Does Style Matter: Comparison of Moderate- to Low-intensity Styles of Yoga

NCT07638267 | Active Not Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: STUDY000072885523
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if yoga works to improve sleep and heart health in adults with and without insomnia disorder. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does the style of yoga impact participants heart health overnight?
• Does the style of yoga improve participants sleep following a single session? Researchers will compare adults with insomnia disorder to adults with healthy sleep . Participants will:
• Complete a moderate-intensity yoga practice, a low-intensity intensity yoga practice, and a quiet rest period while watching a nature documentary in the evening on three separate evenings
• Participants will have their sleep and heart health measured using a watch and heart rate monitor overnight following each visit

Conditions

Insomnia; Health Adult Subjects; Insomnia Disorder; Heart Health Markers

Keywords

sleep; insomnia; yoga; heart health; heart rate variability; actigraphy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in nocturnal root mean square of successive difference between normal heartbeats (RMSSD) heart rate variability (HRV)

  Nocturnal root mean square of successive difference between normal heartbeats will be assessed immediately after each experimental session for 1 night; a higher value indicates better cardiovascular health

  Overnight immediately after each experimental sessions (vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, non-active control) for a total of 3 separate nights.

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Change in sleep efficiency

  Overnight immediately after each experimental sessions (vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, non-active control) for a total of 3 separate nights.

• Change in total sleep time

  Overnight immediately after each experimental sessions (vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, non-active control) for a total of 3 separate nights.

• Change in wake after sleep onset

  Overnight immediately after each experimental sessions (vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, non-active control) for a total of 3 separate nights.

• Change in sleep quality

  The following morning after each experimental sessions (vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, non-active control) for a total of 3 separate mornings.

• Change in nocturnal heart rate

  Overnight immediately after each experimental sessions (vinyasa yoga, gentle yoga, non-active control) for a total of 3 separate nights.

Study Arms (3)

vinyasa yoga

EXPERIMENTAL

60 minute moderate-intensity yoga session

Behavioral: Vinyasa yoga

gentle yoga

EXPERIMENTAL

60 minute low-intensity yoga session

Behavioral: Gentle yoga

Control Condition

OTHER

60-minute non-active control condition

Other: Non-active control

Interventions

Gentle yoga BEHAVIORAL

Participants will follow a pre-recorded standardized sequence that includes a person demonstrating each sequence and provides verbal cues for the gentle yoga session. This sequence focuses primarily on seated and supine postures and is designed to be accessible, safe, and restorative. All poses are low-impact and supported using yoga blocks to promote comfort and reduce physical strain.

gentle yoga

Non-active control OTHER

The non-active control session, participants will complete a quiet rest period while watching a nature documentary. The film is educational in nature and has been carefully selected to avoid any graphic, distressing, offensive, or psychologically sensitive content. It is commercially available and rated G for general audiences. Participants will be asked to remain seated and refrain from the use of electronic devices. A staff member will remain present to ensure participants following procedures.

Control Condition

Vinyasa yoga BEHAVIORAL

Participants will follow a pre-recorded standardized sequence that includes a person demonstrating each sequence and provides verbal cues for the vinyasa yoga session. The 60-minute vinyasa yoga protocol incorporated standing, seated, and supine postures and included the following order of sequences: integration, sun salutations, crescent lunge series, balancing, standing, back bending, and restorative series.

vinyasa yoga

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Adults 18-40 years
• Insufficiently inactive define by the L-CAT (responses below public health physical activity guidelines)
• Physical activity is not contraindicated (i.e., no affirmative responses on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+)
• Adults with diagnosed insomnia disorder and score ≥ 10 on the Insomnia Severity Index
• Good sleeps a score \< 10 (no history of sleep disorder)
• Basic understanding of yoga poses
• Access to a smart device (such as a smartphone or tablet)

You may not qualify if:

• Regular yoga practice (\> 60 minutes per week)
• Any diagnosed medical condition requiring medical clearance determined 'Yes' response on questions pertaining to a present medical condition(s) via PAR-Q+. This includes, but is not limited to, uncontrolled cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory, musculoskeletal, neurological, or mental health conditions; recent stroke or concussion; active cancer treatment; and any combination of medical conditions that pose a health risk without physician supervision. All "yes" responses on the PAR-Q+ will be evaluated, and individuals requiring clearance will not be eligible to participate.
• Physical limitations and/or mobility restrictions (such as bone, joint, or soft tissue such as muscle, ligament, or tendon that could be made worse by becoming more physically active) via PAR-Q+
• Untreated major psychiatric disorders (e.g. major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)
• Elevated risk for sleep apnea (i.e., STOP-Bang score ≥ 5)
• Any other sleep disorders other than insomnia (e.g., sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, circadian rhythm disorder, etc.)
• Current treatment for insomnia (e.g., hypnotic medications, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, etc.)
• Current medications that affect heart or blood pressure (i.e., anti-depressants, beta-blockers, etc.)
• Current or planned pregnancy within the next 3 months
• Overnight shift work defined as regularly working anytime between 00:00 and 6:00am

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Caitlin Cheruka: lead
• American College of Sports Medicine: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida, 32816, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2026
• First Posted: June 10, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL
• Time Frame: Beginning 1 year following peer-reviewed publication of research questions outlined in grant and ending 5 years following publication of study results
• Access Criteria: Data access will be provided to external researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal for secondary data analysis that is approved by the investigators of the study. Proposals should be directed to the study PI.

Locations

US (1)