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First published in International Journal of Yoga v14 i2 (2021) by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_134_20

Document Type

Article

Publication Version

Published Version

Keywords

Brain‑derived neurotrophic factor, heat acclimation, heat shock protein, hot yoga, yoga

Journal/Book/Conference Title

International Journal of Yoga

Volume

14

Issue

2

First Page

115

Last Page

126

Abstract

Context:

Chronic heat exposure promotes cardiovascular and cellular adaptations, improving an organism's ability to tolerate subsequent stressors. Heat exposure may also promote neural adaptations and alter the neural–hormonal stress response. Hot-temperature yoga (HY) combines mind–body exercise with heat exposure. The added heat component in HY may induce cardiovascular and cellular changes, along with neural benefits and modulation of stress hormones.

Aims:

The purpose of the present study is to compare the cardiovascular, cellular heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), neural, and hormonal adaptations of HY versus normal-temperature yoga (NY).

Settings and Design:

Twenty-two subjects (males = 11 and females = 11, 26 ± 6 years) completed 4 weeks of NY (n = 11) or HY (n = 11, 41°C, 40% humidity). Yoga sessions were performed 3 times/week following a modified Bikram protocol.

Subjects and Methods:

Pre- and posttesting included (1) hemodynamic measures during a heat tolerance test and maximal aerobic fitness test; (2) neural and hormonal adaptations using serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), along with a mental stress questionnaire; and (3) cellular adaptations (HSP70) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Statistical Analysis:

Within- and between-group Student's t-test analyses were conducted to compare pre- and post-VO2 max, perceived stress, BDNF, HSP70, and ACTH in HY and NY groups.

Results:

Maximal aerobic fitness increased in the HY group only. No evidence of heat acclimation or change in mental stress was observed. Serum BDNF significantly increased in yoga groups combined. Analysis of HSP70 suggested higher expression of HSP70 in the HY group only.

Conclusions:

Twelve sessions of HY promoted cardiovascular fitness and cellular thermotolerance adaptations. Serum BDNF increased in response to yoga (NY + HY) and appeared to not be temperature dependent.

Department

Department of Kinesiology

Original Publication Date

5-10-2021

Object Description

1 PDF File

DOI of published version

10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_134_20

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Copyright

©2021 International Journal of Yoga

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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