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Yoga and Health

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 18461

Special Issue Editor

Dr. I-Hua Chu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
Interests: exercise psychology; psychophysiology; exercise behavior promotion; clinical exercise physiology; exercise prescription for chronic disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) is planning a Special Issue focusing on the effects of yoga on health. The practice of yoga brings together the mind and body. It incorporates yoga poses (asanas), breathing exercises, and meditation, and has received considerable attention for its beneficial effects on both mental and physical health. Practicing yoga is suitable for people of all ages and can be an integral part of treatment and recovery for individuals with chronic conditions. However, not all of the benefits of practicing yoga are evidence-based.

In this Special Issue, we encourage the submission of manuscripts (original articles, systematic reviews or meta-analyses) that examine the effects of acute or chronic yoga practice in populations across all age groups and with varying health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, chronic pain, migraines, hypertension, heart disease, lung disease). Interventional studies, as well as epidemiological research that investigates the effects of yoga on physical fitness (e.g., flexibility, balance, strength) and physiological parameters (e.g., heart rate variability, arterial stiffness), are also welcomed. The objective of this Special Issue is to bring together up-to-date evidence of the beneficial effects of yoga on health.

Dr. I-Hua Chu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • yoga
  • mind-body therapy
  • mental health
  • physical health
  • physical fitness

