No significant difference was found between yoga and exercise .
Conclusions There is promising evidence of yoga on improving cardio-metabolic health .
Background Yoga , a popular mind-body practice , may produce changes in cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and metabolic syndrome risk factors .
Non-pharmacological Interventions in Hypertension: A Community-based Cross-over Randomized Controlled Trial
Background : Hypertension is the most prevalent non-communicable disease causing significant morbidity/mortality through cardiovascular , cerebrovascular , and renal complications . Objectives : This community-based study tested the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in preventing/controlling hypertension . Material s and Methods : This is a cross-over r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) of the earlier RCT ( 2007 ) of non-pharmacological interventions in hypertension , conducted in the urban service area of our Institute . The subjects , prehypertensive and hypertensive young adults ( 98 subjects : 25 , 23 , 25 , 25 in four groups ) were r and omly allotted into a group that he/she had not belonged to in the earlier RCT : Control ( New Group I ) , Physical Exercise ( NG II)-brisk walking for 50 to 60 minutes , three to four days/week , Salt Intake Reduction ( NG III ) to at least half of their previous intake , Yoga ( NG IV ) for 30 to 45 minutes/day , five days/week . Blood pressure was measured before and after eight weeks of intervention . Analysis was by ANOVA with a Games-Howell post hoc test . Results : Ninety-four participants ( 25 , 23 , 21 , 25 ) completed the study . All three intervention groups showed significant reduction in BP ( SBP/DBP mmHg : 5.3/6.0 in NG II , 2.5/2.0 in NG III , and 2.3/2.4 in NG IV , respectively ) , while the Control Group showed no significant difference . Persistence of significant reduction in BP in the three intervention groups after cross-over confirmed the biological plausibility of these non-pharmacological interventions . This study reconfirmed that physical exercise was more effective than Salt Reduction or  Yoga . Salt Reduction , and Yoga were equally effective . Conclusion : Physical exercise , salt intake reduction , and yoga are effective non-pharmacological methods for reducing blood pressure in young pre-hypertensive and hypertensive adults
No significant difference was found between yoga and exercise .
Conclusions There is promising evidence of yoga on improving cardio-metabolic health .
Background Yoga , a popular mind-body practice , may produce changes in cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) and metabolic syndrome risk factors .