Abstract

Background: Modern lifestyle and daily stress due to various causes have an adverse effect on cardiovascular health. Yoga modulates the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary axis to decrease the effects of stress. Increase in cardiac output (CO) within physiological limits has health benefits. Aims and
Objective: We compared the alteration in CO in subjects practicing yoga and those not practicing yoga before and after exposure to an exercise challenge.
Materials and Methods: A total of 94 healthy male subjects in the age group 20 to 60 years were included in the study. Subjects were divided into two groups. Yoga group (n = 47, mean age: 43.95 ± 6.61 years, mean body mass index (BMI): 2 24.09 ± 4.19 kg/m ) consisted of subjects who had practiced yoga (Asanas, Pranayama, and meditation) for over 2 years. 2 Nonyoga group (n = 47, mean age: 44.17 ± 6.48 years, mean BMI: 24.33 ± 4.97 kg/m ) did not perform yoga or any other form of regular physical activity for the same duration. CO was measured using non-invasive CO monitor of L and T systems.
Results: CO before exercise in yoga and non-yoga groups was 4.21 ± 0.63 L/min and 4.08 ± 0.57 L/min, respectively. The values of CO after exercise in yoga and non-yoga groups were 5.71 ± 0.58 L/min and 4.94 ± 0.53 L/min, respectively. CO after exercise challenge and difference in change of CO was statistically significant (P < 0.05) between the two groups. CO was significantly increased in yoga group after exercise but not in nonyoga group. Conclusion: There was a significant increase in CO after exercise in practitioners of yoga indicating an increase in cardiovascular endurance in practitioners of yoga.