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 .
Bikram Yoga Training and Physical Fitness in Healthy Young Adults
Abstract Tracy , BL and Hart , CEF . Bikram yoga training and physical fitness in healthy young adults . J Strength Cond Res 27(3 ) : 822–830 , 2013—There has been relatively little longitudinal controlled investigation of the effects of yoga on general physical fitness , despite the widespread participation in this form of exercise . The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the effect of short-term Bikram yoga training on general physical fitness . Young healthy adults were r and omized to yoga training ( N = 10 , 29 ± 6 years , 24 sessions in 8 weeks ) or a control group ( N = 11 , 26 ± 7 years ) . Each yoga training session consisted of 90-minute st and ardized supervised postures performed in a heated and humidified studio . Isometric deadlift strength , h and grip strength , lower back/hamstring and shoulder flexibility , resting heart rate and blood pressure , maximal oxygen consumption ( treadmill ) , and lean and fat mass ( dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry ) were measured before and after training . Yoga subjects exhibited increased deadlift strength , substantially increased lower back/hamstring flexibility , increased shoulder flexibility , and modestly decreased body fat compared with control group . There were no changes in h and grip strength , cardiovascular measures , or maximal aerobic fitness . In summary , this short-term yoga training protocol produced beneficial changes in musculoskeletal fitness that were specific to the training stimulus
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 .