Immediate changes in muscle strength and motor speed following yoga breathing.

The present study was conducted to assess the immediate effect of high-frequency yoga breathing on muscle strength and motor speed. Bilateral handgrip strength, leg and back strength, finger tapping and arm tapping speed were assessed in fifty male participants (group mean age±SD, 26.9±6.2 years) before and after (a) high frequency yoga breathing for 15 minutes and (b) breath awareness for the same duration. Sessions (a) and (b) were on two different days but at the same time of the day. The schedule was alternated for different participants. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in right hand grip strength after high frequency yoga breathing. Both finger and arm tapping improved after both practices. The results suggest a role for high frequency yoga breathing in improving the hand grip strength as an immediate effect.

Yoga, psychophysiology, and health: studies from the Yoga Department Research, Patanjali University, India / Yoga, psicofisiologia e saúde: estudos do Departamento de Pesquisas em Yoga da Universidade Patanjali, Índia / Yoga, psicofisiología y salud: investigación del Departamento de Estudios del Yoga, Patanjali Universidad, India

Techniques such as yoga postures, regulated breathing, relaxation, and meditation have increasingly become investigated in mainstream science. Many of these studies are carried out in India, where most of the practices originated. Here is a report of a professional experience concerning a research internship in the Yoga Research Department from Patanjali University, India, where some of these studies have been conducted. The presented results, which derive from the investigations carried out in the aforementioned department, indicate that such practices can have clinical implications for mental and physical health. Concerning physiology, depending on the particular technique, benefits have been noted during, immediately after or some time following the practice. Likewise, both short and long term interventions may produce positive therapeutic changes. However, this is not consistent to all conditions, hence the need to systematically investigate their applications. Psychophysiological changes seem to accompany many of these effects and this is an area that warrants more investigation, especially in Brazil, constituting an emergent field linking the aforementioned techniques, psychology and neuroscience.

Técnicas como posturas de yoga, regulação da respiração, relaxamento e meditação têm sido crescentemente investigadas cientificamente. Muitos destes estudos são realizados na Índia, onde a maior parte destas práticas se originou. Este artigo apresenta um relato de experiência profissional envolvendo um estágio de pesquisa no Departamento de Pesquisas em Yoga da Universidade de Patanjali, Índia, onde alguns destes estudos têm sido conduzidos. Os resultados apresentados, os quais derivam das investigações realizadas no referido departamento, indicam que tais práticas podem ter implicações clínicas para a saúde mental e física. Concernente à fisiologia, dependendo da técnica em particular, os benefícios podem ser notados durante, logo após ou algum tempo depois da prática. Similarmente, tanto intervenções de curto e longo prazo podem produzir mudanças terapêuticas positivas. Entretanto, isto não é consistente em todas as condições, por isso a necessidade de investigar sistematicamente as aplicações das técnicas. Mudanças psicofisiológicas parecem acompanhar muitos destes efeitos e esta é uma área que precisa ser mais explorada, constituindo-se como um campo emergente, especialmente no Brasil, ligando o estudo entre as referidas técnicas, a psicologia e a neurociência.

Técnicas tales como posturas de yoga, la regulación de la respiración, relajación y meditación vienen siendo cada vez más investigadas científicamente. Muchos de estos estudios se han llevado a cabo en la India, donde la mayoría de estas prácticas se originó. Este artículo presenta un relato de experiencia de trabajo durante una pasantía de investigación en el Departamento de Investigación de Yoga de la Universidad de Patanjali, India, en el cual algunos de estos estudios han sido realizados. Los resultados presentados, que se derivan de las investigaciones en ese departamento, indican que tales prácticas pueden tener implicaciones clínicas para la salud mental y física. En cuanto a la fisiología, dependiendo de la técnica en particular, los beneficios pueden ser observados durante, inmediatamente después, o algún tiempo después de la práctica. De manera similar, tanto medidas de tratamiento a corto y largo plazo pueden producir cambios positivos. Sin embargo, esto no es consistente en todas las condiciones, lo cual justifica la necesidad de investigar sistemáticamente las aplicaciones de dichas técnicas. Cambios psicofisiológicos parecen acompañar a muchos de estos efectos siendo esta una área que requiere más investigación, especialmente Brasil, estableciéndose como un campo emergente que une la psicología y la neurociencia.

Effect of yoga on different aspects of mental health.

