Effect of Yogic Controlled Breathing Exercises on Cardiovascular Parameters

Authors

  • Chitra Srivastava1, Saurabh Saha1, Jalajsaxena2, Arun Goel3, Dolly Rastogi2, Atoshkumar1

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijop.v8i2.1238

Keywords:

Pranayam, Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Meditation

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pranayam (yogic controlled breathing exercises) &
meditation on cardiovascular parameters in 1st year male medical students of GSVM Medical College,
Kanpur. All the 60 students selected for the study were randomized into 3 groups of 20 students each:
Group I–Anulom Vilom Pranayam, Group II–Kapalbhati Pranayam, Group III–Bhastrika Pranayam. Blood
pressure (systolic & diastolic) & pulse rate of all the students in each group were recorded at baseline & after
3 months of training. Training programme included 10 min. meditation in padmasana followed by 5 min.
practice of pranayam twice a day for 3 months. A significant (p< .001) decrease in pulse rate, systolic BP and
diastolic BP were observed after 3 months of training.. The relaxation & flexibility induced by meditation
& pranayam help to stabilize the autonomic nervous system with a tendency towards parasympathetic
dominance. So the meditation & pranayam should be encouraged to improve the performance of
cardiovascular system. Controlled pranayam breathing is also effective in improving the strength & tone of
muscles involved in respiration.

Author Biography

  • Chitra Srivastava1, Saurabh Saha1, Jalajsaxena2, Arun Goel3, Dolly Rastogi2, Atoshkumar1

    1Associate Professor (Physiology), GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, 2Professor & Head, Department of
    Physiology, GMC, Banda, 3Associate Professor, department of physiology, AIIMS, Rishikesh

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Published

2020-04-29

How to Cite

Effect of Yogic Controlled Breathing Exercises on Cardiovascular Parameters. (2020). International Journal of Physiology, 8(2), 29-33. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijop.v8i2.1238