Heart rate response during hatha yoga and the effects on health-related physical fitness

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of yoga training programs on health-related physical fitness and to measure the heart rate (HR) responses of individuals throughout an actual Hatha yoga class. Two male and six female college students who were enrolled in an intermediate Sivananda yoga class voluntarily participated in this study. Yoga classes lasted 105 minutes and were offered twice a week for eight weeks; participants had to attend at least 50% of the classes. One male and six female participants had their physical fitness tested after the first week of yoga training and again five days after the final yoga class. Aspects of physical fitness tested included: body composition, flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance.