G. SVYASA Ph. D. Theses
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Yoga Theses by Yoga PhD Students at SVYASA. These pages present some efforts at Scientific Validation of Yoga. You may receive full text of available yoga research papers
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Item Cross-sectional comparative study of yoga delivery: Remote and in-person in demographics of India (East) & North America (West)(S-VYASA, 2025-06-19) Sanjay Gupta; Sony KumariBACKGROUND As an increasingly recognized complementary healthcare approach, yoga demonstrates efficacy in managing a wide range of health issues, including chronic pain, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. With the global popularity of Hatha yoga and lifestyle shifts, yoga has transitioned into mainstream health care and wellness practices. Despite its benefits, integrating yoga into conventional healthcare remains challenging owing to the diversity in practice styles, demographic variability, and limited standardization of research methods and outcomes. The shift to digital platforms accelerated by the pandemic has transformed yoga’s accessibility and adaptability, allowing practitioners to engage remotely. However, remote yoga delivery raises concerns regarding consistency, reliability, and authenticity compared with traditional in-person sessions. Given these complexities, this study investigated the comparability and efficacy of remote versus in-person yoga across three key dimensions: authenticity, deliverability, effectiveness of delivery structure, and content inclusiveness. By examining these aspects across culturally distinct populations in North America (West) and India (East), this study provides insights into the potential of remote yoga for healthcare integration, emphasizing the need for structured, culturally adaptive approaches to enhance reliability and usability in various healthcare settings. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of remote yoga delivery compared to in-person practices in supporting health and wellness across diverse global populations. Specifically, it seeks to identify critical factors in authenticity, delivery, usability structure, and content inclusiveness that influence the quality and effectiveness of remote yoga as a reliable and effective healthcare practice. By addressing demographic and cultural differences, this study also explored delivery variability and the reliability of yoga interventions in aligning with healthcare needs. METHODS Participants: The study involved a culturally diverse sample of participants from North America (Western population) and India (Eastern population), representing a cross section of yoga practitioners engaging in both remote and in-person settings. Design: A cross-sectional mixed-method design was employed, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative component compared remote and in-person yoga practices, whereas the qualitative analysis explored expert insights into remote yoga authenticity and the delivery gaps between these methodologies. Assessments: Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ), Essential Properties of Yoga Questionnaire (EPYQ) and a Qualitative Interview of yoga experts Intervention: No Intervention was provided RESULTS Qualitative analysis revealed that 90% of experts regarded traditional in-person yoga as the gold standard for authentic practice, deeply rooted in traditions, discipline, and the Guru-Shishya Parampara, which remote delivery models cannot fully replicate. However, there is strong consensus on the positive impact and growing significance of remote yoga, particularly its ability to enhance global accessibility through advancements in technology and refined delivery methodologies. Experts have also highlighted the potential to effectively address global health challenges. Although remote yoga may not entirely match the depth of in-person practice, it serves as a powerful and accessible alternative for practitioners worldwide.Item Implications of learning strategies and effect of yoga on academic performance among adolescents: A randomized trial(S-VYASA, 2025-05-31) Mangesh Pandey; Narayan BeheraBACKGROUND Adolescent academic performance is crucial for both individual educational success and broader national development. The National Education Program report (2020) highlights significant challenges, revealing that 25% of Indian adolescents lack proficiency in fundamental academic skills, with India ranking 72nd out of 73 countries in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Addressing these issues necessitates a comprehensive approach integrating effective learning strategies, considerations of cognitive and non-cognitive factors, addressing physical and mental health concerns, resolving apprehensions related to academic failure, and promoting positive interpersonal relationships for conducive teaching-learning environment. Additionally, enhancing cognitive capabilities and motivation is crucial for efficient learning and academic achievement. This is particularly significant given the challenges posed by emotional and behavioral issues, which include reduced concentration, poor classroom engagement, and difficulty managing academic stress. These factors collectively contribute to lower grades, increased dropout rates, and limited opportunities for higher education. Alongside these considerations, parenting styles also significantly influence adolescent academic performance: authoritative parenting, with its high expectations and support, fosters independence, self-discipline, and motivation, whereas authoritarian parenting’s high demands and low responsiveness may instil fear of failure and lower self-esteem. In contrast, permissive parenting tends to cultivate inadequate discipline and poor academic habits. Moreover, socio-economic disparities further shape academic outcomes; students from higher socio-economic backgrounds often access more educational resources and supportive environments, contrasting starkly with the challenges faced by their peers from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who ii experience financial instability and limited educational support at home. This contributes to disparities in academic achievement and educational opportunities. This study utilizes various aspects of yoga, including hatha yoga (asana, pranayama, and deep relaxation techniques) and a combination of hatha yoga with jnana yoga-based learning strategies, such as attentive listening, reflective contemplation, repeated practice, intellectual humility, inquiry, and dedicated effort in acquiring knowledge and setting academic goals. Additionally, physical exercise is incorporated to assess the impact on academic performance and learning, along with related variables among school-going adolescents. The study aims to identify effective strategies to enhance academic outcomes and reduce educational disparities among Indian adolescents through comprehensive analysis and targeted interventions. