title: Age related differences of selected Hatha yoga practices on anthropometric characteristics, muscular strength and flexibility of healthy individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physiological benefits of yoga on volunteers of a particular age group are available. However, reports on efficacy of a specific yoga package on the populace of different age groups from similar occupational background is still very limited. Therefore, the present study was conducted to appraise the effect of a specific Hatha yoga package on anthropometric characteristics, flexibility and muscular strength of healthy individuals of different age groups from similar occupational trade.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 71 participants (Group All) from Indian Air Force ground personnel volunteered and age wise divided into 3 groups - (i) Group I (Gr. - I) (n1 = 27, 20-29 years), (ii) Group II (Gr. - II) (n2 = 21, 30-39 years) and (iii) Group III (Gr. - III) (n3 = 23, 40-49 years). All the participants undergone selected Hatha yoga training for 1 h daily for a period of 12 weeks. Parameters were recorded before and after the training. Pre and post training differences were assessed by Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight (All, Gr. - II and Gr. - III [all P < 0.05]), body mass index (Gr. - II and Gr. - III [both P < 0.01]) and fat% (Gr. - II and III [both P < 0.05]) were decreased significantly. Neck circumference was increased significantly in Gr. - I (P < 0.05) but decreased significantly in Gr. - III (P < 0.05). Chest circumference (All (P < 0.001), in Gr. - I and II [both P < 0.05]), grip strength (All [left: P < 0.01 and right: P < 0.05], in Gr. - I [left: P < 0.05 and right: P < 0.01], in Gr. - II [right: P < 0.05] and in Gr. - III [left: P < 0.05 and right: P < 0.01]), back leg strength (group wise P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively) and flexibility (all P < 0.001) were increased significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hatha yoga can improve anthropometric characteristics, muscular strength and flexibility among volunteers of different age group and can also be helpful in preventing and attenuating age related deterioration of these parameters.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology and Yoga Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Research and Training in Yoga, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Abhirup
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Advanced Research and Training in Yoga, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rameshwar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology and Yoga Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Omveer S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Tomer
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology and Yoga Division, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mantu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saha
keywords: Fat%; flexibility; strength; yoga