ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: Besides spiritual achievements, the practice of yoga is accompanied by a number of beneficial physiological effects in the body. The regular practice of yoga integrates the mind and the body.It produces many systemic psycho-physical effects in the body, besides its specific effects on the respiratory functions.The aim of the present study was to assess the beneficial effects of yoga in the improvements in the pulmonary functions of young healthy adults. Methods: The study group consisted of 30 young adults (19 males and 11 females) who were students of first year M.B.B.S.,medical college Baroda.They were motivated to participate in yoga workshop for one hour daily for four weeks. The first phase of the recording of the pulmonary parameters (M.V.V,FVC,FEV1,PEFR) was done at the beginning of their course. The second phase of the recording was done after 4 weeks of the regular yoga practice. The data were analyzed using student’s Paired T – test. Results: Participants had a mean±SD age of 17.81 ± 0.48 years, height of 164.21±5.09 cm and weight of 54.34±5.63kg. The MVV(L/MIN) - before yoga practice showed a value of 97.4±24.4 and after , it showed a value of 119±28. The FVC(ml) - before yoga practice showed a value of 2575 ±631and after , it showed a value of 2768 ±618. The FEV1(ml)- before yoga practice showed a value of 2270± 636 and after , it showed a value of 2476 ±570. The PEFR(L/MIN) - before yoga practice showed a value of 479±103 and after , it showed a value of 585±120. For all the parameters, a P value of <0.01 was considered as statistically significant. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant increase in all the above lung parameters in the regular yoga practitioners.This study proposes that regular practice of yoga can improve health related aspects of physical fitness and general wellbeing.