Yoga Practice Research Articles

Exploring the Synergy between Yoga and Mindfulness Sport Practices: Enhancing Mental and Physical Well-Being

Yoga, rooted in ancient India, is a holistic practice for harmony and well-being, blending physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines. Evolving over millennia, it promotes health, mental clarity, and spiritual growth. Yoga and sports, seemingly distinct practices, share commonalities that can significantly enhance physical and mental well-being when integrated. This paper examines the synergistic relationship between yoga and sports, highlighting their shared emphasis on physical movement, mental focus, stress reduction, and community building. Both disciplines promote flexibility, strength, and concentration, which are essential for athletic performance and overall health. Additionally, they facilitate stress management and emotional well-being by releasing endorphins and relaxation techniques. Furthermore, yoga and sports foster a sense of belonging and social support, contributing to holistic wellbeing. By integrating yoga into sports training and vice versa, individuals can unlock their full potential, leading to a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. Traditional and modern perspectives on yoga and sports are discussed, emphasising their enduring value in promoting holistic wellness. The application of yoga and sports in the education system is explored, highlighting their benefits for student development and well-being. Lastly, strategies for promoting yoga and sports as a healthy culture at national and global levels are proposed, encompassing education, community outreach, public health initiatives, infrastructure development, cultural promotion, professional training, inclusive programming, and research evaluation. By adopting a comprehensive approach, nations can foster a healthy, well-being, and active living culture, benefiting individuals and societies.

The Effect of Nadi Shodhan Yoga on Sinus Symptoms Associated with Hay Fever

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, poses significant challenges globally, impactingindividuals with symptoms like sinus issues, sneezing, and nasal congestion.Traditional medical approaches often focus on symptom relief, promptingexploration into holistic alternatives such as Nadi Sodhan (alternate nostrilbreathing). Grounded in ancient yogic practices, Nadi Sodhan involves rhythmicbreathing to harmonize life-force energy. Recognizing a lack of dedicated studiesin this area, our research aimed to investigate Nadi Sodhan Yoga’s potentialimpact on sinus symptoms associated with hay fever. Involving 22 participants,randomly assigned to Nadi Sodhan Yoga or control groups, the study spannedan eight-week intervention using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of LifeQuestionnaire to assess sinus symptoms. Results revealed a significant reductionin troublesome symptoms, indicating the potential of Nadi Sodhan Yoga inmanaging hay fever-related sinus issues. The study emphasizes the holisticbenefits of intentional breath regulation, offering insights into innovativeinterventions for allergic rhinitis. Further exploration could deepen ourunderstanding of the intricate link between intentional breath regulation andrespiratory health, fostering holistic approaches to related conditions.

Effect of Yoga Practice on Lung Capacity in Adolescent Girls

To get an answer to this topic, a study titled “Effect of Yoga Practice on Lung Capacity in Adolescent Girls” was carried out. A randomized controlled trial was used to conduct this study. For the research, Sevabharati Balika Sadanam in Moozhikkal, Kozhikode, selected sixty children and teenagers between 12 and 17. There were 60 participants, with 30 participants participating in the experiment and 30 serving as controls. A methodical yoga sequence that includes pranayama, meditation, and several other techniques in addition to Yin and Yang poses. The ‘paired two-tailed t-test’ was used to conduct a statistical analysis of the influence of the yoga program. At the 0.05 level of statistical Significance, there was a difference that might be considered statistically significant between the control and experimental groups.In comparison, there was no discernible improvement in the group that served as the control. The study’s findings and limitations make it possible to conclude that the one-month Yoga intervention is responsible for the improvement shown in the experimental group. Consequently, the Yoga Program efficiently increases adolescent females’ lung capacity and how long they can breathe.

The Effects of Thoppukaranam (Super Brain Yoga) on Stress Management and Psychological Health to University Students: An 12-Week Intervention Study

Introduction: Effective coping mechanisms that are practical and economical for everyday life are required to handle the challenges that contemporary academic students experience. In clinical samples, Thoppukaranam has been shown to lower stress, but more research is needed to see whether regular Brain yoga lessons among functional Students produce the same effects. Objectives: This study examined the effects of 12-week Thoppukaranam practice on stress and psychological wellness. In this study, we tested whether college students experienced these kinds of stress. Studies involving participants have examined important psychological factors including stress. After receiving stress management training for students. participants who were practise super brain yoga had improved mental function and experienced reduced stress. Design / methodology / approach: sixty individuals participated moderate-to-high stress were randomly assigned to 12 consecutive weeks of Thoppukaranam practice. To achieve this purpose of the study, 60 Students were selected in the technique of stratified random sampling from SRM institute of science & technology Tamilnadu, India; their ages ranged from 19 to above years. another group is control group who did not practice Brain yoga. Stress and psychological health variables were assessed. Results: Significant reductions in stress and all psychological health measures were found within the Thoppukaranam practice group over 12 weeks. When compared to the control group, Super brain yoga practitioners showed significant decreases in stress, anxiety, and general psychological health, and significant increases in well-being. The group who did not practice yoga showed not significant decreases in stress. Conclusions: Super Brain yoga appears to be beneficial for stressed-out students and has the potential to support their psychological well-being.

