Oxygen Consumption during Viniyoga Practice in Adults

CONTEXT: The purpose of this study was to measure the oxygen consumption (V̇O(2)) during Viniyoga yoga movements (asanas) and to compare V̇O(2) walking among adults. METHODS: Yoga practitioners (n = 10) were recruited to measure V̇O(2) while at rest (30 min), practicing yoga (16 movements with different variations), and treadmill walking at 2 mph (10 min) and 3 mph (10 min). V̇O(2) was measured using a whole-room indirect calorimetry. Each yoga movement was categorized by body orientation as standing, lying, and sitting. The differences in V̇O(2) between yoga and walking were examined using Pearson's correlations. Differences in V̇O(2) between poses (standing, sitting, and lying) were examined using linear regression models. V̇O(2). RESULTS: Mean yoga-V̇O(2) for the entire yoga session was 3.7 (standard deviation [SD] 0.43, range: 4.4–8.9) ml/kg/min. Yoga-V̇O(2) varied by body orientation: standing = 7.5 (SD = 1.5) ml/kg/min, lying = 5.3 (SD = 1.0) ml/kg/min, and sitting = 5.4 (SD = 1.1) ml/kg/min. After adjusting for body mass, frequency of yoga practice, and resting energy expenditure, female gender was negatively associated with mean yoga V̇O(2) for standing (B = −112.19, P < 0.05), lying (B = −141.87, P < 0.05), and sitting (B = −129.96, P < 0.05). Mean V̇O(2) for walking 2 mph was comparable with sitting (r = 0.836, P < 0.05) and lying (r = 0.735, P < 0.05) whereas walking at 3 mph was comparable with standing (r = 0.718, P < 0.05) and sitting (r = 0.760, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that V̇O(2) during yoga practice is comparable to V̇O(2) during slow treadmill walking and may vary based on gender and body orientation.