Recreational Yoga and Emotional-Autonomic Health in Older Adults

Older adults living in nursing homes often experience depression, reduced satisfaction with daily activities, and changes in heart rhythm related to the autonomic nervous system. Non-drug approaches that are safe and easy to apply may help improve both emotional well-being and physical health in this population.

This randomized controlled study investigates the effects of a recreational therapy-based yoga program on emotional health and autonomic nervous system function in nursing home residents aged 65 years and older. Participants are randomly assigned to either a yoga intervention group or a control group. The yoga group participates in supervised yoga sessions twice a week for 10 weeks, including gentle yoga postures, breathing exercises, relaxation, and meditation. The control group does not receive any structured intervention during the study period.

Depression levels, leisure time satisfaction, and heart rate variability are measured before and after the intervention. Heart rate variability is used as an indicator of autonomic nervous system regulation. The study aims to determine whether recreational yoga can be a safe, low-cost, and effective non-pharmacological approach to improve emotional well-being and autonomic health among older adults living in nursing homes.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression in Older Adults Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Mersin University

Mersin, 33343, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Aged 65 years or older.
Living in a nursing home.
Able to communicate and follow instructions.
Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.
Available to participate in the 10-week study protocol

Exclusion criteria

Participation in therapy-based practices (e.g., yoga, reiki, massage) within the last month.
Being bedridden.
Use of psychiatric medications.
Irregular participation in the 10-week yoga program.
Failure to complete pre-test or post-test assessments

Treatment and study plan

Recreational Therapy-Based Yoga

Behavioral

The yoga intervention consists of supervised group sessions including relaxation exercises, basic and progressive yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises, and meditation. Sessions are held twice per week for 10 weeks. Supportive equipment such as chairs, cushions, blocks, and towels is used to ensure participant comfort and minimize injury risk.

Primary outcomes

Depression Level

Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period

Depression levels are assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15), a validated self-report questionnaire for older adults. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately after the 10-week intervention period

Autonomic nervous system function is evaluated using heart rate variability parameters measured with a chest-worn heart rate monitor. Time-domain, frequency-domain, and non-linear HRV parameters are analyzed to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mersin University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

THE RHYTHM OF CALM: EFFECTS OF RECREATIONAL YOGA ON EMOTIONAL AND AUTONOMIC HEALTH AMONG NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

Important dates

Study start: 2023
Primary completion: 2023
Study completion: 2023
First posted: Jan 14, 2026
Registry last updated: Jan 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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