Impact of Yoga on Exercise and Blood Pressure in Adolescents

Background Adolescents with elevated body mass index BMI are at increased risk for future development of obesity related diseases as adults The applications of stress reduction programs such as yoga training especially for youth are few This study tested the impact of yoga yoga stretching and postures meditation alternate nostril breathing delivered in a high school setting The objective was to determine the impact of yoga on exercise habits and blood pressure BP among a population of overweight adolescents Methods Forty adolescents Female Male Black White mean age plusmn yrs with BMI for age ge th percentile by gender BMI ge for girls ge for boys from high school health physical education classes were assigned to weekly hour sessions of yoga at school n or evaluation only control n conditions Participants were evaluated at pre and months post test and at months follow up Ambulatory BP measurements were obtained over hour periods in the natural setting using Space Labs BP monitors A lifestyle behavior survey assessed exercise habits and physical activity Results Self reported yoga home practice averaged min day range min day mean times per week range times per week Differences between groups at baseline did not reach statistical significance A significant group by time interaction was observed for hr systolic BP such that the yoga group decreased from plusmn to plusmn mmHg compared to an increase plusmn to plusmn mm Hg in the control group across the month study p lt hr diastolic BP decreased in the yoga group from plusmn to plusmn mm Hg while the controls increased from plusmn to plusmn mm Hg across the month study p lt The yoga group increased in days week with gt min of hard aerobic exercise from plusmn to plusmn compared to a decrease in the control group plusmn to plusmn across the month study p lt Conclusion The findings were observed over a relatively short intervention period and suggest beneficial impact of yoga upon blood pressure and exercise in overweight adolescents Replication and verification in a larger group with a longer follow up is warranted