Yoga Effects on Heart Rate Variability and Electroencephalography

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Since yoga breathing exercises are traditionally used to tranquilize the mind, and have a well-known positive effect on the cardiovascular system, it is our hypothesis that a respiratory yoga exercise named bhastrika pranayama may have positive effects on heart rate variability, electroencephalography, quality of life and salivary cortisol (stress hormone).

Detailed Description
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The effects of yoga interventions on heart rate variability have been previously shown in our laboratory, having its efficacy in improving autonomic heart modulation of hypertensives and elderly subjets proven. However, there is a lack of data addressing the effects of such interventions on EEG patterns of health fit male subjects, as well as there are no study investigating if there is a relationship between heart autonomic modulation changes and EEG patterns. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 1 month respiratory yoga training on heart rate variability, EEG, salivary cortisol and quality of life of health fit male subjets.

Official Title
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Effects of Yoga on Heart Rate Variability, Electroencephalography, Quality of Life and Salivary Cortisol of Healthy Adult Subjets

Conditions
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Health Behavior, Quality of Life

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: 1 month respiratory training
* Behavioral: 1 month waiting period


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Young adults; Physically fit (engaged in physical activity at least 2-3 times a week); Non athletes; Possibility to follow protocol agenda. Exclusion Criteria: Epileptic events in previous 5 years; Chronic allergic rhinitis, with airway occlusion; Oral bronchodilator usage; Beta blocker user; Any diagnosed cardiac rhythm alteration at rest; Cerebral dysrhythmia; Previous training in respiratory yoga exercises.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 25 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Group 1<br>1 month respiratory training | Behavioral: 1 month respiratory training<br>* Bhastrika yoga respiratory training: 30 kapalabhati and 1 surya bedhana form 1 bhastrika<br>Behavioral: 1 month waiting period<br>* waiting or detraining period<br>|
| Experimental: Group 2<br>1 month waiting period | Behavioral: 1 month respiratory training<br>* Bhastrika yoga respiratory training: 30 kapalabhati and 1 surya bedhana form 1 bhastrika<br>Behavioral: 1 month waiting period<br>* waiting or detraining period<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes from baseline electroencephalography measures of brain waves at 1 and 2 months | 64 active electrodes electroencephalography | baseline, one month, two months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| frequency domain heart rate variability | R-R interval autoregressive spectral analysis | study entry, one month, two months | 
| salivary cortisol |  | study entry, one month, two months | 
| quality of life | quality of life will be addressed by the World Health Organization Questionaire of Quality of Life in its brief form | study entry, one month, two months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Yoga, Electroencephalography, Heart rate variability, Breathing Exercises, Quality of life