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate learning outcomes and adolescent development through yoga and physical exercise interventions, evaluating their impact on academic performance and related factors. Objectives included evaluating the effects of hatha yoga, combined hatha and jnana yoga practices, and physical exercise on academic performance, physical fitness, general intelligence, verbal working memory, academic skills, emotional and behavioral issues, academic self-efficacy, and test anxiety among three distinct groups of adolescents. Additionally, the study aimed to analyse how these interventions differed in their impact and identify predictors of academic performance within each group. Furthermore, it explored the roles of socio-economic status and parenting styles on academic outcomes, assessed the feasibility and fidelity of implementing interventions, and conducted qualitative analysis of student interview transcripts to gain insights into the effects of yoga programs. iii METHODS Participants and Design The study is a three-arm trial that followed a stratified random allocation. A total of 300 adolescent students, comprising 154 males and 146 females, with an average age of 13.06 years (SD = 1.10), were selected from grades 7, 8, and 9 from two different locations in India (North and West zones). The North zone recruited 126 students, while a sample size of 174 was finalized for the Western Zone. Assessment tools The students in the three groups were assessed for their academic performance scores, obtained from school records. Minimum muscular fitness was evaluated using the Kraus-Weber test. General intelligence and cognitive abilities, including verbal working memory, were measured using Raven’s Progressive Matrices and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, respectively. Academic skills, such as comprehension, numeracy, creative writing, reading, and general knowledge, were assessed through standardized academic tests. Emotional and behavioral problems were evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Academic self-efficacy was assessed using Academic Self Efficacy and Efficacy for Self-Regulated Learning scale. Performance anxiety was assessed using a Test Anxiety scale. Parenting styles were identified using the Parenting Style Questionnaire. Socio economic status was determined using the Kuppuswamy Socio-Economic Scale. Intervention Yoga and physical exercise sessions were conducted simultaneously over 63 days in the North and 66 days in the West locations, respectively. Each session lasted 50 minutes, starting at 8:00 AM in the North and 11:00 AM in the West, with an additional 10 minutes allocated for student assembly iv and dispersal. Sessions occurred three to six days per week, spanning 14 weeks to thoroughly assess the differential impact. Group A practiced conventional hatha yoga, emphasizing physical postures (Asana) and breath control (Pranayama). Group B combined traditional hatha yoga with jnana yoga concepts, integrating academic interventions based on theoretical frameworks from ancient scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. Group C engaged in a physical fitness training program involving moderate to intense physical exercises. RESULTS One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni adjustments, multiple regression, and correlation analyses were conducted to analyse the data. Group B demonstrated significantly better academic performance than Groups A and C. Additionally, Group B showed significant improvements in muscle fitness, general intelligence, attention, verbal working memory, comprehension skills, creative writing skills, reading skills, and academic self-efficacy. Reductions in test anxiety, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity, and peer problems were also noted, particularly in Group B. However, no significant differences were observed among the groups in numeracy skills and pro-social behavior. Multiple regression analysis identified significant predictors of academic performance within each intervention group. In Group A, reading skills and academic self-efficacy were significant predictors. For Group B, significant predictors included general intelligence, creative writing, and academic self-efficacy. In Group C, general intelligence and working memory predicted academic scores. Correlation analysis indicated that authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles positively correlated with academic performance and negatively correlated with peer problems and overall v difficulties. Permissive parenting, though not significantly affecting academic performance, was associated with increased pro-social behavior and conduct problems. Socio-economic status showed varied impacts - the upper-lower category negatively affected emotional well-being and psychological functioning, while the lower-middle category negatively correlated with pro-social behavior. In the upper-middle category, significant negative correlations were found between academic performance and peer problems, and positive correlations were observed between socio-economic status and conduct problems. Additionally, a significant negative correlation existed between pro-social behavior and peer problems among upper-middle category students. CONCLUSIONS The study concludes that yoga plays a significant role in enhancing physical fitness and mental preparedness for academics. It improves cognitive abilities, academic self-efficacy, and skills, particularly through integrated hatha and jnana yoga practices, which have shown substantial positive effects on academic performance and related factors. Therefore, this integrated approach supports development across physical, mental, and intellectual domains. Implementing comprehensive yoga programs in school curricula is essential to promote holistic adolescent development, address academic challenges like anxiety, and enhance learning skills effectively and affordably. Additionally, incorporating yoga into educational policies and practices can enrich school environments and support the overall well-being and academic success of students.Item Spirituality and sexuality: The yoga model of spiritual transformation of western marriage(S-VYASA, 2025-05-31) Anastasia Mikheeva; B.R. Ramakrishna; G. AgoramoorthyBackground: The fascinating subjects of sexuality and spirituality are often considered complex and controversial in contemporary society. World religions in general tend to enforce restrictions regarding sexuality, sexual behavior and sexual morality. But, Hindu religion, which is one among the world’s ancient religions, balances these two complex subjects quite exceptionally. Hinduism has an active following of over 1.2 billion believers, which is roughly 15% of the world’s population. The connection