Table 1.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for Lifestyle Modification and Blood Pressure Study

Inclusion criteria

Willingness to and capacity for giving written informed consent

Age ≥18 y

Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥130 mm Hg but <160 mm Hg

Willingness to comply with all study‐related procedures

Exclusion criteria

Pregnancy or postpartum ≤3 months

Currently taking blood pressure–lowering medications or dietary supplements (eg, magnesium, potassium, calcium >1200 mg/d, fish oil, ephedra, hawthorn, forskolin)

Stage 2 hypertension (SBP >160 mm Hg OR diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mm Hg)

Nondominant arm circumference >50 cm

Body mass index ≥40.0 kg/m2

Practiced yoga >1 time per month in the previous 6 months

Diabetes mellitus or established cardiovascular disease

Known arrhythmias such as atrial flutter or fibrillation or cardiac pacemaker

Any tobacco use (within the previous 30 days)

History of chronic kidney disease based on estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min

Consumption of >7 alcoholic drinks per week (for women) and >14 drinks per week (for men) Known autonomic neuropathy (eg, Shy‐Drager syndrome, orthostatic hypotension)

Known secondary causes of hypertension (renal artery stenosis, pheochromocytoma, coarctation of aorta, hyperaldosteronism)

Use of benzodiazepines, antipsychotic drugs (3‐month stable use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors allowed), or steroids

Known severe musculoskeletal problems such as spinal stenosis that may limit participation in yoga

Practice of other mind‐body therapies such as qigong, tai chi, or meditation