The Effect of the Exercise Performance of Yoga and Pilates on the Autonomic Nervous System

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the exercise performance of yoga and pilates on the autonomic nervous system in an effort to provide some clinical information on exercise prescription. The subjects were 20 selected college students who majored in P.E. A yoga group and a pilates group were organized with 10 students respectively, the autonomic nervous system of the students was measured before the exercise, immediately after that and 30 minutes after recovery. The findings of the study were as follows: First, there were significant differences in the yoga group's stress index and average pulse according to the main effect of the time and interaction effect between the time and group. Second, there were significant differences in the yoga group's sympathetic nervous system activity and autonomic nerve balance according to all the main effect of the time, interaction effect between the time and group and the main effect of group. Third, there were significant differences in HRV(Heart Rate Variability), parasympathetic nervous system activity, SDNN, and RMSSD according to the main effect of the time, and interaction effect between the time and group and the main effect of group produced no statistically significant differences. In conclusion, yoga seemed to be effective at lowering stress index and average pulse. Specifically, yoga exercise seemed to exert a more positive influence on the decrease of sympathetic nervous system activity and autonomic nerve balance than pilates exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]