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1134 KiB  
Article
Body Loading during an Intensive Yoga Exercise Routine and a Cycle Ergometer Test
by Krzysztof Stec, Karol Pilis, Wiesław Pilis, Przemysław Miodek, Anna Pilis and Sławomir Letkiewicz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054157 - 25 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1555
Abstract
The present study compared the effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions of the practice of an intensive yoga exercise routine called Dynamic Suryanamaskar (DSN) and a cycle ergometer test (CET) of increasing intensity. The study involved 18 middle-aged volunteers who had [...] Read more.
The present study compared the effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions of the practice of an intensive yoga exercise routine called Dynamic Suryanamaskar (DSN) and a cycle ergometer test (CET) of increasing intensity. The study involved 18 middle-aged volunteers who had previously practiced DSN. The study was conducted in two series (i.e., as CET and DSN with similar intensity) until complete exhaustion. At rest (R), at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), and at the maximum workload (ML), the variables characterizing cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions were determined. In addition, the subjective intensity of both efforts was determined using the Borg test. No functional differences were observed in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems at similar CET and DSN intensities. Respondents experienced less subjective workload during DSN than during CET (p < 0.001). Since DSN intensifies the activity of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems to a similar degree to CET both at VAT and ML, but causes less subjective fatigue, this yogic practice can be used as a laboratory exercise test and as an effective training medium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yoga and Health)
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15 pages, 1550 KiB  
Article
Dismantling the Component-Specific Effects of Yogic Breathing: Feasibility of a Fully Remote Three-Arm RCT with Virtual Laboratory Visits and Wearable Physiology
by Yan Ma, Huan Yang, Michael Vazquez, Olivia Buraks, Monika Haack, Janet M. Mullington and Michael R. Goldstein
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3180; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043180 - 11 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1456
Abstract
Despite the growing research base examining the benefits and physiological mechanisms of slow-paced breathing (SPB), mindfulness (M), and their combination (as yogic breathing, SPB + M), no studies have directly compared these in a ”dismantling” framework. To address this gap, we conducted a [...] Read more.
Despite the growing research base examining the benefits and physiological mechanisms of slow-paced breathing (SPB), mindfulness (M), and their combination (as yogic breathing, SPB + M), no studies have directly compared these in a ”dismantling” framework. To address this gap, we conducted a fully remote three-armed feasibility study with wearable devices and video-based laboratory visits. Eighteen healthy participants (age 18–30 years, 12 female) were randomized to one of three 8-week interventions: slow-paced breathing (SPB, N = 5), mindfulness (M, N = 6), or yogic breathing (SPB + M, N = 7). The participants began a 24-h heart rate recording with a chest-worn device prior to the first virtual laboratory visit, consisting of a 60-min intervention-specific training with guided practice and experimental stress induction using a Stroop test. The participants were then instructed to repeat their assigned intervention practice daily with a guided audio, while concurrently recording their heart rate data and completing a detailed practice log. The feasibility was determined using the rates of overall study completion (100%), daily practice adherence (73%), and the rate of fully analyzable data from virtual laboratory visits (92%). These results demonstrate feasibility for conducting larger trial studies with a similar fully remote framework, enhancing the ecological validity and sample size that could be possible with such research designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yoga and Health)
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16 pages, 1688 KiB  
Article
Effects of Suryanamaskar, an Intensive Yoga Exercise Routine, on the Stress Levels and Emotional Intelligence of Indian Students
by Krzysztof Stec, Marek Kruszewski and Leon Ciechanowski
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 2845; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20042845 - 6 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3808
Abstract
The inability of an individual to identify, assess, and manage emotions and levels of stress has adverse individual and societal consequences. Previous studies have shown that yoga-based interventions can successfully treat stress, anxiety, and depression, and can enhance emotional control. The aim of [...] Read more.
The inability of an individual to identify, assess, and manage emotions and levels of stress has adverse individual and societal consequences. Previous studies have shown that yoga-based interventions can successfully treat stress, anxiety, and depression, and can enhance emotional control. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of a specific, intensive, yoga-based intervention, Dynamic Suryanamaskar, on the levels of perceived stress and emotional intelligence in Indian male school students. One hundred and five students with a median age of 17.15 ± 1.42 years were assessed. Practice took place over 12 weeks (n = 70 workouts). The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaire and the emotional intelligence (EQ) questionnaire, developed for the Indian population, were used to measure stress and emotional levels at the start and end of the study. The Solomon four-group design was used to ensure statistical reliability. The post-study univariate analysis of covariance ANOVA between groups (p < 0.001) and the t-test for independent samples (p < 0.05) indicated that, for those using the Dynamic Suryanamaskar protocol, there was a significant reduction in stress levels and a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the levels of emotional intelligence. This study thus provides further evidence of the benefits of the practice of Dynamic Suryanamaskar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yoga and Health)
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11 pages, 1031 KiB  
Article
Effects of Yoga Intervention on Functional Movement Patterns and Mindfulness in Collegiate Athletes: A Quasi-Experimental Study
by Dan Xu, Hua Wu, Hui Ruan, Cunzhu Yuan, Junke Gao and Meng Guo
