Effect of Bhramari Pranayama Practice on Cognitive Functions in Healthy Volunteers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ijop.v10i4.3340Keywords:
Cognitive functions, Pranayama, Stress, Vagal tone.Abstract
Bhramari Pranayama (Humming bee breath) is one of the common slow pranayama practices, which involves
inhaling through both nostrils and while exhaling produce sound of humming bee. Practicing pranayama reduces
the effects of stress and strain on various systems by increasing the vagal tone. With the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, there are heightened feelings of stress, anxiety and depression and pranayama can be an effective way
to improve our mental and emotional well-being. This study has been chosen to assess the effect of Bhramari
pranayama on cognitive functions and to compare the immediate and training effects of Bhramari pranayama in
the study group. An observational study was conducted among 110 students in a medical college aged between
18-22 years for a period of 2 months. The participants were instructed to do 9 rounds of Bhramari Pranayama after
which the immediate effect of the Pranayama and 3 weeks of Pranayama practice on cognitive functions was
assessed. After training of Bhramari Pranayama for 3 weeks, a statistically significant improvement was observed.
The study shows the possibility that Bhramari Pranayama has a beneficial effect on HRV in medical students, as
the autonomic balance shifts towards the improvement of parasympathetic tone. The study also showed better
attention, concentration and improved cognitive functions immediately after performing Bhramari pranayama
which might be due to increased alertness and calmness.
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