Does practicing hatha yoga satisfy recommendations for intensity of physical activity which improves and maintains health and cardiovascular fitness?

Background: Little is known about the metabolic and heart rate responses to a typical hatha yoga session. The purposes of this study were 1) to determine whether a typical yoga practice using various postures meets the current recommendations for levels of physical activity required to improve and maintain health and cardiovascular fitness; 2) to determine the reliability of metabolic costs of yoga across sessions; 3) to compare the metabolic costs of yoga practice to those of treadmill walking. Methods: In this observational study, 20 intermediate-to-advanced level yoga practitioners, age 31.4 ± 8.3 years, performed an exercise routine inside a human respiratory chamber (indirect calorimeter) while wearing heart rate monitors. The exercise routine consisted of 30 minutes of sitting, 56 minutes of beginner-level hatha yoga administered by video, and 10 minutes of treadmill walking at 3.2 and 4.8 kph each. Measures were mean oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), percentage predicted maximal heart rate (%MHR), metabolic equivalents (METs), and energy expenditure (kcal). Seven subjects repeated the protocol so that measurement reliability could be established. Results: Mean values across the entire yoga session for VO2, HR, %MHR, METs, and energy/min were 0.6 L/kg/min; 93.2 beats/min; 49.4%; 2.5; and 3.2 kcal/min; respectively. Results of the ICCs (2,1) for mean values across the entire yoga session for kcal, METs, and %MHR were 0.979 and 0.973, and 0.865, respectively. Conclusion: Metabolic costs of yoga averaged across the entire session represent low levels of physical activity, are similar to walking on a treadmill at 3.2 kph, and do not meet recommendations for levels of physical activity for improving or maintaining health or cardiovascular fitness. Yoga practice incorporating sun salutation postures exceeding the minimum bout of 10 minutes may contribute some portion of sufficiently intense physical activity to improve cardio-respiratory fitness in unfit or sedentary individuals. The measurement of energy expenditure across yoga sessions is highly reliable

Perfil dos indivíduos que iniciam programas de exercícios em academias, quanto à composição corporal e aos objetivos em relação a faixa etária e sexo Profile of individuals who starts exercise programs in gyms, as to body composition and goals in relation to age and sex

A busca de melhor qualidade de vida nos últimos anos faz aumentar o número de pessoas preocupadas com a redução do peso corporal. Muitos indivíduos procuram atividades físicas regulares como forma alternativa de tratamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o perfil dos indivíduos que iniciam programas de exercícios em academias, quanto à composição corporal e aos objetivos em relação à faixa etária e ao sexo. Pesquisa transversal, com amostragem de 90 homens e 89 mulheres, composta por alunos iniciantes de uma academia em Curitiba, avaliados entre agosto de 1998 e setembro de 1999. Para a coleta de dados os alunos preencheram uma ficha que continha objetivos predeterminados. As medidas antropométricas, massa corporal, estatura e dobras cutâneas seguiram as indicações de Wartenweiler et al. (1974). No cálculo da densidade corporal em adultos utilizou-se a fórmula de Petroski (1995) - 4 dobras cutâneas. Para a estimativa do percentual de gordura (%G) em adultos a fórmula de Siri (1961). O tratamento estatístico foi com o teste "t" de Student para grupo independentes. Foram observadas diferenças significativas (p < 0,05), para o índice de massa corporal (IMC) e %G nos homens, e, para %G nas mulheres entre as faixas etárias. Para os indivíduos de 20 a 30 anos, 45,7% dos homens desejam aumentar massa muscular; 54,9% das mulheres esperam reduzir peso. Entre 30 e 40 anos, 35% dos homens desejam redução de peso corporal. Embora 55% das mulheres entre 20 e 30 anos desejem redução de peso corporal, somente 16,9% delas realmente necessitam. Pode-se concluir que o incremento da gordura corporal ocorre em ambos os sexos com o avanço da idade e que a análise dos valores médios de %G e IMC indicam que homens e mulheres têm sua condição de saúde agravada e seus objetivos modificados com a idade.<br>The search for a better quality of living in the recent years has increased the number of people concerned about body weight reduction. Many are looking for regular physical activities as an alternative way of treatment. The goal of this study was to investigate the profile of people entering a physical exercise program in fitness clubs, regarding body composition and purposes according to age and sex. A cross-sectional study, with a sample of 90 men and 89 women, who were physical activity beginners in a fitness club in Curitiba, evaluated between August 1998 and September 1999 was performed. To collect data, subjects were asked to fill in a questionnaire with preset goals. Data concerning anthropometric measures, weight, height, and skinfolds were collected according to Wartenweiler et al. (1974). To estimate the adult body density, the four skinfolds equation of Petroski (1995) was used. To estimate the percentage of body fat (%F) the Siri (1961) equation was used. The Student t-test for independent samples was the statistical treatment used. There was a significant statistical difference (p < 0.05) between age groups for body mass index (BMI) and %F in men and for %F in women. It was also observed that 45.7% of men with age between 20 and 30 years wished to increase their muscle mass and 54.9% of the women wanted to reduce their weight. For the age groups between 30 and 40 years, 35% of the men wished to reduce weight. Although 55% of the women between 20 and 30 years wished to reduce body weight, only 16.9% really needed it. The authors concluded that body fat increased with age in both male and female and that the mean values of %F and BMI showed that men and women have health conditions impaired with aging along with a change in their goals