| Titel: | Psychological and Physiological Influences of Hatha Yoga Training on Healthy, Exercising Adults. (Yoga, Stress, Wellness) |
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| Autor: | aldwin, Maria C. |
| Mediengruppe: | --- |
| Herausgeber: | --- |
| Zeitschrift: | Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Jahr: | 1999 |
| Band: | 60 |
| Heft: | --- |
| Seiten: | --- |
| Sprache: | English |
| Abstract: | Hatha Yoga is a disciplined study of postures, breathing practices, and meditation techniques, with historical roots in ancient India. Traditionally undertaken as a spiritual practice, yoga is more well known in the West for its challenging physical training. Recent exercise trends have been associated with consumer demand for yoga classes. Little is known, however, about the effects of Hatha Yoga training on healthy exercising adults. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychological and physiological differences between adult exercisers who added a weekly yoga class to their regular exercise program and those who did not. Nine research questions were addressed in a pretest/posttest experimental design. Volunteers solicited through a local YMCA were prescreened for eliglibility using ACSM guidelines for "apparently healthy" adults. Subjects were pre tested and post tested for mood state, stress response, recovery heart rate, and spinal/hamstring flexibilty. Over a period of eight weeks, subjects in both groups continued their normal exercise habits mid maintained exercise logs. Subjects in the Yoga Group added a weekly yoga class. Subjects in the Control Group received a yoga class at a later time. At the end of eight weeks, exercise logs were collected and post tests were conducted. The study discovered: (1) more positive mood change in the Yoga Group over eight weeks, (2) more immediate positive affect from yoga than from cardiovascular or resistance training activities, (3) more compliance with yoga than with cardiovascular or resistance training activities, (4) comparable perceived exertion ratings for "moderate" Hatha Yoga and routine aerobic exercise (13 on the Borg RPE scale), (5) an 8% gain in spinal and hamstring flexibility in the Yoga Group over eight weeks, and (6) decreased vulnerability to stress in the Yoga Group, at the same time that sources of stress for that group increased. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) |