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Effect of Short-term Yoga Practice on Respiratory Efficiency

Lovie Beneta Theesmas¹,
Niveditha Pari²,
Viji Devanand³,
Celine D4
¹Associate Professor,
Department of Physiology,
Stanley Medical College,
Chennai.
²Associate Professor,
³Professor
Department of Physiology,
Stanley Medical College,
Chennai.
4Professor
Department of Physiology,
Chengalpattu Medical College,
Chengalpattu,
Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract
  • Hath yoga, one of the many paths of yoga, focuses on the overall fitness through breath control exercises (pranayama), yoga poses (asana), and meditation. There is evidence that the practice of yoga improves respiratory efficiency. The practice of yoga emphasizes body awareness and involves focusing one’s attention on breathing or specific muscles or parts of body, so it is possible that yoga may strengthen respiratory muscles and improve respiratory efficiency.
  • Aim: To study the effect of short-term yoga practice on respiratory efficiency in healthy individuals.
  • Materials and Methods: 35 Apparently healthy individuals in the age group 17 – 25 yrs of both genders who have not undergone yoga before at Govt. Yoga and Naturopathy College, were selected. Informed consent was obtained. Pulse rate, Blood pressure and Respiratory rate, Breath holding time (BHT) after normal inspiration and after deep inspiration, Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were recorded. Yoga practices comprising of Surya namaskar, asanas, pranayama were taught and made to perform for 1 hour daily, 5 days a week for 3 months. All the above parameters were measured after 3 months of yoga practice.
  • Results: Statistical analysis was done using paired t test. Systolic BP (114.17+13.01 vs 111.63+12.34), Diastolic BP (70.71+10.6 vs 66.14+9.5) were reduced significantly. BHT after normal inspiration (30.62+13.1vs 38.62+15.79), BHT after deep Inspiration (38.45+14.2 vs 45.89+16.54), PEFR (299.71+79.27VS 337.71+78.44) were increased significantly. Pulse rate and respiratory rate showed no significant variations.
  • Conclusion: Short term yoga practice has a beneficial effect in improving respiratory efficiency.

Keywords: BHT, PEFR, respiratory efficiency, yoga