State anxiety, somatization of stress, quality of life, self-rated quality of sleep, and discomfort due to over-breathing which occurs when stressed were studied. Out of a total of 140 participants, seventy participants self-selected to be in a yoga group for stress relief (group mean age±SD, 33.0±6.5 years; 37 males). Seventy age and gender matched participants were in a control group. State anxiety, somatization of stress, quality of life, discomfort and self-rated quality of sleep were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Symptom Checklist-90-R, SF-12, Nijmegen Discomfort Evaluation Scale and a Sleep Rating Questionnaire respectively. Assessments were made at the beginning and end of the week. Repeated measures ANOVAs with Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc analyses showed a significant decrease in state anxiety (P<0.001), somatization of stress (P<0.01), improved health-related quality of life (P<0.01), self-rated quality of sleep (P<0.01), and decrease in discomfort due to over-breathing (P<0.001). No changes (except decreased discomfort due to over-breathing; P<0.01) occurred in the control group. This study suggests that a brief yoga program may be beneficial in decreasing anxiety, somatization of stress and discomfort, improving health-related quality of life and self-rated sleep quality.

Yoga research and therapy in India

Yoga was originally intended for spiritual growth. However, nowadays there is an increasing trend to use yoga as an add-on-therapy. In India it is believed that all diseases arise as a result of conflict between our instinct and our intellect1. This is also important in using yoga to promote positive health and prevent disease. A number of examples are cited here. Healthy children were given yoga and physical therapy and their physical fitness, cognitive functiones and emotional well being were tested. Yoga improved their emotional well being. Yoga also helped children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a degenerative disease) by improving their quality of life and mental status2. Again the benefits were ascribed to the mental as well as the physical effects of yoga. Of course yoga has marked benefits in healthy obese adults to prevent diseases by increasing mental well being, reducing stress and improving sleep3. Yoga also reduced anthropometric indices and brought about changes in leptin and adiponectin levels in otherwise healthy adults4a,b. This change too, was believed to be related to mental changes, along with the physical. Finally yoga can help in various disorders in which a person feels pain and distress5a,b. Many of the effects are believed to be due to changes in the functions at the level of the cortex and thalamus6, as well as the autonomic nervous system7. However the mechanisms underlying the effects of yoga need to be explored more thoroughly.

Ayurveda: an ancient science of holistic healing

Ayurveda literally means the 'knowledge of living or of longevity', in Sanskrit. Ayurveda teachings elaborate how an individual can live in harmony with their surroundings. This includes pragmatic descriptions of the foods to be eaten, including where, when (according to the seasons and the time of the day) and how; as well as other practices, which includes yoga. In Ayurveda an emphasis is placed on three elemental humors (or doshas, in Sanskrit). These are usually described taking into account the five elements, viz., earth, water, fire, air and ether, which compose the whole Universe, including the human body. The doshas are vayu (air; comprised of wind and ether), pitta (bile; composed of fire and water), and kapha (phlegm; composed of water and earth). It is believed that the predominance of a particular dosha determines an individual's physical and mental characteristics. In this presentation a correlation would be made based on a study conducted on seven hundred healthy individuals, with the dosha dominant in each them and the occurrence of common complaints (e.g., an occasional headache). This may help in understanding which doshas make an individual particularly vulnerable to disorders of a specific organ or system. Apart from this the benefits of specific ayurveda practices will be presented based on scientific studies. This would include the use of polyherbal rejuvenating tonics to promote longevity and present disease as well as 'external therapies' such as 'shirodhara', which involves drop-by-drop application of medicated oils to the forehead for stress-reduction. Overall the presentation would aim at highlighting how Ayurveda blends specific practices with a holistic approach to promote positive health and prevent disease.

Awareness about bibliographic databases among students of Ayurveda and qualifi ed Ayurveda practitioners.

Students of Ayurveda and qualifi ed Ayurveda practitioners were assessed for awareness about bibliographic databases. One hundred and four volunteers (age range 17–64 years; group mean±SD, 24.3 ± 7.9 years; 62 females) participated in this cross-sectional study. There were 3 groups. Group I had 60 undergraduate students of a bachelor’s level course in Ayurveda, Group II had 20 graduate students of a 1-year Panchakarma course, and Group III had 24 Ayurveda physicians who were working in a yoga and Ayurveda center. An 8-question questionnaire was used for assessment. Undergraduates were found to be the best informed, followed by those who were working, while those doing post-graduation were the least well informed. The sample was from one institution; however, the fi ndings emphasize the importance of updating the knowledge of post-graduates or those in practice.

Risk of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of the floods in Bihar, India.

Background: Following a natural disaster, survivors are vulnerable to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/ or depression. Objectives: (i) To screen survivors of the Bihar floods a month after the event to determine their scores in a screening questionnaire for PTSD and/ or depression and (ii) to correlate these scores with age and gender. Materials and Methods: One thousand two hundred eighty-nine persons (645 females) who had been directly exposed to the floods in Bihar, India, in August 2008 were assessed. The Screening Questionnaire for Disaster Mental Health (SQD) was used to screen for PTSD and depression. Statistical Analysis: Separate two-factor ANOVAs were used to compare persons of both sexes and 5 different age groups for PTSD and depression scores. This was followed by post-hoc analysis for multiple comparisons. Results: People over the age of 60 years had significantly higher scores for PTSD and depression compared to all groups (P< 0.05 for all comparisons). Conclusion: Following a natural disaster, older people appear more vulnerable to develop PTSD and depression. This should be taken into account in devising strategies for disaster relief.

