Randomized clinical trial of Physical Activity and Yoga and Meditation to reduce Stress: implications on Cardiovascular Risk and Laboratory Tests

INTERVENTION: Behavioural Exercise Meditation Other The interventions occurred after randomization for the three groups in this research. Physical Exercise Group (GEF), Yoga and Meditation Group (GYM) and Control Group (CG). The GEF received training with aerobic and resistance exercises, warm‐up and stretching, which was presented to the group in a 3‐hour workshop at the beginning of the intervention. Distributed over 8 weeks (3 times a week) of practice of 50 min each class, totaling 23 training sessions and making a total of 22 hours. Composed of aerobic exercises (20‐minute walk) and resistance exercises (20 min), initial warm‐up (5 min) and stretching (5 min), distributed over 8 weeks (3 times a week) of 50 min each class, totaling 23 training sessions, the first being for anamnesis and adaptation to the environment and the motor gesture of the proposed exercises. GYM went through face‐to‐face workshops on the principles and requirements for meditation practice, distributed at the beginning of the intervention period, with theoretical and practical contents, lasting 3 hours and 20 minutes each, making a total of 10 hours / meditation , and 18 yoga and meditation classes.Divided into three face‐to‐face meditation workshops, distributed at the beginning of the intervention, with theoretical and practical content, with techniques of interiorization and expansion of the mind as a way to develop self‐knowledge and create connection from the very essence , with yourself, and with the basic principles to meditate.Yoga and meditation classes: face‐to‐face meetings, twice a week, lasting one hour and fifteen minutes and under the guidance of Ananda Marga School and with tantra yoga teachers for eight weeks. , making a total of 22 hours of yoga and meditation. Before starting, and at the end of physical training CONDITION: Descriptors: university students, young people, psychological stress, cardiovascular risk; cardiovascular deseases ; Stress, Psychological ; Students, Health Occupations ; Risk Factors ; Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors Stress, Psychological Students, Health Occupations SECONDARY OUTCOME: INCLUSION CRITERIA: The research included those who signed the Free and Informed Consent Form; age over 18 years; those who attended the University for more than 6 months in health courses; Those who obtained high stress scores according to the psychometric instruments used PRIMARY OUTCOME: And also exposure to physical exercise as a fall promoter in the Framinghan Score (cardiovascular risk): to compare baseline and post‐intervention data in each group, the Wilcoxon nonparametric test was used. The comparison between groups in the pre and post intervention was through the Kruskal Wallis non‐parametric test.; In the comparison analysis of the 3 groups for the cardiovascular risk variable according to the Framingham calculator adjusted for age, the Kruskal Wallis test was used, where they were compared before and after the intervention.; Outcome attended and observed at the end of the research. Another primary outcome of this trial was exposure to meditation / yoga as a fall promoter in the Framinghan Score (cardiovascular risk): to compare baseline and post‐intervention data in each group, the Wilcoxon nonparametric test was used. The comparison between groups in the pre and post intervention was through the Kruskal Wallis non‐parametric test.; In the comparison analysis of the 3 groups for the cardiovascular risk variable according to the Framingham calculator adjusted for age, the Kruskal Wallis test was used, where they were compared before and after the intervention.; Outcome attended and observed at the end of the research. It also has the primary end point of reducing the stress shown in the instrument scores and in the cortisol dosage after intervention with physical exercise.; Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used with the design of repeated measures, complemented by the Bonferroni multiple comparison test in both times, as explained in hypothesis I. Where the dichotomous independent variable is the physical exercise intervention and the continuous dependent variables are the stress scales and the serum cortisol.; Outcome observed only in the reduction of scales, without changes in cortisol. The primary outcome of this research was the reduction of stress demonstrated in the instrument scores and in the cortisol dosage after intervention with Yoga and meditation.; Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used with the design of repeated measures, complemented by the Bonferroni multiple comparisons test, performed in one time and over time, making time 1 of baseline measurements, and time 2 of post measurements intervention. Where the dichotomous independent variable is the intervention of Yoga and meditation and the continuous dependent variables are the stress scales and the serum cortisol.; Outcome attended and observed at the end of the research. ; Secondary outcomes observed and attended to at the end of the study. Physical exercise as a promoter of the drop in anthropometric measurements, sitolic blood pressure, heart rate, biomarkers and other laboratory tests are secondary outcomes of this randomized clinical trial. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used with the design of repeated measures, complemented by the Bonferroni multiple comparison test in both times. Where the dichotomous independent variable is the physical exercise intervention and the continuous dependent variables are anthropometric measurements, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, biomarkers and other laboratory tests. Yoga and meditation as a promoter of a drop in anthropometric measurements, sitolic blood pressure, heart rate, biomarkers and other laboratory tests are secondary outcomes of this randomized clinical trial. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used with the design of repeated measures, complemented by the Bonferroni multiple comparison test in both times. Where the dichotomous independent variable is the intervention of Yoga and meditation and the continuous dependent variables are anthropometric measurements, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, biomarkers and other laboratory tests.