Effectiveness of Yoga on Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Patients With Pre- and Stage I Hypertension

Experimental: Yoga

The integrated yoga program was designed to: 1) include the three primary elements of yoga as most commonly practiced in western cultures (physical postures, breath control and meditation); and 2) be appropriate for those without any prior yoga experience and with pre- and Stage I hypertension. The yoga program was designed by Eddie Stern, Founder and Director of "Ashtanga Yoga New York" (AYNY) in consultation with Drs. Hagins and Rundle, and are in large part congruent with the yoga program we studied previously (see Preliminary Studies). The yoga class includes: instruction on yogic principles regarding moral precepts (yamas and niyamas); active postures requiring mild-moderate physical exertion; conscious control of the breath in synchrony with active postures; and meditation. We expect approximately 10-15 minutes of the integrated yoga program to consist of isolated practice of meditation (occurring independently of the moving postures, typically in seated or lying positions).

Otro: Yogic practice

breathing, meditation, physical postures

Comparador activo: Conventional Exercise

Conventional exercise such as standing toe touch with arm swings, curl ups, push ups, leg lifts, etc. All done at a relatively slow rate which will be non-aerobic and at an average rate across the session of 3 METs

Otro: Conventional Exercise

Standard physical exercises such as toe touch in standing, curl ups, push ups, leg lifts

Ambulatory Blood Pressure

24 hour ambulatory blood pressure: systolic, diastolic

Psychosocial Stress

perceived stress, coping, tolerance of uncertainty, sense of control,