Immediate effects of right and left nostril breathing on verbal and spatial scores.

The immediate effect of two yoga breathing techniques was assessed on verbal and spatial memory tasks, considered hemisphere-specific. Forty-five participants (24 males; age range 20 to 45 years (mean age 27.1 +/- 8.1 years) were randomly allocated to three groups (n = 15 each) and were assessed immediately before and after 45 minutes of three breathing practices i.e., right nostril yoga breathing, left nostril yoga breathing, or breath awareness as a control intervention. Spatial memory scores increased after left nostril yoga breathing compared to before (by 16 percent, P = 0.03, paired t-test). Hence, breathing through the left nostril increased performance in a spatial cognitive task, corresponding to the cerebral hemisphere contralateral to the patent nostril.

Effect of a one-month yoga training program on performance in a mirror-tracing task.

The performance in a mirror star tracing task was assessed in two groups of volunteers (yoga and control) with 26 people in each group, and age range between 18 and 45 years. The star to be traced was six pointed and the outline was made up of 60 circles (4 mm in diameter). At the end of one month the yoga group showed a significant improvement in terms of an increase in the number of circles crossed (P<0.001, Wilcoxon paired signed ranks test) for both hands and a decrease in the number of circles left out for the right hand (P<0.05). The control group showed a significant increase in number of circles crossed for the left hand alone (P<0.05) at the end of a month attributed to re-test. The study suggests that one month of yoga improved reversal ability, eye-hand co-ordination, speed and accuracy which are necessary for mirror star tracing.

Influence of Yoga and Ayurveda on self-rated sleep in a geriatric population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sleep in older persons is characterized by decreased ability to stay asleep, resulting in fragmented sleep and reduced daytime alertness. Pharmacological treatment of insomnia in older persons is associated with hazardous side effects. Hence, the present study was designed to compare the effects of Yoga and Ayurveda on the self rated sleep in a geriatric population. METHODS: Of the 120 residents from a home for the aged, 69 were stratified based on age (five year intervals) and randomly allocated to three groups i.e., Yoga (physical postures, relaxation techniques, voluntarily regulated breathing and lectures on yoga philosophy), Ayurveda (a herbal preparation), and Wait-list control (no intervention). The groups were evaluated for self-assessment of sleep over a one week period at baseline, and after three and six months of the respective interventions. RESULTS: The Yoga group showed a significant decrease in the time taken to fall asleep (approximate group average decrease: 10 min, P<0.05), an increase in the total number of hours slept (approximate group average increase: 60 min, P< 0.05) and in the feeling of being rested in the morning based on a rating scale (P<0.05) after six months. The other groups showed no significant change. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSION: Yoga practice improved different aspects of sleep in a geriatric population.

Spatial and verbal memory test scores following yoga and fine arts camps for school children.

The performance scores of children (aged 11 to 16 years) in verbal and spatial memory tests were compared for two groups (n = 30, each), one attending a yoga camp and the other a fine arts camp. Both groups were assessed on the memory tasks initially and after ten days of their respective interventions. A control group (n = 30) was similarly studied to assess the test-retest effect. At the final assessment the yoga group showed a significant increase of 43% in spatial memory scores (Multivariate analysis, Tukey test), while the fine arts and control groups showed no change. The results suggest that yoga practice, including physical postures, yoga breathing, meditation and guided relaxation improved delayed recall of spatial information.

Effects of sirsasana (headstand) practice on autonomic and respiratory variables.

The present study had two aims: (1) To assess heart rate variability (HRV) along with non-specific autonomic measures (used in earlier studies), before and after two minutes of the head stand. (2) To compare changes in two categories of subjects, i.e., those who practiced the headstand in a traditional way (without any support) and those who used the support of the wall (a present day adaptation). The subjects were forty male volunteers (age range 19 to 36 years), with twenty subjects under each category. The following changes were significant after the practice, compared to values at baseline. (i) Both categories had an increase in the power of the low frequency component (LF) and a decrease in the high frequency component (HF) of the HRV spectrum, increased LF/HF ratio, and decreased heart rate. (ii) Subjects who practiced the head stand with the support of a wall showed reduced finger plethysmogram amplitude suggesting increased sympathetic vasomotor tone. (iii) Practicing the headstand without support was associated with an increase in the skin conductance level, suggestive of increased sympathetic sudomotor tone. Hence, both categories showed similar changes in the HRV components though changes in sympathetic vasomotor and sudomotor activity were different. These changes suggest sympathetic activation, irrespective of the method of practice.