Decrease in serum cortisol during yoga exercise is correlated with alpha wave activation.
We examined changes in brain waves and blood levels of serum cortisol during yoga exercise in 7 yoga instructors and found that alpha waves increased and serum cortisol decreased. These two measures were negatively correlated (r = -.83). Comparison with a control group of nonpractitioners is desirable.
Kamei
T
T
Shimane Institute of Health Science, Izumo, Japan.
Toriumi
Y
Y
Kimura
H
H
Ohno
S
S
Kumano
H
H
Kimura
K
K
D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D012063:Relaxation / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology
D006854:Hydrocortisone