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14930; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214930 - 13 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3697
Abstract
High-quality movement patterns and high levels of mindfulness are thought to be beneficial in preventing sports injuries. Yoga is recommended in the field of athlete rehabilitation. This study investigated the effects of yoga intervention on functional movement patterns and mindfulness in collegiate athletes. [...] Read more.
High-quality movement patterns and high levels of mindfulness are thought to be beneficial in preventing sports injuries. Yoga is recommended in the field of athlete rehabilitation. This study investigated the effects of yoga intervention on functional movement patterns and mindfulness in collegiate athletes. It is a quasi-experimental study with a pre/post-test control design. The participants were divided into a yoga group and a control group. A Functional Movement Screen and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale were used to assess participants’ basic movement patterns and mindfulness before and after 12 weeks of yoga intervention (two classes per week, 90 min per class). The results show that the yoga group’s FMS scores improved more compared to the control group [F(1,78) = 29.08, p < 0.001, ŋp2 = 0.27], and that the scores for the deep squat (ŋp2 = 0.4), shoulder mobility (ŋp2 = 0.17), and trunk stability pushup (ŋp2 = 0.36) improved substantially. The dysfunctional score ratio for deep squats (χ2 = 18.57, p < 0.001), shoulder mobility (χ2 = 26.90, p < 0.001), trunk stability pushup (χ2 = 17.07, p < 0.001), and rotatory stability (χ2= 38.29, p <0.001) decreased significantly compared with the control group, but there was no significant improvement in asymmetric movement patterns (χ2 = 0.75, p = 0.39). The mindfulness scores in the yoga group significantly exceeded those of the control group [F(1,78) = 13.56, p < 0.001, ŋp2 = 0.15]. These results suggest that yoga intervention can improve functional movement patterns and mindfulness levels, but further evidence is needed to determine whether yoga could positively influence sports injuries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yoga and Health)
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24 pages, 4770 KiB  
Article
Embodied Cognition in Meditation, Yoga, and Ethics—An Experimental Single-Case Study on the Differential Effects of Four Mind–Body Treatments
by Karin Matko, Peter Sedlmeier and Holger C. Bringmann
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11734; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811734 - 17 Sep 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3758
Abstract
Yoga is an embodied contemplative practice considered as a path toward long-term well-being, which fosters an integrated processing of bodily and emotional stimuli. However, little is known about how the different components of yoga contribute to these processes. This was the aim of [...] Read more.
Yoga is an embodied contemplative practice considered as a path toward long-term well-being, which fosters an integrated processing of bodily and emotional stimuli. However, little is known about how the different components of yoga contribute to these processes. This was the aim of this single-case multiple-baseline study. Herein, we explored how different yoga components affect body awareness, emotion regulation, affectivity, self-compassion, and distress tolerance. Forty-two randomly assigned participants (from initially fifty-seven) completed one of four 8-week treatments: Mantra meditation alone (MA), meditation plus physical yoga (MY), meditation plus ethical education (ME), and meditation plus yoga and ethical education (MYE). Participants had no prior regular yoga or meditation practice. Data were analyzed using visual inspection, effect size estimation, and multilevel modeling. Surprisingly, all four treatments similarly improved body awareness (Tau-UMA = 0.21 to Tau-UMY = 0.49), emotion regulation (Tau-UMYE = −0.43 to Tau-UME = −0.52), self-compassion (η2 = 0.08), and distress tolerance (η2 = 0.13). These effects were maintained until follow-up at 2 and 12 months after the study, even though home practice declined. The MA condition had the least favorable effect on affective experience (Tau-UMA = −0.14 and 0.07), while the ME condition enhanced valence the most (Tau-UME = 0.10) and the MY condition was the most effective in preventing negative affective responses. Although mantra meditation on its own negatively influenced daily affect, it can be assumed as the driving force behind the improvement in the other variables. This points to the central role of meditation in increasing interoception, self-awareness, and embodied processing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yoga and Health)
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14 pages, 2374 KiB  
Article
The Psychophysiological Profile and Cardiac Autonomic Reactivity in Long-Term Female Yoga Practitioners: A Comparison with Runners and Sedentary Individuals
by Jia-Ru Lin, Pei-Tzu Wu, Wen-Lan Wu, Yu-Kai Chang and I-Hua Chu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(13), 7671; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19137671 - 23 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2310
Abstract
Yoga practice, a means of stress management, has been reported to optimize psychophysiological health; however, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychophysiological profile and cardiac autonomic reactivity in long-term yoga practitioners and compare them [...] Read more.
Yoga practice, a means of stress management, has been reported to optimize psychophysiological health; however, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychophysiological profile and cardiac autonomic reactivity in long-term yoga practitioners and compare them to runners and sedentary individuals. Psychological health and aerobic fitness level were evaluated using self-reported questionnaires and a 3-min step test. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters were recorded at rest, as well as during and following psychological stress, which was elicited by the Stroop color and word test and the mental arithmetic task. The yoga group demonstrated a lower RR (10.35 ± 2.13 bpm) as compared to the other two groups, and a lower HR (66.60 ± 7.55 bpm) and diastolic BP (67.75 ± 8.38 mmHg) at rest when compared to the sedentary group (all p < 0.05). HRV parameters following mental stress returned to the baseline in yoga and running groups, but not in the sedentary group. The anxiety level in the running group was significantly lower than that in the sedentary group (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that yoga practitioners may have a greater homeostatic capacity and autonomic resilience than do sedentary individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Yoga and Health)
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