Scheduled for RC Poster Social: Sharing Research Across the HPERD Disciplines, Wednesday, March 31, 2004, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM, Convention Center: Exhibit Hall Poster Session


Blood Pressure Response to Selected Yoga Poses in College-Age Females

Jan Marie Schroeder and Joslyn O'Connor, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

Given the format of group exercise, instructors may not be aware of their participants' blood pressure (BP) and if coupled with the lack of research on yoga's acute effects on BP, this may lead to potential cardiovascular complications during certain poses or asanas. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of selected yoga poses on BP responses in college-age females. Participants (N=8) were college-age females (age = 25.88+5.18 yrs.; ht = 168.43+3.81 cm; wt = 63.52+6.3 kg; and body fat = 21.73+4.47 %). with little yoga experience (7.25+10.01 classes). The participants performed selected yoga poses (corpse, forward bend, mountain, back bend, tree, downward dog, warrior I, upward dog, shoulder stance, and plank) in a counterbalance design. Resting BPs were measured in a seated position prior to the commencement of each pose. BP during the pose was measured at the third breath of a five-breath cycle. At least 5-min. rest was given between each pose. Dependent T-tests were used to analyze the data. Significant differences were found between resting BP and BP during the following poses (resting and pose SBP; resting and pose DBP, respectively): forward bend (108.25+9.13 and 118.00+8.78 mmHG, p=.00; 66.00+8.56 and 74.00+6.59 mmHG, p=.00), back bend (102.71+11.90 and 119.43+10.91 mmHG, p=.00; 64.86+10.12 and 87.14+10.11 mmHG, p=.00), tree (107.00+9.40 and 94.38+13.59 mmHG, p=.04; 68.63+4.84 and 56.88+10.78 mmHG, p=.01), downward dog (105.63+6.99 and 123.13+11.84 mmHG, p=.00; 69.88+5.49 and 80.00+6.30 mmHG, p=.02), shoulder stance (112.29+6.90 and 141.14+21.97 mmHG, p=.01; 67.00+6.78 and 81.57+16.50 mmHG, p=.05) and plank (107.88+6.38 and 120.88+16.45 mmHG, p=.05; 68.50+4.28 and 75.50+7.15 mmHG, p=.05). There was a significant difference between resting SBP and warrior I SBP (112.43+8.00 and 100.9+13.85 mmHG; p=.04), but not DBPs. Resting DBP was significantly different from upward dog DBP (71.25+3.50 and 78.00+7.43 mmHG; p=.02), but SBP's were not significantly different. There were no significant differences in BPs during the corpse or mountain pose. In conclusion, yoga poses such as; plank, shoulder stance, downward dog, back bend and forward bend may cause significant increase in BP in normotensive college-age females and should be used with caution during classes in which the instructor has no prior knowledge of participant blood pressure.


Keyword(s): adult fitness, exercise/fitness, research

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