Research project: Effects of yoga on flexibility, balance and lung capacity of recreational runners

Recruitment is being carried out for 40 to 50 interested participants for the research program which will commence in April 2009. Recruitment will be for inclusion in either of 2 groups ie: a yoga group or non yoga control group. A briefing will be held sometime in March before finalisation. To begin with, the basic qualifying inclusion criteria are as follow:

Inclusion criteria:
a) must not have any prior yoga or pilates experience for last 6months
b) Only recreational runners clocking total of 7 to 10km in a week

Commitment:
a) For those randomly selected into the yoga group, to attend all 17 yoga sessions (twice weekly, 1.5hrs each)
b) For those randomly selected into the non-yoga control group, to attend 2 assessment test sessions (2months apart).

Other incentives will be revealed during the briefing session

Research venue: Republic Polytechnic at Woodlands

For those who qualify and are interested, please write to the below aforementioned for more information. It will be ideal to have a preliminary chat before confirming your attendance for the no-obligation briefing session in mid-March which will be a platform to answer all queries and for you to decide if you are keen to participate.

Email zeeqy1873@hotmail.com by 10 March

To be confirmed: looking into some incentives for all participants (will keep all posted), especially those in the non-yoga group

Specific measurements taken:

1)Sit and reach test for flexibility
2)Balance platform test
3)Spirometric test for lung capacity
4)2.4km run test