The physiological and psychological effects of Ashtanga yoga

Abstract

Purpose of the research was to evaluate the physiological and stress-related psychological effects of weekly ashtanga yoga training; hypothesis was that three months of twice weekly 60-90 minute ashtanga yoga sessions would have positive effects on: blood pressure, upper body muscular endurance, trunk muscular endurance, flexibility, and perceived stress; subjects were seven college-age untrained females with a control group of five moderately active college-age females who engaged in traditional physical activity; results included statistically significant upper body muscular endurance and increased trunk flexibility, with other evidence of positive effects on cardiovascular fitness, perceived stress, and mental health.