Effects of Health Promoting Programs on Cardiovascular Disease Risk

The yoga intervention, which is taught based on Hatha yoga, will be offered to study participants in Study Arms 1, 2, and 3, is a combination of asanas (poses), pranayams (breathing exercises), and meditation. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements are taken before and after each session.

The walking intervention, which is Study Arm 4 includes, three guided walking sessions per week for 24 weeks. Each class is an hour in length and will include a minimum of 30 minutes of walking at the equivalent of a minimum of three miles per hour. Each session includes a ten-minute warm-up and ten-minute cool-down period of some stretches and walking at a leisurely pace. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements are taken before and after each session.

Participants randomly assigned to the fifth study arm attend one 60-minute healthy lifestyles class per week for 24 weeks. The Healthy Lifestyles curriculum includes 24 independent lesson modules, which allows participants to begin their intervention at any time during the course schedule. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements are taken before and after each session.