between sexuality and spirituality has become more intellectually stimulating lately in academic debates, but less research has been focused on this often ignored scientific subject. But, this thesis for the first time has synthesized the sexuality and spirituality association rather logically with analyses from both Hindu scriptural records and contemporary scientific literature to develop a conceptual model involving yoga, and how it could mitigate conflicts among couples to minimize breakups and divorce leading to a spiritually enhanced life. Divorce, by the way, has become a serious social and psychiatric problem in modern society and therefore there is an urgent need to find solutions to sustain happiness among families. Spirituality has the capacity to contribute in this polemical endeavor. Aims and Objectives: I have explored the potential of Yoga and how it could enhance sexual health by preventing infidelity, reducing divorce, building emotional bond between partners, strengthening monogamous relationship, providing partners the chance to realize life values and in the end, transcends the Western marriage scenario from social construct to spiritual union. In order to explicate the above highlighted ideas connected to sexuality and spirituality, I have presented scriptural and scientific annotations and viewpoints under diverse chapters with an in depth rationality to pursue practical advances. viii Methods: The working hypothesis of this study envisages that Yoga transforms sexual connection in couples from a proximate mundane physical outlook to an ultimate spiritual prospect based on the below mentioned predictions. I used databases such as the Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar to catalogue information to gather scientific data for a detailed theoretical scoping review. I also used secondary sources of information by referring to classical ancient Hindu scriptural texts (Sanskrit and Tamil languages), Yoga and Tantra Sastras, reference books and open data manually from online for their relevance. Results: I have presented results and discussions covering nine major chapters. In the first chapter, I presented the overall introduction of the entire doctoral thesis. It synthesizes the objectives and need for the study that include specific chapters on sexuality, spirituality and the yoga conceptual model of spiritual transformation of Western marriage. The second chapter describes the objectives, working hypothesis, methodology and analysis. The third chapter explores literature research with details on the concept and practices of the Hindu marriage systems that existed in ancient India. It also provides citations from various scriptural documentations. Chapter four presents the Yoga model of spiritual transformation of Western marriage. The chapter five discusses the sacred relationships of couples and how it will lead to spiritual transcendence. The chapter six deals with the importance of erotic temples, sexual energy and spiritual advancement. The chapter seven highlights contemporary India’s sexual spiritual paradox. The chapter eight outlines details on the transformation from social evil to spiritual redemption with an example from ancient scripture. The last chapter nine concludes by reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of the information presented in this thesis. ix Conclusion: Spiritual growth has played a key role as an essential protagonist in humanity’s extended insightful journey. Yoga as a spiritual technique plays an invaluable role in achieving the task of divine uplift. By integrating Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, couples can enhance their lives in a transformative voyage towards the ultimate spiritual bliss. What’s unique about Yoga is that it works on three crucial levels, physical, emotional and spiritual. I have analyzed how the yogic transformation of sexual relationships could transcend couples through these three levels from the initial physical facet to the final spiritual facet to sustain harmony and happiness in relationships among couples.Item Effect of suddhi kriya based yoga program on allergic rhinitis - a randomized controlled study(S-VYASA, 2025-01-16) Ripudaman Singh Chauhan; Dr. Rajesh S. K.BACKGROUND Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a common IgE (immunoglobulin-E) mediated upper respiratory tract inflammation, causing symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, and nasal obstruction, with a global prevalence of 20%-40%. While not life-threatening, AR significantly impairs daily functioning. Yoga interventions have shown promise in improving lung capacity, nasal airflow, and AR symptoms, potentially through anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Yoga can downregulate pro inflammatory cytokines, upregulate anti-inflammatory cytokines, activate the HPA axis, and stimulate the vagus nerve, leading to reduced TNF-alpha, NF-κB, CRP, and cortisol levels. As a frequently used complementary and alternative therapy, yoga, particularly Hatha yoga, with its Shuddhi Kriya cleansing techniques and breathing exercises, appears to positively influence both the immune and respiratory systems, offering potential benefits for AR management. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Prevalence Study: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and impact of Allergic Rhinitis (AR) among college students in Vadodara city. Intervention Study: The primary aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a Shuddhi Kriya-based yoga program in managing allergic rhinitis. METHODS SUBJECTS AND DESIGN Prevalence Study: In a cross-sectional study conducted among college students in Vadodara city, Gujarat, a total of 1337 students were included through a cluster sampling method. Responses were recorded using the SFAR (Score for allergic rhinitis) scale in conjunction with a semi- structured questionnaire. Intervention Study: In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the study involved 60 individuals who had been experiencing moderate to severe chronic allergic rhinitis for over a year. These participants were randomly assigned to either a yoga or a control group. Seven patients were later withdrawn from both the yoga and control groups, resulting in a final sample of 53 patients (27 in the yoga group and 26 in the control group). Over the course of eight weeks, the yoga group engaged in the SKYP module for approximately 60 minutes each day, four days a week. The protocol included a combination of yogic Shuddhi Kriyas, asanas, loosening exercises, breathing exercises, pranayama, along with yogic counseling and lectures. Measurements of the nasal symptom score (TNSS), the Mini-rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (mini RQLQ), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) were conducted both before and after the 8-week intervention period. DATA EXTRACTION & DATA