English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: 'Om' is the name or symbol of God (Ishwara, Brahman). Either chanting or thinking about 'Om' is anecdotally reported to cause a quite mental state, and improve the all round performance of the brain and body. OBJECTIVES: The study design aimed to find the effect of 'OM meditation' on Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) & breath holding time (BHT), among Non-targeted thinking (control) & Dhyana ('Om' meditation) groups. METHODS: Source of DATA: 30 healthy male MBBS students (in the age group of 18- 20 years) of Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B.G. Nagara, studying 1 st year MBBS, were included in the study. The group was divided equally into two sub-groups on a random basis (each sub-group consisting 15 students). Each of these sub-groups was made to get familiarized with the procedure. I. DHYANA GROUP - performing a targeted thinking task - 'Om' meditation. II. CONTROL GROUP - performing a non-targeted task, i.e. sitting relaxed with eyes closed. The first phase of the recording of the pulmonary parameters i.e. PEFR & BHT was done at the beginning of the course. The second phase of the recording was done after two months following the training. RESULTS : The DATA thus obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using student 't' test & other relevant statistical tools to compare the changes in the measured parameters between the two groups. In the 'Om' meditators, peak expiratory flow rate and breath holding time were significantly increased compared to the non meditators. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed highly significant improvement in PEFR & Breath Holding Time after consistent meditation of 'OM' in experimental group as compared to