Oxygen Consumption during Viniyoga Practice in Adults

The purpose of this study was to measure the oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) during Viniyoga yoga movements (asanas) and to compare V̇O₂ walking among adults.

Yoga practitioners (n = 10) were recruited to measure V̇O₂ while at rest (30 min), practicing yoga (16 movements with different variations), and treadmill walking at 2 mph (10 min) and 3 mph (10 min). V̇O₂ was measured using a whole-room indirect calorimetry. Each yoga movement was categorized by body orientation as standing, lying, and sitting. The differences in V̇O₂ between yoga and walking were examined using Pearson's correlations. Differences in V̇O₂ between poses (standing, sitting, and lying) were examined using linear regression models. V̇O₂.

Mean yoga-V̇O₂ for the entire yoga session was 3.7 (standard deviation [SD] 0.43, range: 4.4-8.9) ml/kg/min. Yoga-V̇O₂ varied by body orientation: standing = 7.5 (SD = 1.5) ml/kg/min, lying = 5.3 (SD = 1.0) ml/kg/min, and sitting = 5.4 (SD = 1.1) ml/kg/min. After adjusting for body mass, frequency of yoga practice, and resting energy expenditure, female gender was negatively associated with mean yoga V̇O₂ for standing (B = -112.19, P < 0.05), lying (B = -141.87, P < 0.05), and sitting (B = -129.96, P < 0.05). Mean V̇O₂ for walking 2 mph was comparable with sitting (r = 0.836, P < 0.05) and lying (r = 0.735, P < 0.05) whereas walking at 3 mph was comparable with standing (r = 0.718, P < 0.05) and sitting (r = 0.760, P < 0.05).

We conclude that V̇O₂ during yoga practice is comparable to V̇O₂ during slow treadmill walking and may vary based on gender and body orientation.