Consequences of Eight Weeks Yoga Program on Physiological Changes of Female Yoga & Non-Yoga Athletes
Dr. Hasinkha S. Tadvi
Director
of Physical Education
Vidya
Vikas Mandal’s S. G. Patil Arts, Science & Commerce College, Sakri, Dist:
Dhule.
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of an eight-week
Pranadharana (yoga) program on specific physiological variables in
female athletes and non-athletes. The primary objective was to determine if
consistent yoga practice significantly alters the resting heart rate and
resting respiratory rate of young women.
A pre-test/post-test non-equivalent group design
was employed. A total of 48 female subjects (24 athletes and 24 non-athletes)
aged 18–25 were selected from the Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North
Maharashtra University, Jalgaon.Subjects were randomly assigned to four
groups (n=12 each): an experimental and a control group for both athletes and
non-athletes. The experimental groups participated in a 45-minute Pranadharana
session five days a week for eight weeks, while the control groups maintained
their regular daily activities. Data were collected on resting heart rate and
resting respiratory rate before and after the intervention. Analysis of
Covariance (ANCOVA) was applied at a 0.05 level of significance to analyze the
data.
Statistical analysis revealed that the eight-week
intervention did not produce a statistically significant change in the selected
physiological variables. Specifically, there was no significant difference
observed between the experimental and control groups regarding their resting
respiratory rates or resting heart rates following the program.
On the basis of the results obtained, it is
concluded that the Pranadharana program, as implemented in this study,
had no significant effect on the resting heart rate and resting respiratory
rate of female athletes and non-athletes. Further research may be required to
determine if a longer duration or higher intensity of practice is necessary to
elicit physiological changes.
Keywords:Pranadharana, physiological variables, resting
heart rate, resting respiratory rate, female athletes, yoga.
Introduction
Yoga
is traditionally recognized as a comprehensive Hindu spiritual and ascetic
discipline. In contemporary practice, it has gained global prominence for its
integration of breath control, meditation, and specific bodily postures aimed
at promoting holistic health and relaxation. The foundational definition of
Yoga, as established by the sage Patanjali, is "YogasChittaVrittiNirodhah,"
which translates to "Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the
mind." In this context, Chitta represents the mind, Vrittis
refer to thought impulses or fluctuations, and Nirodah signifies their
control or removal.
The
physical component of Yoga, known as Asanas, can be described as a
scientifically structured method of physical culture. Beyond simple stretching,
Asanas are specific positions designed to open energy channels and psychic
centers, thereby enhancing an individual's physical fitness and functional capacity.
Historically, the practice of Asanas was intended to develop the physical
discipline required to sit comfortably in a single position for extended
periods—a prerequisite for deep meditation. By maintaining the health of
internal organs and removing physical impediments such as restlessness,
instability, and lethargy, Asanas provide the body with a "Satvik"
glow and a sense of internal grandeur.
Central
to the efficacy of Yoga is the act of breathing. While often overlooked due to
its involuntary nature, respiration holds profound power over the body, mind,
and spirit. Physiologically, each inhalation delivers essential oxygen to spark
the transformation of nutrients into fuel, while each exhalation purges the
body of carbon dioxide and toxic waste.
Beyond gas
exchange, breathing serves as a bridge between the physical and mental states;
it possesses the capacity to induce either tension or relaxation, and to cloud
or clear the intellect. In the yogic tradition, air is considered the primary
vehicle for Prana, or life force—a psycho-physio-spiritual energy that
permeates the universe. Consequently, the regulation of breath is not merely a
biological necessity but a sophisticated tool for managing the life force
within the human system.
Methodology
Research
Design
The study utilized an experimental
research design, specifically a Pre-test and Post-test Non-Equivalent
Groups Design. The primary objective was to investigate the effects of an
eight-week Yoga (Pranadharana) program on specific physiological variables in
female yoga and non-yoga athletes.
Participants
and Sampling
A total of 48 female subjects (24
athletes and 24 non-athletes) were randomly selected from the Kavayitri
Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon.
