IMPACT OF SELECTED PRANAYAMA TECHNIQUES AND A YOGIC KRIYA ON CEREBROVASCULAR HEMODYNAMICS AND CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTIONS IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

Abstract

Yoga is the science of holistic living and can be incorporated in daily life. Pranayama (Voluntarily regulated breathing) is one of the important component of Yoga which bridges the most grosser (physical) and subtle techniques (mental). Different types of Pranayama produce selective physiological responsessuch as practice of slow Pranayama reported to produce reduction in heart rate, rate pressure product and double product, whereas rapid/fast Pranayama reported to increase it.To the best of our knowledge there is no known previous study evaluating the impact of different Pranayama techniques as well as the most commonly practiced high frequency breathing based yogic kriya i.e. Kapalbhati on cerebrovascular hemodynamics and cardiovascular functions in healthy volunteers. Aim and objectives: To evaluate the effect of different Pranayama techniques and a yogic kriya on cerebrovascular hemodynamics and cardiovascular functions in healthy volunteers Materials and Methods: Phase 1: Fifteen yoga practitioners with the mean age (standard deviation) 23.62 (3.57) were recruited. An equal number of age and gender matched individuals with the mean age (standard deviation) 22.69 (4.05) with no exposure to yoga were recruited as matched controls. Assessments such as cerebrovascular hemodynamics and cardiovascular functions were assessed for both Yoga and non yoga groups at one point of time without any intervention.