Search

Background: Previous studies of nostril-regulated yoga breathing have focused on unilateral breathing with both inspiration and expiration through a specified nostril. However, traditionally described yoga breathing involves inspiration through one nostril and expiration through the other, called suryabhedan pranayama (SBP) (right nostril inspiration) and chandrabhedan pranayama (CBP) (left nostril inspiration). The effects of these practices were investigated here. Methods: Forty-seven healthy male participants (group mean age ± standard deviation [SD]; 26.34 ± 6.38 years) with prior experience of yoga breathing (group mean age ± SD; 43.64 ± 32.84 months) were randomly assigned to four sessions on separate days: (i) SBP, (ii) CBP, (iii) Breath awareness, and (iv) Quiet rest. The heart rate variability (HRV) and breath rate were recorded pre, during, and post each practice. Results: There was a significant increase in low frequency (LF) power and SD of NN intervals during SBP and CBP in comparison to the respective preceding (P < 0.05; repeated measures analyses of variance with Bonferroni adjusted post hoc analysis), while LF increased post-CBP alone. During both interventions, there were significant reductions in respiration rate. Conclusion: The changes in HRV suggest common rather than distinct changes in SBP and CBP suggestive of respiration-related increased cardiac parasympathetic activity. The involvement of both nostrils in SBP and CBP may have contributed to the comparable effects of the two practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previously, yoga breathing improved mood states and attention but the effect of varying breath frequency on mood and attention was not clear. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of changes in breath frequency on attention, mood, vigor, and affect states. Materials and Methods: Thirty participants (mean age ± standard deviation, 27.3 ± 4.2 years) were assessed on 2 separate days practicing either high-frequency yoga breathing (HFYB, breath frequency 54.23/min) or bumblebee yoga breathing (BBYB, breath frequency 3.97/min) in random order. Assessments included blood pressure (BP), cancellation test scores, Nijmegen (to check for hyperventilation), respiration (rate, height of the breath wave [depth], and duration of inhalation relative to exhalation), mood states, vigor, and affect states. Results: Diastolic BP increased after HFYB, whereas systolic BP decreased after BBYB, after both sessions scores in a cancellation test increased (changes in cancellation test performance suggest alertness and test-directed attention), also global vigor (signifying mental energy) and global affect (related to being "happy" and "calm") scores increased, whereas negative mood decreased after HFYB session (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Conclusion: Both HFYB and BBYB increased attention test scores, possibly due to cortical activation (HFYB) or relaxation (BBYB). In HFYB, breath frequency and inspiration duration increased suggestive of increased sympathetic activity, accounting for increased vigor, positive affect, and diastolic BP. In contrast in BBYB, low breath frequency, higher breath amplitude, and prolonged expiration suggestive of parasympathetic activity may account for the decreased systolic BP after BBYB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yoga breathing influences cortical activity and, hence, cortico-efferent sensory activity. Previously, slow yoga breathing influenced the components of mid-latency auditory evoked potentials. Objective: The present study aimed to compare middle latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs) recorded during (i) High-frequency yoga breathing (HFYB), (ii) Breath awareness (BAW), and (iii) Quiet rest (QR) as a control in experienced yoga practitioners. Materials and Methods: The MLAEPs were recorded before, during, and after the practice of HFYB compared to an equal duration of BAW and QR in 22 university students whose ages ranged from 18 to 28 years, recorded from the vertex referenced to linked earlobes and the ground electrode on forehead. Results: The peak amplitude of the Pa wave was significantly increased during HFYB compared to before HFYB (repeated measures ANOVA, post hoc analysis with least significant difference, P < 0.05). During BAW, the peak amplitude of the Na wave was significantly increased compared to before BAW (P < 0.05). During QR, the peak latency of "Pa" and "Nb" waves was significantly increased compared to before QR (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The findings suggest that changes in MLAEPs during HFYB, BAW, and QR were different and distinct. Both interventional sessions appear to increase the recruitment of neural resources in the primary auditory cortex, whereas QR appears to slow transmission within the thalamic reticular projection to the cortex. Generalizing the findings is restricted by the sample being confined to male experienced practitioners of yoga breathing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An association between