EFFECT OF YOGA ON CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE AND BALANCE IN MIDDLE AGED POPULATION ON COMPARISON WITH AEROBIC EXERCISES: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ANALYSIS

Abstract

Aims: The present study aimed at assessing the effect of regular yoga sessions based on the system Yoga in Daily Life on aerobic capacity (cardiovascular endurance (VO2 max) and balance (Berg Balance Scale)) of the yoga practitioners and comparing it with the aerobic practitioners.

Methodology: The present study was a Cross sectional study design which  included (60) middle aged men and women of age between 35-65 years of age which were recruited from societies, village, and near vicinity. The study included the middle aged male and female those who are already performing either yoga or aerobic training regularly. One of the two groups consist of the populations those who are yoga practitioners and on regular basis they are performing yoga and another group consist of subjects with regular cardiovascular training only. Balance (Berg balance scale) and Cardiovascular Endurance (VO2 max) was calculated and compared between both the groups.

Results: After the statistical analysis of the data it was found that there was no significant difference between the groups on Balance. Subjects of both the groups were found to be at grade of good level of balance whereas there was a significant difference in the level of VO2 max between both the groups. The AER group was found to have a good level of VO2 max as compared to the YOG group.

Keywords: Cardiovascular Endurance, Balance, Yoga