Effects of yoga training on blood pressure response during surya namaskar following eleven months of yoga practice in army men and yoga-trained individuals

Abstract

Background and Aim: Surya namaskar (SN), a popular traditional Indian yogic practice, called sun salutations, is a series of 12 physical postures performed with controlled breathing. The present study was carried out to investigate the blood pressure (BP) response i.e., sympathetic reactivity during actual performance of SN at three different phases of yoga training for 11 months. Methods: It was an interventional study design where nine healthy, male, army volunteers were selected and imparted training in various yogic practices for 11 months. Their systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during actual performance of SN were measured after 3, 6 and 11 months of training. BP responses of army personnel were compared with those of yoga proficient ( n = 10) and semi-proficient ( n = 9) individuals. Results: Average SBP during SN in trainees (at different phases of the training), proficient and semi-proficient was 158.2, 141.3, 138.7, 152.4 and 155.9 mmHg, respectively. DBP and MAP during SN in trainees, proficient and semi-proficient were 98.9, 92.9, 86.9, 106.7 and 96 mmHg and 117.3, 105.7, 101.8, 122 and 115.9 mmHg, respectively. Conclusion: Training in yogic practices for 11 months brought about a substantial reduction of BP response i.e., sympathetic reactivity during actual performance of SN in a group of army soldiers. The training helped them to achieve the same level of proficiency with those of yoga proficient and semi-proficient individuals.