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 .
Effect of yogic exercises on physical and mental health of young fellowship course trainees.
A study was undertaken to observe any beneficial effect of yogic practice s during training period on the young trainees . 54 trainees of 20 - 25 years age group were divided r and omly in two groups i.e. yoga and control group . Yoga group ( 23 males and 5 females ) was administered yogic practice s for the first five months of the course while control group ( 21 males and 5 females ) did not perform yogic exercises during this period . From the 6th to 10th month of training both the groups performed the yogic practice s.  Physiological parameters like heart rate , blood pressure , oral temperature , skin temperature in resting condition , responses to maximal and submaximal exercise , body flexibility were recorded . Psychological parameters like personality , learning , arithmetic and psychomotor ability , mental well being were also recorded . Various parameters were taken before and during the 5th and 10th month of training period . Initially there was relatively higher sympathetic activity in both the groups due to the new work/training environment but gradually it subsided . Later on at the 5th and 10th month , yoga group had relatively lower sympathetic activity than the control group . There was improvement in performance at submaximal level of exercise and in anaerobic threshold in the yoga group . Shoulder , hip , trunk and neck flexibility improved in the yoga group . There was improvement in various psychological parameters like reduction in anxiety and depression and a better mental function after yogic practice
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 .