The present study compared the effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions of the practice of an intensive yoga exercise routine called Dynamic Suryanamaskar (DSN) and a cycle ergometer test (CET) of increasing intensity. The study involved 18 middle-aged volunteers who had previously practiced DSN. The study was conducted in two series (i.e., as CET and DSN with similar intensity) until complete exhaustion. At rest (R), at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), and at the maximum workload (ML), the variables characterizing cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions were determined. In addition, the subjective intensity of both efforts was determined using the Borg test. No functional differences were observed in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems at similar CET and DSN intensities. Respondents experienced less subjective workload during DSN than during CET (p < 0.001). Since DSN intensifies the activity of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems to a similar degree to CET both at VAT and ML, but causes less subjective fatigue, this yogic practice can be used as a laboratory exercise test and as an effective training medium.
Keywords: cardiovascular reactivity; metabolism; physical fitness; pulmonary reactivity; yoga.