·
Age
Range: 18–25 years.
·
Group
Allocation: Participants
were divided into four sub-groups ($n=12$ each)
to facilitate the experimental comparison:
·
Experimental
Groups: One group of
athletes and one group of non-athletes.
·
Control
Groups: One group of
athletes and one group of non-athletes.
Selection
of Variables
The study focused on the following
physiological variables:
·
Resting Heart Rate (RHR): Measured as the
number of heartbeats per minute (bpm) during a state of complete rest.
·
Resting Respiratory Rate (RRR): Measured by
counting the number of breaths (inhalations/exhalations) per minute by
observing abdominal movement.
Experimental
Protocol (Yoga Pranadharana Program)
Pranadharana
involves focused awareness on the flow of air during respiration to calm the
mind and prepare for meditation.
·
Posture: Subjects were instructed to sit in a
comfortable cross-legged position (e.g., Sukhasana, Padmasana, Siddhasana,
or Swastikasana) or lie in Shavasana.
·
Alignment: The back remained straight, shoulders
relaxed (not stooped), and eyes closed. Facial muscles, jaws, and the tongue
were relaxed to ensure no physical tension.
·
Technique: Subjects were guided to observe the
natural, effortless movement of the breath and the gentle swaying of the
abdominal wall without exerting pressure or pull.
Procedure
The study was conducted over a period of
eight weeks according to the following phases:
1.
Orientation: A two-day orientation program was held for
all groups to familiarize them with the study's requirements.
2.
Pre-test: Initial measurements of RHR and RRR were
recorded for all participants.
3.
Treatment: * The Experimental Groups practiced
Pranadharana for 45 minutes (6:00 AM to 6:45 AM), 5 days a week,
for a total of 8 weeks.
*The
Control Groups did not participate in the yoga program but continued
their regular daily activities.
4.
Post-test: After the 8-week intervention, post-test
data were collected for all variables.
Statistical
Analysis
To determine the significance of the
treatment, the data were analyzed using the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).
The level of significance was set at 0.05.
Results
and Analysis
The statistical analysis of the
physiological variables—Resting Heart Rate (RHR) and Resting
Respiratory Rate (RRR)—collected from the experimental and control groups
is presented below. An eight-week Yoga Pranadharana program served as
the intervention, and the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to
determine the significance of the results at a 0.05 level.
Physiological
Variables: Female Yoga Athletes
The following table details the pre-test,
post-test, and adjusted post-test means for female yoga athletes.
Table 1: ANCOVA for Resting Heart Rate
& Resting Respiratory Rate (Yoga Athletes)
|
Variable |
Test |
Exp
Mean |
Con
Mean |
df |
SS |
MSS |
F-Ratio |
|
Resting Heart
Rate |
Pre-Test |
78.60 |
82.50 |
1/46 |
76.05 |
76.05 |
0.740 |
|
Post-Test |
78.40 |
82.20 |
1/46 |
72.20 |
72.20 |
0.706 |
|
|
Adjusted |
80.34 |
80.26 |
1/45 |
0.022 |
0.022 |
0.016 |
|
|
Resting
Respiratory Rate |
Pre-Test |
17.81 |
18.82 |
1/46 |
5.00 |
5.00 |
1.546 |
|
Post-Test |
16.50 |
18.60 |
1/46 |
6.45 |
6.45 |
1.869 |
|
|
Adjusted |
17.08 |
18.22 |
1/45 |
7.99 |
7.99 |
2.341 |
Table no.
1. The analysis of covariance for resting heart rate for pranadharana and
control group indicates insignificant F-ratio of .740 and .706 for the pre-test
and post-test means respectively. However, the F-ratio for the adjusted post-test
means reveals a value of .016 which was not significant for being less than the
required F-value of 4.03 at 0.05 level of significance. This indicates there
were no significant differences from the adjusted post-test means of
pranadharana and control group in resting heart rate. As well as resting
respiratory rate for pranadharana and control group indicates insignificant
F-ratio of 1.546, and 1.869 for the pre-test and post-test means respectively.
