Healthy LifestyleNCT07480174
Effects of Tai Chi and Yoga on Flexibility, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Women
A study testing Tai Chi and Yoga in people with Healthy Lifestyle, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Healthy women aged 18-45 years with BMI <30 were randomized into two groups to receive either Tai Chi or yoga training. Both interventions were delivered for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, at Bahçeşehir University. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Lifestyle
- What is being tested?
- Tai Chi and Yoga
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 14 Mar 2026to 2 Jun 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female, 18-45 years of age
- BMI <30 kg/m²
- No history of musculoskeletal surgery
Who cannot join
- Congenital or acquired condition affecting the musculoskeletal system
- Any systemic disease or condition that makes exercise contraindicated, or pregnancy
- Chronic neurological, metabolic, or cardiovascular disease
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Bahcesehir University
Istanbul, 34053
Tuğçe Tahmaz, 05397458072, tugcetahmaz@msn.com
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Tai Chi and Yoga on Flexibility, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Women
Healthy women aged 18-45 years with BMI <30 were randomized into two groups to receive either Tai Chi or yoga training. Both interventions were delivered for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, at Bahçeşehir University. Flexibility, anxiety, and sleep quality were assessed before and after the intervention using standardized flexibility tests, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The outcome assessor was blinded to group assignment.
Read the detailed description
This study evaluates the effects of Tai Chi and yoga on flexibility, anxiety, and sleep quality in healthy women. Eligible participants (women aged 18-45 years, BMI <30, without prior musculoskeletal surgery and without conditions that would contraindicate exercise) are randomized into a Tai Chi group or a yoga group. The outcome assessor is blinded to group assignment.
Both groups participate in supervised exercise sessions conducted in the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department laboratories at Bahçeşehir University. The Tai Chi group follows a Yang-style program consisting of 10 movements, delivered over 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session, including warm-up, Tai Chi practice, and cool-down. The yoga group completes an 8-week program delivered twice weekly for 45 minutes per session, consisting of asanas targeting flexibility, strengthening, and balance, followed by cool-down and meditation.
Assessments are performed at baseline and after completion of the 8-week program. Flexibility is evaluated using standardized tests (sit-and-reach; trunk extensor flexibility; trunk lateral flexion; hip flexor flexibility; ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion). Anxiety is measured with the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and sleep quality is measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.
- Conditions
- Healthy Lifestyle
- Being tested
- Tai Chi, Yoga
- Keywords
- Flexibility, Anxiety, Sleep Quality, Tai Chi, Yoga
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tai ChiOther
Yang-style Tai Chi program consisting of 10 movements delivered for 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session (warm-up ~10 min; Tai Chi practice ~30 min; cool-down ~5 min).
YogaOther
Yoga program delivered for 8 weeks, twice weekly, 45 minutes per session, consisting of 30-35 minutes of asanas (flexibility, strengthening, balance) followed by cool-down and meditation (~5 minutes).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi Exercise Group | Experimental | Participants receive Yang-style Tai Chi (10 movements) for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, including warm-up, Tai Chi practice, and cool-down. Receives: Other: Tai Chi |
| Yoga Exercise Group | Active comparator | Participants receive yoga for 8 weeks, 2 sessions per week, 45 minutes per session, consisting of asana-based flexibility/strength/balance practice followed by cool-down and meditation. Receives: Other: Yoga |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sleep Quality
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score assessing sleep quality over the past month; higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality (range 0-21).
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
Secondary outcomes (3)
Anxiety
Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) total score (0-63); higher scores indicate greater anxiety severity.
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
Flexibility
Change from baseline in standardized flexibility tests (sit-and-reach; trunk extensor flexibility; trunk lateral flexion right/left; hip flexor flexibility; ankle dorsiflexion and plantar flexion ROM measured by goniometer).
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
BMI
BMI: Body mass index (kg/m²).
Measured: Baseline and immediately post-intervention (8 weeks).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Mar 2026
- Study start14 Mar 2026
- Primary completion30 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion2 Jun 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Healthy LifestyleStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants were randomized to one of two parallel groups (Tai Chi or Yoga) and completed an 8-week exercise program; outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tuğçe Tahmaz, Bahçeşehir University
- Investigators
- Tuğçe Tahmaz, PhD, Principal investigator, Bahçeşehir University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07480174
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2209
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No