YOGi: The Yoga and Insomnia Study

STUDY BASICS

Are you between 18-55 years old and experience poor sleep, such as trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or waking up too early without being able to fall back asleep? You may be able to participate in a research study to understand if 4 weeks of yoga improves your sleep and heart health compared to not participating in yoga. Compensation is provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

We are conducting this study to examine the effects of a 4-week vinyasa program on sleep and heart health compared to those not participating in yoga in adults who report insomnia symptoms. Vinyasa yoga is a form that links the breath with poses and transitions. This form of yoga moves continuously through several series, involving poses that may be standing, seated, and laying down. We think that participating in yoga may help you sleep better, such as falling asleep more quickly, staying asleep, and waking up more refreshed in the morning. We also think that participating in yoga may improve heart health, such as lowering blood pressure and heart rate. However, we do not know for sure the effects of yoga on sleep or heart health. 

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Eligible participants are:

• Between 18-55 years of age 
• Not regularly active (<150 minutes per week)
• Not currently participating in vinyasa and/or power yoga 
• Experiencing poor sleep (such as trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, or waking up too early without being able to fall back asleep)

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

As a part of this study, you will undergo the following research procedures: 1) baseline assessments; 2) a 4-week intervention; 3) post-intervention assessments. The purpose of the baseline assessments will be to determine your eligibility for the study and assess your sleep behaviors and heart health. This is a randomized controlled research study. Half of the participants will be assigned to receive the intervention (4 weeks of yoga) and the other half of the participants will not receive the intervention (4 weeks of no yoga, also known as the non-active control condition). Groups will be assigned at random with a method like flipping a coin.