title: Single session of integrated "silver yoga" program improves cardiovascular parameters in senior citizens.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study was carried out to determine cardiovascular effects of a single session of an integrated "silver yoga" program in senior citizens of Serene Pelican Township, Pondicherry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) measurements were recorded in 124 senior citizens (75 female, 49 male) with mean age of 67.19 ± 10.61 year who attended an integrated "Silver Yoga" program at Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research from August to October 2014. Participants practiced the protocol that was specially designed for senior citizens, keeping in mind their health status and physical limitations. This included simple warm-ups (jathis), breath body movement coordination practices (kriyas), static stretching postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayamas), relaxation and simple chanting. Non-invasive BP apparatus was used to record the HR, systolic (SP) and diastolic pressure (DP) before and after the 60 min sessions. Pulse pressure (PP), mean pressure (MP), rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (DoP) indices were derived from the recorded parameters. Student's paired t-test was used to compare data that passed normality testing by Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test for those that did not. P < 0.05 were accepted as indicating significant differences for pre-post comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All parameters witnessed a reduction following the single session. This was statistically more significant (P < 0. 0001) in HR, RPP and DoP while it was also significant (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) in SP and PP, respectively. The decrease in MP just missed significance (P = 0.054) while it was not significant in DP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a healthy reduction in HR, BP and derived cardiovascular indices following a single yoga session in geriatric subjects. These changes may be attributed to enhanced harmony of cardiac autonomic function as a result of coordinated breath-body work and mind-body relaxation due to an integrated "Silver Yoga" program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Therapy, Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pillayarkuppam, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Ananda Balayogi
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Bhavanani
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Therapy, Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pillayarkuppam, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Meena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Pillayarkuppam, Puducherry, India.
authors.lastname: Madanmohan
keywords: Cardiovascular; psycho-somatic harmony; senior citizen; yoga