Effect of a 16-Week Yoga Program on Blood Pressure in Healthy College Students

Authors

  • Debra Nelson Chicago State University
  • Justy Reed Chicago State University
  • Sarah M. Buck Chicago State University

Keywords:

blood pressure, yoga

Abstract

 

 The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a 16-week yoga program on blood pressure (BP) in healthy college students. Twenty-five students (Mage = 28.24, SD = 10.64) participated in yoga class twice per week for 16 weeks. Thirty-one students (Mage = 28.77, SD = 7.23) attended a lecture (control condition) at approximately the same time as yoga. Resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed at the beginning and end of the 16-week semester. Repeated measures ANCOVAs with pre-study BP as the covariate were used to test group BP differences across time (pre- to post-study). The SBP ANCOVA indicated yoga had a moderate statistically significant greater effect on lowering SBP compared to the control condition (p = .03, ES = .61). The DBP ANCOVA revealed that yoga produced a small statistically nonsignificant greater effect on lowering DBP compared to the control condition (p = .22, ES = .24). After the additional demographic variables were considered, regression analyses showed that the effect of yoga on lowering SBP compared to the control remained significant (p = .04), and the effect of yoga on lowering DBP compared to the control remained nonsignificant (p = .32). The results support regular yoga practice as a method of lowering SBP in healthy college students. 

Author Biographies

Debra Nelson, Chicago State University

Associate Professor, Department of Secondary Education, Professional Studies and Recreation

Sarah M. Buck, Chicago State University

Associate Professor, Department of Secondary Education, Professional Studies and Recreation

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Published

2014-09-24

Issue

Vol. 71 No. 3 (2014)

Section

Articles

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