Vinyasa yoga session
The same yoga mat and block were provided for the participants to use during each yoga session. A Polar heart rate monitor and BP cuff were applied to the subjects while instructions about the yoga session were explained to them. Then, subjects were instructed to sit quietly for 5 minutes, upright, in a chair, with their feet planted directly on the floor. Following this initial rest, resting BP, HR, and a 6-minute HRV measurement were measured and recorded. Only the BP cuff was removed following these resting measurements prior to the yoga condition. The Polar heart rate monitor was continuously worn by subjects during the session to ensure participant safety with HR being recorded in the last 10 seconds of every minute. Following these baseline measurements but prior to beginning the yoga condition, the subjects had the opportunity to review a list of the yoga poses that they would be performing that day. After they reviewed this list, they were allowed to ask for any pose demonstrations or clarifications before beginning the yoga protocol.For the yoga condition, the assessor asked participants to follow a standardized yoga video that was used in the study conducted previously by our team [The BP cuff was re-placed on the subject when they moved to the resting measurement chair immediately following the yoga condition, and they rested again for 5 minutes. Following the 5-minute rest period, BP, HR, and HRV measurements were taken. The subjects relocated to a different chair in the same room where they performed seated desk work. At 60 minutes post yoga, subjects actively moved back to the resting measurement chair where they rested for a final 5 minutes and had their final measurements taken at 65 minutes post yoga.