ANALYSIS Prevalence Study: In the cross-sectional study, data collection was facilitated through Google Forms, structured into three parts. The initial section captured demographic details, the second part consisted of the SFAR form, and the final section contained a semi-structured questionnaire. Diagnosis of AR was based on the SFAR scoring system, which comprises 8 questions and ranges from 0 to 16. A cut-off of SFAR≥7 was utilized to define the presence of AR, with a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 83% for SFAR≥7. Intervention Study: For the RCT, data recorded on questionnaire sheets was transferred to an Excel spreadsheet, and various variables were analyzed across different domains. The statistical analysis was carried out using R statistical software, version 4.0.2. Normality tests were performed on both baseline and post-trial data. For normally distributed variables, a parametric independent sample t-test was employed to assess significance, while the non-parametric Mann Whitney U test was utilized for non-parametric data. In cases where baseline matching between the yoga and control groups was lacking, difference scores were computed for the relevant variables. RESULTS Prevalence Study: Based on the SFAR (Short Form for Allergic Rhinitis) scale, a total of 257 students, constituting 19.22% of the participants, scored SFAR≥7, meeting the criteria for diagnosing Allergic Rhinitis (AR). Among those diagnosed with AR, the mean age was 20.37±2.04 years. Within this group, 168 (65.37%) were female, with a mean age of 20.29±1.86 years, while 89 (34.63%) were male, with a mean age of 20.51±2.33 years. Notably, participants with an SFAR score of ≥7, indicative of AR, exhibited common symptoms such as sneezing (84.05%), runny nose (71.98%), nasal congestion (71.21%), and eye itching or epiphora (78.21%), all of which showed significant differences when compared to the non-AR group (P<0.01). Among the AR-positive participants, 100 (38.91%) had Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (PAR), while 133 (51.75%) had Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR). Among the SFAR≥7 (AR positive) group, 227 (88.33%) identified house dust and pollen as triggering agents, while 30 (11.67%) couldn't identify specific allergens. Additionally, the questionnaire revealed that 209 (81.32%) participants in the AR-positive group were aware of their allergies, and 52 (20.62%) had undergone allergy testing (IgE or SPT), with 38 (73.08%) receiving positive results. Notably, among male participants, 13 (14.60%) reported no effect of AR on their academic activities, while 24 (27%) experienced a mild effect, 38 (42.70%) a moderate effect, and 14 (5.70%) a severe effect. In contrast, among female students, 32 (19%) reported no effect, 37 (22%) a mild effect, 75 (44.60%) a moderate effect, and 24 (14.30%) a severe effect on their academic activities due to AR. Intervention Study: The implementation of the Shuddhi Kriya-based yoga intervention resulted in significant improvements in the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) 12-hour morning rating. Notably, there was a substantial reduction in the score for nasal drainage (z = -2.67, p = 0.007) and the overall total symptom score (z = 3.16, p = 0.002) compared to the control group. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in other symptom categories, including nasal blockage, nasal itching, sneezing, and poor sleep (all p > 0.05). In the two-week assessment of the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), the yoga group exhibited significant improvements in all domains of nasal symptoms when compared to the control group. Notably, there were substantial reductions in nasal congestion (z = -3.43, p = 0.001), nasal drainage (z = - 3.39, p = 0.001), nasal itching (z = -3.51, p = 0.001), sneezing (z = -3.89, p = 0.001), and difficulty in sleeping (z = -2.13, p = 0.033). The overall total TNSS also showed significant improvement (z = -4.71, p = 0.001). The participants in the yoga group, experienced a significant reduction in symptom scores, as measured by the Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini RQLQ), across all five domains. Specifically, there were notable reductions in activity (z = -4.89, p = 0.001), practical problems (z = -4.18, p = 0.001), other symptoms (z = - 3.21, p = 0.001), nose symptoms (t = -4.83, p = 0.001), and eye symptoms (t = -4.83, p = 0.001). The total score also demonstrated a considerable enhancement (t = -3.01, p = 0.004). Regarding symptom severity, both ocular and nasal symptoms improved significantly in the yoga group compared to the control group, as evidenced by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores (ocular symptoms: z = -4.19, p = 0.01; nasal symptoms: z = 4.71, p = 0.01). In terms of respiratory function, the Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) exhibited a substantial improvement in the yoga group compared to the control group (z = 2.76, p = 0.006), while the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) did not show a significant improvement (t = 1.95, p = 0.056). CONCLUSION Prevalence Study: In conclusion, our study found that allergic rhinitis (AR) is common among college students in Vadodara city, with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR) being more prevalent than Perennial Allergic Rhinitis (PAR). Despite high awareness, only a minority had undergone allergy testing. Many students with AR experienced comorbidities, impacting their academic activities significantly. This highlights the need for public health policies addressing respiratory health and early diagnosis. Future research should identify risk factors to inform targeted interventions. Intervention Study: In conclusion, the Shuddhi Kriya Yoga Program (SKYP) stands out as a promising integrative approach for managing allergic rhinitis, offering substantial improvements in both physical symptoms and overall quality of life. This comprehensive program, which includes a unique combination of Hatha Yoga's Shat Kriyas, asanas, pranayama, and relaxation techniques, has demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing nasal symptoms and enhancing the well-being of individuals dealing with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis. Its holistic approach, with a focus on stress reduction and non-invasive healthcare solutions, suggests its potential value in the treatment of this condition. This study provides a foundation for further research and the potential integration of yoga-based interventions into standard treatment protocols for allergic rhinitis.Item Concept of dharana, dhyana, and samadhi in prasthanatrayi and patanjali yoga sutra - An analysis.