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Yoga and Psychophysiological Determinants of Cardiovascular Health: Comparing Yoga Practitioners, Runners, and Sedentary Individuals

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

The evidence of cardiovascular benefits of yoga is promising, but lacks demonstrations of specificity compared to other interventions.

Purpose

The present cross-sectional study examined cardiovascular health markers in long-term practitioners of yoga (yogis), runners, and sedentary individuals.

Methods

We compared physiological, psychological, and lifestyle variables associated with cardiovascular health across groups.

Results

Yogis (n = 47) and runners (n = 46) showed favorable profiles compared to sedentary individuals (n = 52) on heart rate, heart rate variability, depression, perceived stress, and cigarette smoking. Runners and male yogis showed superior aerobic fitness compared to the sedentary group. Runners reported greater social support compared to other groups. Yogis demonstrated a lower respiration rate compared to sedentary individuals and were more likely to refrain from eating meat compared to other groups.

Conclusions

Yogis and runners demonstrated several cardiovascular health advantages over sedentary individuals. Our findings raise the possibility that yoga may improve aerobic fitness in men but not women.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the BC and Yukon Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Michael Smith Health Research Foundation. The authors wish to thank research assistants Candace Marshall, Jung-Un Choi, Haley Laing, Joanne Tseng, Jill Goldberg, Duncan Greig, Tommy Chien, Salah Bustami, Katherine Chan, and Jeff Markusoff; Tracy Cassels for statistical consulting; Drs. Lynn Alden, Todd Handy, Toni Schmader, Liz Dunn, Robert Sparks, Steven Taylor, Patricia Vertinsky, and Paul Lehrer for helpful comments on earlier drafts; and all the participants.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Jillian R. Satin Ph.D. & Wolfgang Linden Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada

    Roanne D. Millman M.A.

  3. The Clinic on Dupont, 101 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 1V4, Canada

    Jillian R. Satin Ph.D.

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  1. Jillian R. Satin Ph.D.
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  2. Wolfgang Linden Ph.D.
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  3. Roanne D. Millman M.A.
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Correspondence to Jillian R. Satin Ph.D..

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Satin, J.R., Linden, W. & Millman, R.D. Yoga and Psychophysiological Determinants of Cardiovascular Health: Comparing Yoga Practitioners, Runners, and Sedentary Individuals. ann. behav. med. 47, 231–241 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9542-2

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