Heart Rate Behavior during Mysore and Led Ashtanga Practice of a 30-year-old Male

I just want to post this and not really into deep scientific mood at the moment so I'll just point out observations based on the above graph:

• For a 30 year old male, the training range recommendation is at 60%-85% of the age-predicted maximum heart rate, which is 114 to 162 beats per minute.
• Both mysore and led classes raise the heart rate above 120 bpm at certain points in the practice.
• In mysore, average HR above 120bpm started from the standing position until backbends.
• In led, average HR above 120bpm started towards the start of the seated 1 sequence.

Thoughts:

• The practice of ashtanga yoga provides a mild stimulus to the cardiorespiratory system to improve cardiorespiratory health.
• Energy required to perform a motor skill decreases as the performance becomes more efficient.
• Once the fitness and skill level of the practitioner improve, the performance of the same asana sequence might not provide the same stimulus as in the beginning.
• According to Patanjali, asanas should be comfortable and steady. The aim is not to increase heart rate to aerobic levels which increases sympathetic response (???) but to promote relaxation and increase parasympathetic response. (I still need to back these up with literature though. Just thoughts at the present).
• Tiwariji mentioned that the shift from Raja Yoga to Hatha Yoga in India (and probably around the world as well) was brought about by the increasing health problems in the population - diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases. There is still a need to use modern scientific methods to validate the many beneficial but still anecdotal claims of yoga in order to solidify its place in the field of modern medicine. Many will only believe if there are concrete evidences of its numerous therapeutic claims.