The Effect of Vinyasa Yoga on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Bone Mineral Density in Sedentary Young Adults
Authors: Choi Myung Dong , Payter Crystal , Landis‐Piwowar Kristin , Doshi Rajvi 
Published: November 2023

National Institute of Health now classifies yoga as a form of Complementary and Alternative medicine that benefit individuals suffering from a multitude of different ailments and conditions like Osteoporosis and Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD). However, there is insufficient evidence regarding the importance of yoga on bone mineral density and improvement in cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary young adults.

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the effects of Vinyasa yoga on cardiovascular risk factor and bone mineral density in sedentary young adults.

Methods

Twenty five college students ages 18–30 were assigned to either a yoga intervention group (yoga, n=14) or control group (CON, n=11). The yoga intervention group practiced Vinyasa yoga 1 hour per day and 3 times per week for 8 weeks under the supervision of a trained instructor. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and blood plasma samples were analyzed for cardiovascular risk factors (CRF), including total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), triacylglycerol, and non‐HDL cholesterol. One‐way ANCOVA was used to determine differences in variables (CRF and BMD) between the groups.

Results

Bone mineral density did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (1.05±0.01 g/cm2 vs. 1.05±0.01 g/cm2, respectively). Total cholesterol (TC) did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (169.2±23.3 mg/dl vs. 162.0±32.6 mg/dl, respectively). HDL did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (60.2±1.8 mg/dl vs. 56.9±1.6 mg/dl, respectively). LDL did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (86.8±4.1 mg/dl vs. 87.5±3.7 mg/dl, respectively). VLDL did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (18.5±1.9 mg/dl vs. 17.7±1.7 mg/dl, respectively). Triacylglycerol did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (92.9±9.4 mg/dl vs. 88.4±8.3 mg/dl, respectively). Non‐HDL cholesterol did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (105.1±3.9 mg/dl vs. 105.3±3.5 mg/dl, respectively). The ratio of TC/HDL did not change in yoga group after 8‐week intervention, compared with CON (2.76±0.1 vs. 2.95±0.1, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study results do not support that short term (8 weeks) Vinyasa yoga training may provide sufficient impacts on the skeletal system to improve cardiovascular risk factors and bone mineral density in healthy sedentary young adults. Low impact weight‐bearing exercise, e.g. Vinyasa yoga, seems not to be an appropriate type of exercise to increase bone mineral density in relatively healthy young adults. Also, Vinyasa yoga or total amount of yoga exerciseduring 8 weeks may not be sufficient to change blood lipid profiles related to cardiovascular risks.