However, the F-ratio for the adjusted post-test means reveals a value of 2.341
which was insignificant for being lower than the required F-value of 4.03 at
0.05 level of significance. This indicates there were no significant
differences in resting respiratory rate and two groups i.e. experimental and
control group.
Physiological
Variables: Female Non-Yoga Athletes
The results for female non-yoga athletes
regarding heart and respiratory rates are presented in Table 2.
Table 2: ANCOVA for Resting Heart Rate
& Resting Respiratory Rate (Non-Yoga Athletes)
|
Variable |
Test |
Exp
Mean |
Con
Mean |
df |
SS |
MSS |
F-Ratio |
|
Resting Heart
Rate |
Pre-Test |
80.60 |
83.50 |
1/46 |
77.05 |
77.05 |
0.760 |
|
Post-Test |
79.80 |
81.40 |
1/46 |
73.20 |
73.20 |
0.709 |
|
|
Adjusted |
80.34 |
80.26 |
1/45 |
0.024 |
0.024 |
0.018 |
|
|
Resting
Respiratory Rate |
Pre-Test |
17.77 |
18.80 |
1/46 |
5.00 |
5.00 |
1.542 |
|
Post-Test |
16.40 |
18.50 |
1/46 |
6.48 |
6.39 |
1.858 |
|
|
Adjusted |
17.01 |
18.23 |
1/45 |
7.89 |
7.99 |
2.342 |
Table no. 2. The analysis of covariance for resting heart
rate for yoga pranadharana and control group indicates insignificant F-ratio of
0.760 and 0.709 for the pre-test and post-test means respectively. However, the
F-ratio for the adjusted post-test means reveals a value of .018 which was not
significant for being less than the required F-value of 4.03 at 0.05 level of
significance. This indicates there were no significant differences from the
adjusted post-test means of pranadharana and control group in resting heart
rate. As well as resting respiratory rate for pranadharana and control group
indicates insignificant F-ratio of 1.542, and 1.858 for the pre-test and
post-test means respectively. However, the F-ratio for the adjusted post-test
means reveals a value of 2.342 which was insignificant for being lower than the
required F-value of 4.03 at 0.05 level of significance. This indicates there
were no significant differences in resting respiratory rate and two groups i.e.
experimental and control group.
Discussion
The primary objective of this study was to examine
the effect of an eight-week Yoga Pranadharana program on the resting
heart rate (RHR) and resting respiratory rate (RRR) of female yoga athletes and
non-yoga athletes. The results, as indicated by the ANCOVA, showed that while
there were slight numerical decreases in the experimental groups, the changes
were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).
Several
factors may contribute to these findings:
·
Baseline
Fitness Levels: In the case
of the Yoga Athletes, their baseline physiological efficiency may
already be near an optimal ceiling. Highly trained individuals often show less
dramatic changes in resting vitals compared to sedentary populations, a
phenomenon known as the "ceiling effect."
·
Duration and
Intensity: While eight weeks is a standard
duration for intervention studies, the intensity or specific frequency of the Pranadharana
(focused breath awareness) might not have been sufficient to override the
autonomic nervous system's existing set point for RHR and RRR.
·
Sample Size: With a degrees of freedom ($df$) of 45/46, the
study had a moderate sample size. A larger cohort might be required to capture
subtle physiological shifts that do not reach significance in smaller groups.
·
Conclusion
Based on the statistical analysis of the data, the
study concludes that an eight-week practice of Yoga Pranadharana does
not produce a significant change in the Resting Heart Rate or Resting
Respiratory Rate of female athletes or non-athletes at the 0.05 level of
significance.
While the
null hypothesis is accepted for these specific physiological variables, these
results should not be interpreted as a lack of benefit from the practice.
Instead, they suggest that for the specific demographic of female athletes and
non-athletes over an eight-week period, the autonomic markers of RHR and RRR
remain relatively stable. Future research may consider a longer intervention
period or the inclusion of stress-induced physiological markers (such as
recovery heart rate) to further explore the benefits of Pranadharana.
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