expectations of treatment and treatment outcome has been reported for conventional medical and surgical treatments. However, this association has not been described for yoga therapy. The present study recruited patients (154 males and 145 females, n = 299; age 48.8 ± 14.7 years) who had been admitted to a residential wellness center, most commonly with diseases of the musculoskeletal system or connective tissue; endocrine, nutritional, or metabolic diseases; and digestive system disorders (all based on ICD-11). Assessments included: (1) expectations of yoga and associated therapies at baseline using two questionnaires (Treatment Expectation Questionnaire and Expectation for Treatment Scale); and (2) treatment outcome at baseline and after 7 days of yoga and associated therapies using the Physical Health Questionnaire and Global Perceived Effect scale. The intervention included yoga and additional therapies (e.g., hydrotherapy and ayurveda for approximately 40% of the time). Multivariable regression analyses (controlled for variation due to age, gender, education, and baseline Physical Health Questionnaire scores) demonstrated that expectations of (1) positive outcomes of all aspects of treatment significantly predicted better overall perceived effect of treatment; (2) symptom resolution (positive expectations) significantly predicted higher total Physical Health Questionnaire scores, with better digestion; and (3) low adverse outcomes significantly predicted better sleep. The findings support the premise that higher positive expectations and lower negative expectations of yoga therapy predict better treatment outcomes. These findings suggest that people should be well-informed about the reported benefits and the less-frequent negative outcomes of yoga therapy so that their expectations may be positive yet realistic, optimally influencing treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previously, yoga volitional breathing with low inspiration to expiration ratios (i/e) (as in bhramari pranayama) improved cognition and reduced state anxiety. This study compared the effects of low, high and equal i/e ratio breathing on affect and attention. Material and Methods: Affect, vigor and attention were assessed in forty healthy participants (group mean age± SD; 22.58±3.83; M:F= 2.33:1) while breathing with three different i/e regulated by a visual metronome on separate days viz., (i) low i/e (28:72), (ii) equal i/e (50:50), (iii) high i/e (72:28) compared to control, without conscious breath modification. Assessments were: (i) brief mood introspection scale (BMIS), (ii) global vigor and affect scale (GVAS), (iii) Spielberger's state trait anxiety inventory-state (STAI-S) and a six letter cancellation test to assess sustained attention. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc tests. Results: Pleasant feelings increased after low and equal i/e. Low i/e also increased positive feelings whereas equal i/e decreased scores in the cancellation test for sustained attention. All three breathing practices and the control session decreased state anxiety and increased vigor. High i/e breathing alone did not decrease negative feelings. For all the breath ratios the breath frequency cue was set at twelve breaths per minute. Conclusion: In summary, varying breath phase ratios influenced positive and pleasant feelings but did not influence state anxiety or vigor. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the findings would be improved with concurrent physiological assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Practicing mental repetition of "OM" has been shown to cause significant changes in the middle latency auditory-evoked potentials, which suggests that it facilitates the neural activity at the mesencephalic or diencephalic levels. Aims: The aim of the study was to study the brainstem auditory-evoked potentials (BAEP) in two meditation states based on consciousness, viz. dharana, and dhyana. Materials and Methods: Thirty subjects were selected, with ages ranging from 20 to 55 years (M=29.1; ±SD=6.5 years) who had a minimum of 6 months experience in meditating "OM". Each subject was assessed in four sessions, i.e. two meditation and two control sessions. The two control sessions were: (i) ekagrata, i.e. single-topic lecture on meditation and (ii) cancalata, i.e. non-targeted thinking. The two meditation sessions were: (i) dharana, i.e. focusing on the symbol "OM" and (ii) dhyana, i.e. effortless single-thought state "OM". All four sessions were recorded on four different days and consisted of three states, i.e. pre, during and post. Results: The present results showed that the wave V peak latency significantly increased in cancalata, ekagrata and dharana, but no change occurred during the dhyana session. Conclusions: These results suggested that information transmission along the auditory pathway is delayed during cancalata, ekagrata and dharana, but there is no change during dhyana. It may be said that auditory information transmission was delayed at the inferior collicular level as the wave V corresponds to the tectum.