(S-VYASA, 2025-01-16) Madan Mohan; Prof. M. K. SridharThe concept of meditation is a practice that has been used for a long period of time. However, different people usually carry the concept of meditation for a different purpose. Some form of meditation is just simple and are just used by ordinary people just to attain a moment of relaxation or to reduce stress. However, some concepts of meditation are complex such as Samādhi. Nevertheless, some are religious-oriented while others are secular in nature. However, there is a lot that has been done in the field of science to try and explain the scientific explanation of meditation. But over the years, the aspect of meditation such as Samādhi has remained controversial with no proper scientific explanation. The principles of Dhāraṇā, Dhyāna, and Samādhi hold immense importance within Indian philosophical traditions. These profound practices are extensively discussed in the Prasthānatrayī, which comprises the foundational texts of Vedānta. Dhāraṇā involves directing and focusing the mind on a specific object, while Dhyāna denotes the meditative state that arises from sustained concentration. Samādhi represents the pinnacle of consciousness attained through the practice of Dhyāna, wherein the individual transcends personal identity and attains complete absorption in the object of meditation. These three practices are intricately interconnected and should be cultivated sequentially. The comprehensive exploration of Dhāraṇā, Dhyāna, and Samādhi is expounded in the Prasthānatrayī, encompassing the Yogasūtra, Brahmasūtra, and Upaniṣad, thereby providing a profound understanding of their significance in the Indian philosophical traditions.Item Yoga for psycho-spiritual well-being of French professionals(S-VYASA, 2025-01-16) Pascal Papillon; Dr. Rajesh S. K.INTRODUCTION The mental and psychological health of French professionals is a concern, with high rates of conditions such as anxiety, depression, burnout, and stress. While yoga has been shown to have positive effects on physical, mental, and spiritual health, there is a lack of research on its effects specifically among French professionals. Due to cultural differences, it is important to investigate the potential benefits of yoga for this population and develop culturally-appropriate interventions. LITERARY REVIEW The aim of this literature review study was to evaluate the existing scientific literature on Karma Yoga, with a focus on understanding its potential benefits for promoting human excellence. The review of literature suggests that the application of Karma Yoga can be applied in a variety of settings to promote human excellence, including in the areas of business and work, transformational leadership, moral development, and spirituality. Further, literature review study found that spiritual well-being, mindfulness, emotion regulation, stress, and happiness are closely related and can be affected by various factors such as work-life balance, work demands and personal factors. The research suggests that interventions that focus on holistic well-being, including spiritual well-being, mindfulness, emotion regulation, stress, and happiness may be more effective in promoting overall well-being among professionals. AIMS The three studies aimed to provide a comprehensive examination of the relationship between spiritual health and psychological well-being, the presumption of cross-cultural similarity, and the effectiveness of a yoga-based intervention on these factors. The purpose of first study was to investigate the correlation between spiritual well-being, mindfulness, and emotion regulation among a group of young emerging French professionals. Additionally, the second study aimed to compare and contrast the mindfulness, job satisfaction, and happiness levels, as well as the significance of spirituality and religion, among Indian and French professionals. Furthermore, the third study aimed to assess the impact of yoga-based interventions on the psycho-spiritual well-being of French professionals for a period of 8 weeks, with a subsequent evaluation one month later. METHODS SUBJECTS AND DESIGN The first study used an online cross-sectional survey design to observe the relationship between spiritual health and psychological well-being among a sample of 421 participants recruited from universities in Strasbourg, France. The age range of participants in this study was 18 to 28 years with a mean age of 20.77 years (SD=2.22). The second study used a similar design to test the presumption of cross-cultural similarity among a sample of 214 IT professionals from France and India. The sample from France had a mean age of 42.36 years (SD=10.46 years) and the sample from India had a mean age of 38.25 years (SD=8.68 years).The third study used a two group pre/post-intervention design to examine the effectiveness of a yoga-based intervention on spiritual health and psychological well-being among a sample of 67 participants, with 33 in the yoga group and 34 in the control group. The mean age of the control group was 47.8 (9.5) and the mean age of the yoga group was 50.3 (7.2). ASSESSMENT TOOLS The study utilized measures to evaluate the emotional regulation, mindfulness, spiritual well being, stress, happiness, satisfaction at work and importance of spirituality/religion among professionals. The measures that were used in the study were: The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, The Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI), The Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire (SWBQ), The Perceived Stress Scale, The Subjective Fluctuating Happiness Scale, The Subjective Authentic-Durable Happiness Scale, in addition to assessments of satisfaction at work and the importance of spirituality/religion. DATA EXTRACION AND ANALYSIS All statistical analyses were performed using the statistical package JASP and R Software. Pearson correlations were used to examine the association between the variables of interest. Multiple regression was run to predict the outcome variables based on the predictor variables. The independent samples t-test was used to compare differences between groups and two-way mixed ANOVA was used to analyze the interaction effects between the independent variables. RESULTS The results of three different studies can be summarized as: The first study results indicate that there is a strong positive correlation between self-reported spiritual health and mindfulness. Additionally, the results show a significant association between spiritual health and emotional processes. Moreover, the study found that spiritual dissonance is negatively related to spiritual health and mindfulness. The findings of second study revealed that there were no significant differences in levels of mindfulness, satisfaction at work, fluctuating happiness and authentic-durable happiness between Indian and French IT professionals. Furthermore, the study found that there was a similar pattern of intercorrelations between these variables among the two groups, which could be seen as an indication of cross-cultural agreement. However, the study also found that Indian IT professionals had higher levels of importance placed on religion and spirituality when compared to French IT professionals. The results of the third study suggest that after an 8-week yoga-based training intervention, French professionals experienced a significant reduction in stress levels, an improvement in emotion regulation(reappraisal domain), an increase in mindfulness, an enhancement in spiritual well-being, and an improvement in authentic-durable happiness. