The Acute Effects of Vinyasa Flow Yoga on Vascular Function, Lipid and Glucose Concentrations, and Mood

While the chronic effects of certain styles of yoga on cardiometabolic factors have been investigated, little is known about the acute effects of a single yoga session on these outcomes. Moreover, vinyasa yoga’s potential to modulate cardiometabolic outcomes has not been established. The purpose of this study is to determine the acute effects of a vinyasa yoga session on arterial stiffness, wave reflection, lipid and glucose concentrations, and mood in adults with prior yoga experience. Thirty yoga practitioners with a minimum of 3 months of practice experience were enrolled into the study. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), augmentation index (AIx), lipid profile, glucose concentrations, and mood (Positive and Negative Affect Scale) were assessed at baseline and immediately following a 1 -h vinyasa yoga session. After the yoga session, participants had significantly lower AIx (p < 0.001), non-HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05), and negative affect (p < 0.01) compared to baseline. These results highlight the efficacy of a single bout of yoga in altering wave reflection while improving mood and lipid concentrations in healthy adults with a history of yoga practice.