Metabolic Energy Contributions During High-Intensity Hatha Yoga and Physiological Comparisons Between Active and Passive (Savasana) Recovery

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate metabolic energy contributions during high-intensity hatha yoga (HIHY) and to compare changes in physiological variables between active and passive recovery methods.Methods: The study involved 20 women yoga instructors (n = 20) who performed 10 min of HIHY (vigorous sun salutation). Upon completion, they were randomly assigned to either active (walking; n = 10) or passive (savasana; n = 10) recovery groups for a period of 10 min. During HIHY, physiological variables such as heart rate (HRpeak and HRmean), oxygen uptake (VO2peak and VO2mean), and blood lactate concentrations (peak La−) were measured. Energetic contributions (phosphagen; WPCR, glycolytic; WGly, and oxidative; WOxi) in kJ and % were estimated using VO2 and La− data. Furthermore, the metabolic equivalents (METs) of VO2peak and VO2mean were calculated. To compare different recovery modes, HRpost, ΔHR, VO2post, ΔVO2, recovery La−, and recovery ΔLa− were analyzed.Results: The results revealed that HRpeak, VO2peak, and peak La− during HIHY showed no differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). Values of HRpeak, HRmean, METs of VO2peak and VO2mean, and La− during HIHY were 95.6% of HRmax, 88.7% of HRmax, 10.54 ± 1.18, 8.67 ±.98 METs, and 8.31 ± 2.18 mmol·L−1, respectively. Furthermore, WOxi was significantly higher compared with WPCR, WGly, and anaerobic contribution (WPCR + WGly), in kJ and % (p < 0.0001). VO2post and recovery ΔLa− were significantly higher in the active recovery group (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0369, respectively). Values of ΔVO2 and recovery La− were significantly lower in the active group compared with the passive group (p = 0.0115, p = 0.0291, respectively).Conclusions: The study concluded that high-intensity hatha yoga which was performed for 10 min is a suitable option for relatively healthy people in the modern workplace who may have hatha yoga experience but do not have time to perform a prolonged exercise. Following active recovery, they can participate in further HIHY sessions during short breaks. Furthermore, a faster return to work can be supported by physiological recovery.

Energetic Contributions Including Gender Differences and Metabolic Flexibility in the General Population and Athletes

“…The sample size was calculated and considered, based on previous studies [ 2 , 5 , 16 , 18 , 20 , 21 , 23 , 24 ]: effect size: 1.10, alpha error probability: 0.05, and statistical power: 0.80 (G*Power software, version 3.1.9.4; Heinlich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany). The total required sample size was estimated to be thirty participants ( n = 30).…”

“…The jogging/running speed (S) and HR at 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mmol∙L −1 La − were analyzed using a previously suggested mathematical model of interpolation [ 16 , 17 , 27 ]. During GIET, oxygen uptake ( O 2 , O 2mean , metabolic equivalents; METs in O 2mean [ 2 , 28 ], and carbon dioxide; CO 2mean ) was measured breath-by-breath, using a mobile gas analyzer MetaMax 3B (Cortex Biophysik, Leipzig, Germany). The gas analyzer was calibrated with calibration gas (15% O 2 and 5% CO 2 , Cortex Biophysik, Leipzig, Germany), and the turbine volume transducer was calibrated with a 3-L syringe (Hans Rudolph, Kansas City, MO, USA).…”

“…Energetic contributions in kilojoules (kJ), such as contributions in the oxidative (W Oxi ), glycolytic (W Gly ), and phosphagen (W PCr ) systems, were estimated by measurements of O 2 during GIET, La − after each step of GIET, and the fast phase of excess O 2 after exercise [ 2 , 18 , 20 , 21 ].…”

“…The W Oxi was calculated by subtracting O 2 in the rest steps from O 2 during the exercise steps by the trapezoidal method, where the area under the curve was divided into sections, and then the sum of the trapezoid was used to calculate the integral [ 20 , 21 ]. The value of O 2rest was determined in the standing position on a treadmill, with the last 30 s of a 5 min phase used as a reference [ 2 , 18 , 20 , 21 ].…”

“…Physical inactivity has been shown to cause non-communicable diseases such as metabolic diseases [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and metabolic syndrome are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction [ 4 , 5 ].…”