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the first study suggests that various aspects of spirituality can positively impact the well-being of emerging professionals. The second study emphasizes the need to take into account cross-cultural factors when studying well-being in the workplace, particularly in terms of the significance placed on religion and spirituality. The third study presents evidence for the efficacy of yoga in enhancing psycho-spiritual well-being among French professionals, but additional research is necessary to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and to evaluate other potential methods of measuring well-being.Item Role of Yoga and its possible mechanism behind the psychophysiological outcomes in elderly - A Randomized control trial(SVYASA, 2023-01-07) Shree Ganesh H. R.; Subramanya Pailoor; Raghavendra RaoBACKGROUND The ageing process is a biological reality which has its own dynamic progression, usually associated with degenerative changes, loss of role and functionality and an increasing prevalence for chronic non communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s etc. Lifestyle approaches such as yoga would therefore mitigate disability and prevent NCD’s. This study aims to evaluate the effects of yoga in reducing stress and improving performance in elderly. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Aim: To evaluate the effects on possible mechanism behind the integrated yoga practice on psychophysiological outcomes in elderly population. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of yoga on perceived stress, quality of life, sleep, mood, heart rate variability, spinal flexibility, muscle strength in elderly. METHODS Participants Elderly subjects willing to undergo yoga class for three months conducted by Divine Park Trust, Saligrama, Udupi and Kundapura. Subjects will be referred from both primary care physicians and bill board flyers inviting participants to enrol in a lifestyle program to improve their health. Design The proposed study design is a parallel, prospective, waitlisted, randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation ratio. Patients will be randomized into intervention arm and control arm. vii Assessments: Primary Outcomes: 1. Quality of Life using older people’s quality of life questionnaire 2. Changes in Heart rate variability Secondary Outcomes 1. Spinal flexibility assessed by Sit and Reach Test 2. Calf muscle strength assessed using and Back and leg dynamometer 3. Hand Grip strength assessed using Hand grip Dynamometer 4. Self-reported depression using Geriatric Depression Scale 5. Insomnia using Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index 6. Stress level using Perceived Stress Scale 7. Constipation using Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Intervention: The Yoga intervention comprises of Physical postures, Pranayama (controlled breathing), Meditation & Relaxation & will be given under the guidance of an institutionally certified Yoga therapist. The physical postures consist of preliminary stretching exercises followed by breathing practices and asana in four categories (standing, sitting, prone, and supine). RESULTS: Yoga group showed significant reduction (expressed as significance) in all the variables of frequency domain of heart rate variability, LF, HF and LF/HF (p<0.05). All the domains of quality of life were depicted to have a significant improvement in yoga group after a 12 week intervention when compared to control group. (p=0.001). viii Also, perceived stress, depression, spinal flexibility and calf muscle strength was improved in when compared with control group in both between and within group analysis (p=0.001). All the domains of sleep quality and constipation related Quality of life, Hand grip strength and VAS scores depicted an improvement in the yoga group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The improvement in the quality of life and autonomic function in elderly was mediated by reduction in stress and improvement in their physical and psychological well-beingItem Role of finance in yoga related to health, education, and allied industries(SVYASA, 2022-12-22) Dayananda Swamy, H. R.; Karuna Nagarajan; G. Agoramoorthy; Judu IlavarasuYoga has been popularized worldwide mainly due to its utility in health and education. Hence, Yoga has gained a societal relevance in contemporary world. Thus, the traditional purpose of Yoga, which is for spiritual upliftment, has changed to fitness and other immediate physical and mental health benefits. As a result, it may appear that the contemporary practice of Yoga has been largely deviated and diluted. The strength of momentum that is gained in physical culturing through Yoga is indomitable. But it cannot neglect altogether the traditional source and purpose. Yoga, however, should be acknowledged as the easiest and fastest means to bring the first impression about holistic health, and harmony and hence can be a best anchor for building further foundation, deep-rooted in traditional values. In order to facilitate addressing the current needs of the society in a large scale, and to put an anchor through Yoga for later higher spiritual practices, understanding the economic dynamics around Yoga is essential. Economic analysis of Yoga-based activities in India is not adequately presented in terms of scientific research publications. Policy-makers in the government largely depend on accurate data on the economics of Yoga, which is crucial to make strategic decisions. Gathering data on these least explored aspects of Yoga finance is a monumental task involving many government, non-government and corporate agencies. In this thesis, I have attempted to explore these unique dimensions to propose a set of recommendations for policy makers in the state and central government systems. The ideas, options and recommendations proposed in this thesis could create, shape and vi implement a systematic scientific approach to generate financial insinuation records surrounding all Yoga-allied activities that include healthcare, education, and commerce. This will immensely help future stakeholders in various industries to take evidence based decisions on using Yoga as a means to develop their service or business ventures to suit the needs of their targets, goals, and clients. Thus, this thesis has sown a tiny seed in the form of Yoga finance for future development of an entirely