On the use of Auto Regressive Dimensional Index for the evaluation of heart rate variability changes associated to yoga meditation

Changes induced by Yoga meditation upon the complexity of Heart Rate Variability were explored via the Auto-Regressive Dimensionality Index (ARDI). Data were downloaded from the Physionet.org website, and corresponded to HRV traces recorded before and during meditation with two Yoga techniques. Statistical support was found for the changes in ARDI being inversely dependent upon the basal ARDI levels before meditation (p<0.01). This suggests that Yoga meditation exerts a set-point mechanism at the level of overall complexity. This is in agreement with the documented effects of Yoga upon different components of the human body. At the same time, the possibility to regulate the level of complexity might be a novel mechanism of action for this ancient technique(AU)

Se exploraron los cambios inducidos por la meditación Yoga sobre la complejidad de la Variabilidad de la Frecuencia Cardiaca evaluada mediante el índice ARDI (Auto-Regressive Dimensionality Index). Los datos fueron obtenidos desde el sitio Physionet.org y se correspondían con trazos de Variabilidad de Frecuencia Cardiaca registrados antes y durante meditación con dos técnicas Yoga. Se obtuvo apoyo estadístico para la correlación negativa entre el cambio en ARDI y los niveles basales de ARDI antes de la meditación. Esto apoya la idea de que la práctica sostenida de Yoga ejerce un mecanismo regulador sobre la complejidad. Esto se corresponde con los efectos beneficiosos reportados por el Yoga sobre diferentes componentes del organismo. Al mismo tiempo, la posibilidad de regular los niveles de complejidad puede ser un mecanismo novedoso para esta técnica tan antigua(AU)

Effect of Raja Yoga Meditation on the lipid profile of post-menopausal women.

Background : Coronary artery disease is an important cause of death and disability among older women. Modification in lipid profile lowers the risk of coronary artery disease. It is claimed that yoga and transcendental meditation have a cholesterol lowering effect. This study was designed to assess the effect of raja yoga meditation of Brahmakumaris which is very simple to practice, on serum lipids in normal Indian women. Methods and Results : 49 normal female volunteers were the subjects. They were divided into pre-menopausal (n=23) and post-menopausal (n=26) groups. They were further divided into non-meditators (who had never done any kind of meditation), short-term meditators (meditating for 6 months to 5 years) and long-term meditators (meditating for more than 5 years). Lipid profile was assessed using their respective reagent sets. Serum cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in nonmeditators were significantly more in post-menopausal women as compared to pre-menopausal women. Serum cholesterol and low density lipoproteincholesterol were significantly lowered in both short and long term meditators as compared to non-meditators in post- menopausal women. No significant difference was observed in lipid profile in pre- menopausal women. Conclusion : Raja yoga meditation lowered serum cholesterol and lowdensity lipoprotein - cholesterol in post-menopausal women thus reducing the risk of coronary artery disease in them.