A study examined the effects of a 45-minute yoga session on brachial and core blood pressure in 14 participants. Brachial blood pressure was measured using a cuff, while core blood pressure was measured using a system that converts peripheral waveforms to central waveforms. The results showed that both brachial and core systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased after yoga, as did pulse pressure and augmentation index, while systolic ejection velocity ratio increased. This confirmed the hypothesis that there would be a significant difference between brachial and core blood pressures after yoga.

1. Effects of Yoga on Clinical Blood Pressure
Kerri-Anne Ciesielka
April, 2016

2. Brachial Blood Pressure
• Errors associated with using a cuff
– Using the wrong size
cuff
– Applying the cuff
incorrectly
– Incorrect placement
will result in too low
systolic and too high
systolic
– Incorrect
interpretation of the
sounds heard
• Variables
• Brachial vs. Core
Systolic and
Diastolic Blood
Pressure
• 45 minute Yoga
session

3. Core Blood Pressure
SphygoMoCor System: Converts peripheral
waveform to a central waveform

4. Yoga Session
Table 1. Yoga Participants Characteristics
Variable (N=14) Value
Age 21.8 ± 4.8
Height (in) 65.6 ± 2.8
Body Weight (lb) 147.0 ± 20.4
BMI (kg/m2
) 24.5 ± 2.7
Pre SBP (mmHg) 119.1 ± 5.7
PreDBP (mmHg) 74.50 ± 5.9
Data are presented as mean ± SD. Significance set at p <0.05.
BMI, body mass index; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP,11:03
diastolic blood pressure; PPE, personal protective equipment
 Vinyasa 45 minute
Yoga
 Linking of body
movement with
breath
 “Breathing
system”
 Hypothesis: After a 45 minute Yoga session, the mean
difference of Brachial and Core Blood Pressure will be
significant

5. Figure 1. Overall Pulse Wave Responses to Yoga. *Significance set at p<0.05
Table 2. Pulse Wave Responses to Yoga
Variable Pre Intervention Post Intervention
SBP (mmHg) 119.1 ± 5.7 115.0 ± 10.4
DBP (mmHg) 74.5 ± 5.9 72.6 ± 6.7
PP (mmHg) 30.1± 7.2 28.7 ± 6.7
AIX(mmHg) 5.5± 9.5 2.8 ± 9.2
SEVR (%) 175.1± 22.9 182.5 ±25.2
CSBP (mmHg) 104.2 ± 5.7 103.8 ± 6.6
CDBP (mmHg) 75.3 ± 6.0 74.8 ± 6.11
Data are presented as mean ± SD. *Significance set at p <0.05.
PPE, personal protective equipment; HR, heart rate; SBP, systolic
blood pressure; BP, diastolic blood pressure; Max, maximum;
VO2 , oxygen consumption

6. Figure 2. Change in brachial and core systolic blood pressures following the yoga Intervention*Significance set at
p<0.05
Figure 3. Change in brachial and core diastolic blood pressures following the yoga Intervention*Significance set at p<0.05

7. Figure 4. SEVR (%) following the yoga Intervention*Significance set at p<0.05
Figure 5. AIX (mmHg) following the yoga Intervention*Significance set at p<0.05
Figure 6. PP(mmHg) following the yoga Intervention*Significance set at p<0.05

8. Conclusions:
• Brachial Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
Decreased
• Core Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
Decreased
• Pulse Pressure and Augmentation Index
decreased
• SEVR (%) Increased
What does this mean?
• My hypothesis was confirmed

9. Future Studies
• Acute Yoga Session
• Determine the relationship between Obesity
and Yoga
• Incorporate Yoga into a circuit training for High
Interval Resistance Training

10. Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my Heart Lab Team and
Dr. Feairheller for all their help in my study.
I would also like to thank Ursinus College for
allowing me to use the Heart Lab Facility.

11. Thank you
…references available upon request.