new sub-field of intensive research in the economic studies of Yoga. In order to elucidate this idea, I have attempted to present precise observations and outlooks under different chapters with an in-depth logic to pursue practical advances. Chapter 1 provides the general introduction of the entire thesis, covering the important aspects of the whole thesis, that includes role of finance in health, education, and business. Chapter 2 explores the scriptural perspective of Puruṣārthas that forms the foundation for the human pursuit to incorporate Dharma, Artha, Kāma and Mokṣa. Furthermore, it is elaborated on how Artha is the basis for even Kāma and Mokṣa. Particular focus has been made on Dāna and how the Corporate Social Responsibility can be naturally groomed to achieve it. Chapter 3 explores the needs, challenges and opportunities for using Yoga as the core intervention to treat various types of ailments. In order for the government and policy makers to decide on using Yoga as an important tool to address health care needs, vii systematic studies and quantitative data on financial viability of implementing Yoga interventions should be available. Chapter 4 attempts to review the contemporary issues related to the implementation of Yoga in the Indian education system. There is an urgent need to integrate the wisdom of ancient education system to the modern education system, because there are many pitfalls in the modern education system that is difficult to manage with the current approach followed in schools and colleges across India. Chapter 5 presents how Yoga is emerging as a huge business opportunity in India and elsewhere in the world. The key strategy to tap into the emerging economic resources are discussed in this chapter. Specific attempt has been made to evaluate the extent to which tourism sector was affected especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Chapter 6 focuses more on elaborating how Yoga can be promoted to meet the expectations of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. The role of Yoga-based learning and how it could possibly enhance the SDGs are discussed in detail. Chapter 7 summarizes all the previous chapters to propose action-oriented list of recommendations, which can be easily acted upon by the government, policy makers, local bodies for the effective promotion of Yoga to reap the best financial benefits out of this huge economic opportunity emerging out of Yoga. The last chapter 8 concludes by appraising the strengths and weaknesses of the presented thesis.Item Bio-mechanics of yogasanas : A study of alignment and proficiency(SVYASA, 2022-12-22) Mohan Kishore D.; Manjunath N. K.BACKGROUND Yoga is a traditional Indian way of keeping the mind and body fit, through physical postures (asanas), voluntarily regulated breathing (pranayama), meditation and relaxation techniques. The recent pandemic has seen a huge surge in the number of yoga practitioners, many practicing without proper guidance which leads to unexpected injury. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The present study was designed to develop a technology-driven pose estimation method to assess and evaluate yoga postures to understand the level of accuracy. It will assist practitioners to perform any yoga posture with the support of a machine learning algorithm. METHODS Participants Twenty practitioners in the age group of 18 to 60 years performing different postures in real time were captured and fed separately to the proposed architectures and a comparison of the estimated accuracy was done. Design The present exploratory study included a group of 20 yoga practitioners to assess the accuracy and proficiency of yoga postures. Assessments: The image of a yoga practitioner performing an asäna is captured by a camera and fed separately to the four deep learning architectures, which then estimate the pose performed by the practitioner by comparing it with the pre-trained model. An error is shown if it does not match any of the five asanas. Intervention: The five yoga poses considered for posture estimation are (a) Ardhacandräsana (Half-moon pose) (b) Täòäsana (Mountain pose) (c) Trikoëäsana (Triangular pose) (d) Vérabhadräsana (Warrior pose-II) (e) Våkñäsana (Tree pose) Results: In this work, four distinct deep learning architectures-Epipolarpose, Openpose, Posenet, and Mediapipe-were utilized to evaluate yoga postures. The results show that, despite only utilising one camera, Mediapipe outperforms the other approaches in terms of accuracy. Five yoga postures have had their poses estimated using various suggested methods. Following the model's validation, the posture correctness of 20 real-time sample photos was estimated using the model. Conclusions: The health and fitness industry can employ human pose estimation efficiently. The huge range of poses with high degrees of freedom, the occlusions caused by the body or other objects blocking limbs as viewed from the camera, and the wide range of appearances or clothes make pose assessment for fitness applications particularly difficult. The mediapipe design offers the best estimation accuracy, according to this study, which evaluates the estimation of five different posturesItem Chandoyoga : Its effects on mindfulness, anxiety, self-concept, positive and negative affect & neuropsychological variables in adolescence(SVYASA, 2022-11-20) Mollika Ganguly; Sanjib Patra; Sampadananda Mishra, SAMPADANANDA MISHRABackground Adolescence is a critical age where due to immense physical and psychological transformations, children are found to have higher anxiety levels, identity crises leading to self-doubt, deregulated emotions etc. Failing to cope with these rapid changes there has been noticed decline in cognitive abilities like memory and attention affecting academic performance. Child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) is a growing concern all over the world. Mindfulness practices have not only been helpful in improving emotional quotient of an individual but its regular practice has also remarkably impacted awareness levels and attention in children. The present study hypothesized that practicing Sanskrit chanting as a mindfulness tool also identifying the benefits of the specific characteristic of chanting called Chanda/meters or Sanskrit prosody on equipping adolescents with better psychological health and improved cognitive abilities. The purpose was multi-fold 1. To have scientific evidence that Chandas/Sanskrit prosody (specific rhythms and pauses) has its own effect irrespective of the language, music, words or their meaning while chanting a shloka and validating its benefits mentioned in our ancient texts. 2. To make a study design that can identify the impact of the Chandas/prosody aspect of chanting and eliminating the factors like language, meaning of the phrase etc. 3. With this preliminary study and considering one type of Chanda, opening gates for researchers to further explore all kinds of Chandas to its maximum potential. 