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 .
Retardation of coronary atherosclerosis with yoga lifestyle intervention.
BACKGROUND Yoga has potential for benefit for patients with coronary artery disease though objective , angiographic studies are lacking . MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated possible role of lifestyle modification incorporating yoga , on retardation of coronary atherosclerotic disease . In this prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled trial , 42 men with angiographically proven coronary artery disease ( CAD ) were r and omized to control ( n = 21 ) and yoga intervention group ( n = 21 ) and were followed for one year . The active group was treated with a user-friendly program consisting of yoga , control of risk factors , diet control and moderate aerobic exercise . The control group was managed by conventional methods i.e. risk factor control and American Heart Association step I diet . RESULTS At one year , the yoga groups showed significant reduction in number of anginal episodes per week , improved exercise capacity and decrease in body weight . Serum total cholesterol , LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels also showed greater reductions as compared with control group . Revascularisation procedures ( coronary angioplasty or bypass surgery ) were less frequently required in the yoga group ( one versus eight patients ; relative risk = 5.45 ; P = 0.01 ) . Coronary angiography repeated at one year showed that significantly more lesions regressed ( 20 % versus 2 % ) and less lesions progressed ( 5 % versus 37 % ) in the yoga group ( chi-square = 24.9 ; P < 0.0001 ) . The compliance to the total program was excellent and no side effects were observed . CONCLUSION Yoga lifestyle intervention retards progression and increases regression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with severe coronary artery disease . It also improves symptomatic status , functional class and risk factor profile
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 .