Oxygen Consumption during Viniyoga Practice in Adults

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Kinesiology
• Yoga Studies

Background:

• Oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) is a key metric for assessing exercise intensity.
• Understanding the metabolic demands of various physical activities, including yoga, is crucial for health and fitness.
• Viniyoga, a specific style of yoga, has not been extensively studied for its physiological impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify oxygen consumption (V̇O₂) during Viniyoga yoga movements (asanas).
• To compare the V̇O₂ of yoga practice with that of treadmill walking in adults.

Main Methods:

• Ten yoga practitioners' V̇O₂ was measured at rest, during yoga practice, and during treadmill walking at 2 and 3 mph using whole-room indirect calorimetry.
• Yoga poses were categorized by body orientation: standing, lying, and sitting.
• Statistical analyses included Pearson's correlations and linear regression models to compare V̇O₂ between activities and body orientations.

Main Results:

• Mean V̇O₂ during the entire yoga session was 3.7 ml/kg/min.
• V̇O₂ varied by yoga pose orientation: standing (7.5 ml/kg/min), lying (5.3 ml/kg/min), and sitting (5.4 ml/kg/min).
• Walking at 2 mph was comparable to sitting and lying yoga poses, while 3 mph walking was comparable to standing and sitting poses. Female gender was negatively associated with V̇O₂ across all yoga orientations.

Conclusions:

• V̇O₂ during Viniyoga practice is comparable to slow-speed treadmill walking.
• The metabolic cost of yoga varies significantly based on body orientation (pose type).
• Gender influences V̇O₂ during yoga, with females exhibiting lower consumption, suggesting personalized exercise prescription considerations.