4. If the results matched our hypothesis, then we would like to conduct further study for children with special needs mainly ADHD and Autism spectrum disorder. viii Aims and Objectives Aim To study the effect of Chanda/Sanskrit prosody on cognitive abilities, mindfulness, anxiety and self-concept among adolescents. Objectives 1. To find the impact of Chanda/Sanskrit prosody on positive and negative emotions in school-going adolescents. 2. To find the impact of Chanda/Sanskrit prosody on cognitive performance in school going adolescents. 3. To identify the impact of Chanda/Sanskrit prosody on Anxiety, mindfulness and self concept in school-going adolescents. Research Question Does Chanda/Sanskrit prosody have any impact on emotions, cognitive performance, anxiety, mindfulness and self-concept scales in school-going adolescents? Hypothesis 1. Chanda/Sanskrit prosody has helpful effect on positive and negative emotions in school-going adolescents. 2. Chanda/Sanskrit prosody has positive impact on cognitive performance in school going adolescents. 3. Chanda/Sanskrit prosody has positive impact on anxiety, mindfulness and self concept scales in school-going adolescents. ix Null Hypothesis 1. Chanda/Sanskrit prosody has no effect in positive or negative emotions in school going adolescents. 2. Chanda/Sanskrit prosody has no impact on cognitive performance in school-going adolescents. 3. Chanda/Sanskrit prosody has no impact on anxiety, mindfulness and self-concept scales in school-going adolescents. Method: Participants Participants for the study were appointed from a CBSE School called Samsidh Mount Litera Zee School, from Urban Bangalore, India. Children from grades 7 and 8 who met the inclusion criteria were allocated into 4 groups of the study. Randomization for groups could not be done as these kids already were in 4 different sections and shuffling them during school hours was not permitted. Sample size This sample size was obtained by calculating the Effect size as 0.94, fixing alpha as “0.05”, power of the study as 0.8, based on the previous study (Telles et al., 2017). But considering the rate of drop out and conduct an appropriate statistical analysis, a sample size of 120 participants was considered for the proposed research. Design The design of the study was a four-armed control trial. The intervention period was 5 days a week for all four groups for one month. Baseline and post intervention data was collected in the school premises before and after 30 days. x Assessments The outcome measures comprised of (a) Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children, (b) Stroop Color-Word Test, (c) Digit Letter Substitution Test, (d) Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, (e) Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale for Children and (f) Children’s Self concept Scale. Data analysis: The study aimed to test the hypothesis that chanting or humming slokas/mantras in a Chanda is associated with significant differences in post intervention mean± SD to pre intervention values of children’s self-concept scale, anxiety, emotions, sustained attention, executive function, mindfulness and awareness in adolescence. Continuous variables were reported as mean ± SD, categorical variables as the frequency with percentage. For continuous outcomes, within-group pre-post comparisons were made by paired 't' test and for between-group comparisons, two-sample 't' test was used to compare outcomes at baseline and follow-up. All comparisons were two-sided. p <0.05 was set as the cut-off of statistical significance. A post hoc analysis was run to assess the superiority of group effect on each variable. STATA version 14.2 was used for statistical analysis. Result PANAS-C There was no difference in both domains of PANAS in within group analysis. However, the positive affect was statistically significant when compared between the groups (p<0.01). A post-hoc analysis revealed the superiority of the CM and HM groups in positive affect alone when compared with other two groups. xi DLST and Stroop Test Within-group analysis using sample t-test demonstrated significant changes in HC, CS, and SS groups (p<0.001) with DLST scores. Post-hoc analysis revealed that the CS group had higher scores; however, there were no differences between the HC and CS groups. Stroop scores improved in all groups except for the SS group. Post-hoc analysis to examine the superiority between groups presented a higher statistical significance in CS group when compared to HC group. A statistical significance was also observed between the chanting and SS group. There were statistical differences within the group in both HC and CS groups in the Stroop mistake scores, but no differences were observed between groups. Anxiety, MAAS-C and Self-concept A significant change was noticed in the domains of anxiety, Intellectual and school status, physical appearance and attributes, and the total scores of the self-concept scale in all the four groups after the interventions. On pairwise group comparisons, the change in the domain of anxiety was significant for the Chanting vs English phrase reading, Chanting vs Humming and Chanting vs Silent sitting (p<0.05). When intellectual and school status for English phrase reading was compared to Silent sitting group, a significant difference was depicted (p<0.05). Also, Physical appearance and attributes scores and total scores were found significantly improved for Chanting vs Humming but only total scores in humming vs Silent sitting groups. There was a significant change in all the domains except happiness and satisfaction after chanting (p<0.01). However, participants in the English phrase reading group also showed a significant increase in the scores of anxiety and total scores of the Self-concept scale after intervention (p<0.01 and p=0.03). There was reduction in the anxiety levels for the humming group whereas increase in all anxiety scores in the remaining three groups. xii Conclusion Humming of Sanskrit prosody has reported an overall reduction in anxiety levels when compared to the remaining three groups. However, there was a decrease in the anxiety levels in the chanting group as well. There was a significant increase in mindfulness scores in the humming as well as chanting groups. Also, there was no change observed in the self-concept scales in the humming group. Beside this, mantra chanting and only humming the prosody without verse, had a similar effect on both emotional personality features of positive and negative effect. The results also suggest amelioration in the positive affect following chanting and humming the prosody, although there were no changes in the negative effect. Keywords: Sanskrit-prosody, Chanda, Adolescence, Self-concept, Anxiety, Mindfulness, positive & Negative affect, Mindfulness, sustained attention and Stroop effect