The Effects of a Yoga Program in Heart Failure Patients

The proposed research will investigate the clinical outcomes associated with a modified yoga training program in patients with heart failure (HF). HF patients (15-20) will participate in a modified yoga program during an 8 week period, two times per week with instruction for home practice. Baseline measures and follow-up will be taken after 8 weeks. The underlying hypothesis to be tested is that yoga-induced improvements in nervous system and skeletal muscle function will yield positive effects on clinical outcomes, functional ability, and health-related quality of life in patients with HF. The effect of combined yoga and breathing training on the natural history of HF and its potential to decrease negative clinical outcomes and improve symptoms is unknown. The relevance of this research is related to the important information it will provide to clinicians caring for patients with HF and will be the basis for pilot data for future NIH funding applications.