Browsing by Author "Apar Avinash Saoji"

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    Psychophysiological changes associated with trataka (Yogic visual concentration)
    (SVYASA, 2022-11-20) Swathi P. S.; Raghavendra Bhat; Apar Avinash Saoji
    Träöaka (Yogic Visual Concentration) is one of the six cleansing techniques (Ñaöakarma) explained in Haöha yoga pradépikä. Träöaka means gazing continuously at a small point until tears are shed. This point of concentration activates the inner potential and can absorb the mind. Bahiranga träöaka (external concentrated gazing) is gazing at a candle flame or any other external objects, and antaranga träöaka (internal concentrated gazing) is focusing on the inner visualization of the object (Muktibodhananda, 1999). The practice of träöaka is considered an essential part of Ñaöakarma. Literature suggests that träöaka has many benefits, but there is a lack of clear understanding of the effects of träöaka scientifically. A study assessed the immediate effect of träöaka on critical flicker fusion (CFF) in thirty healthy volunteers. A significant increase in CFF immediately after träöaka sessions indicated better visual perception (Mallick & Kulkarni, 2010). In another study, the effect of träöaka on cognitive functions in the elderly population was assessed. Results showed significant improvements in cognitive functions such as Digit Span Test, Six Letter Cancellation Test, and Trail Making Test-B compared to the control group (Jagannathan et al., 2014). Another study demonstrated better performance on the Stroop colour-word test following träöaka compared to a control session. The research suggests träöaka technique increases selective attention, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition (Raghavendra & Singh, 2016). Changes in heart rate variability and breath rate were assessed in 30 healthy vii volunteers (Raghavendra & Ramamurthy, 2014). There was a significant reduction in breath rate and an increase in the high-frequency component of HRV after the immediate practice of träöaka, indicating a trend of relaxation and parasympathetic activity. The above mentioned study looked at only frequency domain components of HRV, hence, in this study, we have investigated the time domain, nonlinear components, and association with the psychological task. Thus, the current study was proposed to understand the effects of träöaka on pre, during, and post-intervention. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The present study was proposed to understand the psychophysiological changes associated with träöaka in healthy volunteers. The objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of träöaka and eye exercise on i) Autonomic functions viz. Heart rate variability, Heart rate, Respiratory rate, Skin Conductance, and Simple Visual Reaction Time task (SVRT), ii) Psychological well-being and visual strain, iii) Visuospatial short-term working memory through Corsi block tapping task (CBTT). METHODS Participants: For the Autonomic function and SVRT task, a total of thirty volunteers, for Visual strain and psychological well-being, a total of one hundred and six volunteers, and for CBTT, a total no of forty-one volunteers of both genders with ages ranging from 18 to 30 years participated in the study. They were students of a Yoga University in South India. They had the minimum experience of Yoga practice for six months. Design viii We adapted the self as control trial to assess the autonomic changes and visual reaction time, wherein each participant was assessed twice during experimental and control sessions. The assessments for Autonomic changes were done for the duration of 5 min before, 20 min for during the session, and immediately after the practice of träöaka or control session. For Simple Visual reaction time, the assessments were done for the duration of 5 min before and immediately after the practice of träöaka or control sessions. For the assessment of the performance of Corsi block tapping task, a repeated measures design was adapted. Each participant was assessed thrice, at baseline, following the practice of träöaka and control sessions. We adopted a randomized controlled trial to assess visual strain and psychological well-being, and questionnaires were administered at baseline and at the end of two weeks. Assessments: i. