Beyond Physical Fitness: Effect Of Hatha Yoga On Cardiac Autonomic Function And Heart Rate Variability Among Male College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: College students experience academic demands, sedentary behaviour, irregular lifestyle patterns and psychosocial stressors that may influence cardiovascular autonomic regulation. Heart rate variability (HRV) provides a non-invasive measure of cardiac autonomic function. Hatha Yoga, through its combination of asanas, pranayama, relaxation and meditation, may improve cardiovascular regulation. However, evidence regarding chronic effects of Hatha Yoga on HRV remains inconsistent. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a four-month structured Hatha Yoga intervention on cardiac autonomic function, heart rate variability, resting heart rate and blood pressure among healthy male college students aged 19–23 years. Methods: A randomized controlled parallel-group study was designed with 180 male college students aged 19–23 years. Participants were allocated into a Hatha Yoga group (n=90) and a control group (n=90). The Hatha Yoga group participated in a structured 60-minute programme five days per week for four months, while the control group continued their usual routine. Primary outcomes included HRV parameters: RMSSD, SDNN, high-frequency (HF) power, low-frequency (LF) power and LF/HF ratio. Secondary outcomes included resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Pre- and post-intervention data were compared within and between groups. Results: In the simulated dataset, the Hatha Yoga group demonstrated reductions in resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure and increases in RMSSD, SDNN and HF power. Resting heart rate decreased from 80.05 ± 7.37 to 70.72 ± 5.69 beats/min, while RMSSD increased from 28.53 ± 7.52 to 36.89 ± 8.42 ms. Compared with controls, between-group differences in change were significant for resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, RMSSD, SDNN, HF power and LF/HF ratio. The between-group difference for LF power did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: The simulated findings demonstrate a pattern consistent with improved cardiovascular autonomic regulation following four months of Hatha Yoga. The results support further investigation of structured Hatha Yoga as a potentially useful non-pharmacological approach for cardiovascular health promotion among young adults. However, the numerical findings presented in this manuscript are simulated and must be replaced by analyses of actual participant data before publication.