Background: In Indian scriptures the sacred syllable Om is the primordial sound from which all other sounds and creation emerge which signifies the Supreme Power. Aims: To explore the significance of the syllable OM from ancient texts and effects of OM meditation in contemporary science. Descriptions from ancient texts: The descriptions of Om have been taken from four Upanisads (Mundaka, Mandukya, Svetasvatara, and Katha), the Bhagvad Gita, and Patanjali′s Yoga Sutras. Scientific studies on Om: Autonomic and respiratory studies suggest that there is a combination of mental alertness with physiological rest during the practice of Om meditation. Evoked potentials studies suggest a decrease in sensory transmission time at the level of the auditory association cortices, along with recruitment of more neurons at mesencephalic-diencephalic levels. Conclusion: It is considered that a person who realizes Om, merges with the Absolute. Scientific studies on Om suggest that the mental repetition of Om results in physiological alertness, and increased sensitivity to sensory transmission.

Background: An association has been reported between the dominant nostril through which we breathe and the cerebral hemisphere found to be active. Aims : To understand the association between the nostril dominant at rest and the performance in a cancellation task using verbal information-a left hemisphere task. Materials and Methods : Two hundred eighty-nine normal, healthy volunteers attending a one week nonresidential yoga camp were assessed in a single 30 minute period. Nostril dominance was assessed using a standard method. After this, participants were given the letter cancellation task and nostril dominance was again checked. For each participant, the numbers of letters that had been left out and wrongly cancelled as well as total errors were assessed. The Mann-Whitney u test and Chi-Square test were used to assess whether there was a significant difference in cancellation task performance between right and left nostril-dominant persons. Results : There was no statistically significant difference between right and left nostril-dominant participants. Conclusions : The present results do not support previous findings of contralateral cerebral hemisphere improvement with breathing through a specific nostril.

In conventional healthcare, patients’ preferences for their treatment are determined, though this practice has not been reported for yoga therapy. The present convenience sampling exploratory survey attempted to determine whether those seeking yoga therapy would report preferences for the way yoga therapy is implemented, the therapist’s knowledge, and related aspects of yoga therapy. Responses from 426 people attending a yoga therapy institution in India were analyzed. Based on the chi-square test (p < 0.05) and Cramer’s V (> 0.10), most people wished to receive yoga therapy in a group of others with a similar disease (42.25%), in a yoga institution (83.57%), and as in-person sessions (48.83%). Patients preferred yoga therapists to know about the principles of yoga (40.38%), to be well-informed generally (61.97%), and to be able to give suggestions for emotional well-being. For the majority of participants (59.4%), the reason for selecting yoga therapy was “a belief in yoga as therapy” (rather than as an add-on therapy or as a last resort). Patients’ expectations of yoga therapy were positive, namely a cure of disease (79.34%) and improvement after 1 year (95.8%). Most patients (91.6%) wanted their conventional medicine practitioner to know that they were receiving yoga therapy. Although limited by the study design, survey design, and participant details available, overall results suggest that patients (1) reported specific preferences (for the implementation of yoga therapy and for yoga therapists’ knowledge), (2) had expectations of yoga therapy, and (3) most often were interested in their conventional care physicians being informed about the yoga therapy they received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous surveys from countries other than India reported positive health behaviors in yoga practitioners. The present study aimed to determine with respect to yoga practitioners in India: (i) percentages of yoga practitioners who consumed specific foods, had additional physical activity and leisure activity, (ii) the association between these choices and their yoga practice, and (iii) the association of yoga with adding or avoiding specific foods and with meal timings in a day. Materials and Methods: This convenience hybrid‑mode sampling survey was conducted on 551 yoga‑experienced persons. Results: (1) Yoga practitioner respondents ate fruits and vegetables regularly (62.1%), did not consume animal source products (69.2%), alcohol (98.0%), or tobacco (98.4%), had a regular physical activity other than yoga (77.5%) and leisure activities (92.2%). (2) More than 150 min/week of yoga practice and experience of yoga exceeding 60 months was (a) significantly associated with (i) regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, (ii) lower consumption of sugar‑sweetened beverages, animal source foods, tobacco, and alcohol (P < 0.05, Chi‑square test) and (b) not associated with physical activity or leisure activities (P > 0.05, Chi‑square test). (3) Yoga practitioners excluded sugar‑sweetened beverages, animal‑source foods and fast foods from their diet, whereas they added fruits, vegetables, and plant‑based juices to their diet, with earlier first and last meals for the day. Conclusion: In India, yoga practitioner respondents’ choices for foods, physical activity, and leisure conform to accepted positive health behaviors. The exclusion of animal‑source foods emphasizes the need for well‑planned and fortified diets among vegan yoga practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]