four, and at week eight. Results: The experimental group demonstrated significant improvements in flexibility and muscular strength at both four and eight weeks compared to their baseline and the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: YPS effectively enhanced flexibility and strength in female students, outperforming the absence of training. This integrated approach offers a practical and accessible option for improving physical health across various age groups.