IMPACT OF 24 WEEKS OF YOGA PRACTICE ON BODY COMPOSITION, PHYSICAL FITNESS AND CARDIO-RESPIRATORY VARIABLES OF HEALTHY ADOLESCENT FEMALE PARTICIPANTS

Abstract

Back grounds: Yoga practice may improve health, fitness and reduces the risk of many diseases. This work aimed to observe whether practice of yoga asana can improve the body fat, strength, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory variables of female volunteers. Methods: One hundred fifty one adolescent female participants (age: 13–15 yrs) were screened randomly, thirty one were excluded, rest one hundred twenty participants were grouped : (i) Yoga asana Practice Group (YPG: n = 60) and (ii) Sedentary Control Group (SCG: n = 60). The YG followed a yoga asana practice schedule of 1 hr/d, 5 d/wk for 24 wks was followed by the participants of YPG, and no such protocol was given to SCG. Body fat, strength, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory variables was assessed at the beginning (0 wk) and after yoga training (12 wks and 24 wks). Results: Yoga practice reduced (p≤0.05) body weight, BMI, body fat, LBM, reaction time, SBP,  heart rate during rest, exercise and recovery; and increased (p ≤0.05) strength, flexibility, PFI, VO_2max, FVC, FEV1 and PEFR among the volunteers of YPG after yoga training. The SCG volunteers had higher (p ≤0.05) body fat, WHR, reaction time, SBP, heart rate during rest and recovery,; and lower (p <0.05) MUAC, strength, flexibility, PFI, VO_2max, FVC and PEFR than the YPG. Conclusion: Yoga practice reduces body fat, blood pressure, heart rate; and increase strength, flexibility, PFI, VO_2max, lung functions. Thus yoga improves physical and cardio- respiratory fitness which is essential for good health.