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and respiration were recorded using a 16-channel human physiology system (Power lab 16/35. A.D. Instruments, Australia) ii. Visual Fatigue Scale (VFS), Visual symptoms checklist (VSC), Mind-wandering questionnaire (MWQ), and State mindfulness attention awareness scale (SMAAS) were administered. iii. SVRT task and CBTT were presented using the Inquisit Millisecond software package 4.0 (Millisecond Software, LLC, Seattle, USA) Intervention: The träöaka module consists of 2 distinct stages, which were administered for 20 min. As a preparatory stage of träöaka, eye exercises were performed. The eye exercises were done with eyes open in a well-lit room. The second stage was the practice of träöaka itself. The ix participants were asked to fix their gaze on the candle's flame for about 2 to 3 minutes without blinking their eyes. This process was repeated for three rounds (simple focusing, intense & deep focusing for 5 min each), and practice was ended in silence with the prayer. The second stage consisted of about 15 minutes. During the control session, subjects practiced only eye exercises for 10 minutes, and for the next 10 minutes, they sat quietly with their eyes closed without doing any concentration or meditation exercise. RESULTS: i. Autonomic Functions & Simple visual reaction time task: Enhanced heart rate variability was observed during and following träöaka, indicative of possible parasympathetic activity in the autonomic activity. There was also a reduction noted in Respiratory rate, Skin Conductance, and SVRT task. ii. Visual Strain & Psychological well-being: There was a significant reduction in VFS and VSC scores, MWQ, along with an increase in SMAAS scores in the träöaka group after two weeks of intervention. iii. Performance in Corsi Block Tapping Task: The results demonstrate an enhanced working memory, spatial memory, and spatial attention following the practice of Träöaka in the Cosri Block Tapping Task. CONCLUSION: The practice of träöaka was found to reduce visual strain and mind wandering while improving state mindfulness. The träöaka (yogic visual concentration) leads to increased vagal tone and reduced sympathetic arousal along with reduction observed in SVRT Task. x Also, träöaka enhanced working and spatial memory in the CBTT. The results indicate the practice of träöaka to be safe in healthy volunteers. NEED OF THE STUDY: There is a paucity of scientific studies about the effects of träöakaon autonomic and cognitive functions and visual strain and psychological functions. All these domains could be potentially influenced positively through the practice of träöaka. Thus, we undertook studies to evaluate the effect of träöaka to understand autonomic changes during the träöaka and on Visual Reaction Time; performance in CBTT (for working and spatial memory) and to evaluate the effect of träöaka on the visual strain and promoting psychological well-being.
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    Using deep relaxation technique as a cooling down technique following a Zumba session
    (SVYASA, 2020) Yashoda Bairagi; Apar Avinash Saoji
    Background Studies have shown that anxiety,fatigue and physiological changes negatively effect on people who use to do high intensive workout performance, joy in learning, lecture understanding, attendance, emotional and physical health and their quality of life. Deep relaxation technique designed to give deeper relaxation to the mind and body. DRT principle is based on followed by relaxation (parasympathetic activity in shavasana or corpse posture), as ancient yoga texts Mandukaya upanished suggests that such combination especially helpful to reach state of mental equilibrium where parasympathetic system predominant. Supine rest (SR) practice is classical relaxation technique (shavasana or corpse posture) suggested in ancient Hatha yoga texts to remove fatigue and give greater relaxation to body and mind. Previous relaxation studies illustrated beneficial effect on cognitive processes, memory, attention, skills, sleep, metabolism rate, anxiety and stress. 2. Objectives The objective of study to investigate the immediate effect of deep relaxation technique on psychological and physiological health after high intensive workout and substantiate the applicability and efficacy of these techniques in reducing fatigue and anxiety and physiological changes and enhance the pleasure, quality in performance. 3. Material and methods 30 subjects both male and female (mean ± SD 00.00 ± 0.00), with no age limit a AROGYA MANDIR and S&J FITNESS in raipur chhattisgarh have received 12 days orientation program. Participants have been randomized into self as control group deep relaxation practice posture (shavasana or corpse posture) practice given respectively for 15 minutes. Before and after the 45 minutes of zumba session. 4. Result Deep relaxation technique has produced significant results in reduction fatigue, state anxiety, increase mindfulness and also reduce physiological health whereas the magnitude of change is lesser in Supine rest. 5. Conclusion The investigations in this study suggest that a deep relaxation technique practice reduced fatigue, scores immediately after the practice and decreased state anxiety more than supine rest. Deep relaxation practice increased mindfulness scores significantly and decreased heart rate, respiratory rate systolic blood pressure significantly but diastolic blood pressure was in moderate state in yoga deep relaxation technique practice more than SR practice after 45 minute of zumba session