A comparison of flexibility after a single-bout of Ashtanga and Bikram Yoga

This M.S. thesis by Samatha Gallo, California State University, Fullerton (December 2009), points out that "There is very little research on yoga and nothing on the differences between styles, particularly Ashtanga and Bikram yoga. The purpose of this study was to compare flexibility after a single session of Bikram and Ashtanga yoga. Sixteen subjects (5 men, 11 women) with at least 6 months yoga experience were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The groups completed one session of Bikram and another of Ashtanga Yoga with a reversed order design separated by one week between yoga sessions. . . . Ashtanga and Bikram yoga were equally effective in producing trunk flexion flexibility. Right shoulder flexibility was greater due to the yoga treatment but style differences were measurement error. The heat generated through both styles had been enough to increase muscle flexibility in different areas of the body for this study. "  Abstract:  UMI ProQuest Dissertations & Theses with link to full pdf version (fee).