DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i09.007

Pages: 3219-3224

Stress may be defined as psychophysiological process usually experienced as a negative emotional state. It is a common condition, a response to a physical threat or psychological distress that generates a host of chemical and hormonal reactions in the body. The health effects of stress involve mainly autonomic, cardiovascular, and immune systems. The aim of present study was to investigate whether regular practice of Yoga for three months can improve respiratory functions. The present study included 60 male medical students of first M.B.B.S. of 18 to 22 years of age. After recording, basal mean tidal volume, mean vital capacity (VC), mean forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and mean rate of respiration/min, these subjects underwent Suryanamaskar. Nadishodhana, Omkar Chanting and Meditation for the duration of 12 weeks. After the yogic training period the mean tidal volume, vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), and rate of respiration / min was again measured and analyzed statistically by using student ‘t’ test and was found to be significantly improved Regular practice of yoga for 3 months significantly improved the respiratory functions as tidal volume, vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), and rate of respiration/ min. We conclude that regular practice of yoga for three months improves the respiratory parameters, possibly by inducing parasympathetic predominance and cortico-hypothalamo-medullary inhibition.