Integrating Mindfulness-Based Yoga Practices in the Psychological Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Longitudinal Study

Integrating Mindfulness-Based Yoga Practices in the Psychological Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Longitudinal Study

Conceptualizing Motherhood in Yoga

Prenatal yoga classes have become widespread worldwide. Still, while scientific studies examined the benefits of such practices, the conceptual and sociocultural meanings still need to be studied. This paper focuses on pregnancy-oriented Iyengar yoga, which includes pre-conception, prenatal and postnatal yoga practices developed in the Iyengar Yoga school. Interestingly, while these practices are seen as ideal for pregnant and postpartum women, they contrast with what is perceived as an ideal yoga practice. Thus, pregnancy-oriented Iyengar Yoga reveals a shift in purpose from achieving an excellent and advanced yoga practice to the health of female yoga practitioners and their children in a modern lifestyle setting. The findings of this paper are based on my doctoral research, and draw on textual analysis of over fifty relevant Iyengar yoga publications, and qualitative interviews with thirty-seven Iyengar Yoga teachers and four members of the Iyengar family between 2015 and 2019.

‘Yoga Helps!?’

This paper explores the role of health discourse from yoga providers and biomedical research in popularising transglobal yoga and legitimizing claims about its health benefits. As contemporary yoga is more widely associated with physical and mental health benefits, it is frequently positioned as an antidote to the many perceived ailments of modern life. My analysis of discourses surrounding yoga’s effectiveness reveals a serious epistemological lacuna: I argue that biomedical impact studies on yoga often fall short in deconstructing the unique contributions of yoga as a practice and its historic origins. Consequently, contemporary yoga modalities are often presented as a several thousand years old tradition to achieving good health. These oversights inadvertently perpetuate an uncritical assertion of yoga’s distinct originality, providing potential legitimacy to extravagant health claims and unwarranted generalizations mistakenly attributed to the entire spectrum of ‘yoga’. The resulting positive perception of yoga poses a potential hazard to practitioners and is at risk of being misused as a vehicle for dubious political or financial gains. I conclude with considerations on how future research on yoga’s effectiveness could intend to understand not only if yoga practice is beneficial to health, but also which aspects of it, and how.

Yoga in Communist Poland

This article explores the popularization of yoga by Tadeusz Pasek (1925–2011). His characterization of yoga as ‘relaxation and concentration exercises’—cwirki—allowed practices derived from yoga to gain popularity in communist Poland. Classes were officially taught through the centres of the Society for the Propagation of Physical Culture (TKKF), a state institution funded by the communist authorities. Details of these classes were published in 1973 by the State Medical Publishing House (PZWL) in Theory and Methodology of Relaxation and Concentration Exercises. Pasek created a system of instructor training and certification within the framework of the TKKF, coordinated on a national level. He innovated model ‘calming centres’, combining TKKF structures within state-run housing cooperatives, functioning as yoga studios, community centres, and venues for psychiatric rehabilitation after in-patient treatment. Pasek introduced relaxation and concentration exercises for the rehabilitation of patients with neurotic disorders. Consequently, yoga practices, smuggled under the official name of relaxation and concentration exercises, entered academic circles of scientists and doctors, and also popular culture. Although its popularity waned as more yoga schools established themselves in Poland after 1989, Pasek’s innovation of culturally embedding the practices established a foundation for the development of many yoga traditions in post-communist Poland.

‘The Yoga Police Are Real’

The development of modern yoga has inevitably involved the development of diverse forms of institutionalized authority. Recent years have seen increasing criticism by yoga teachers of Yoga Alliance and similar, more localized bodies that accredit the teaching of contemporary yoga in national and transnational contexts. That criticism involves demands for both accountability and individual freedom. Put simply, while some demand that yoga institutions hold their members to account for ethical transgressions, others are equally determined to prevent this power being held by any specific institution. As older systems of patriarchal, institutionalized authority within yoga are breaking down, and financial precarity increases, the emerging calls to professionalize or regulate yoga teaching from multiple quarters are increasingly incompatible with a widespread distrust of formal institutionalization. This article uses a series of case studies detailing attempts to reform yoga teaching in the US and the UK. These examples provide illuminate a fast-evolving situation that is key to defining and controlling the future of transnational yoga in localized practice. I ask: what can we learn from these encounters about the nature of authority and its relationship to vernacular knowledge? How do national contexts shape transnational concerns? And how might contemporary yoga evolve to reconcile the twin issues of student safety and freedom of expression?

Influence of yoga practices on balance and co-ordination among pubertal tribal students

Influence of yoga practices on balance and co-ordination among pubertal tribal students

Improving Moral Posture

A common narrative in the discourse on modern transnational yoga concerns its secularization, i.e. the assumption that posture-based yoga can be separated from its soteriological background. This aspect is particularly pronounced in yoga manuals which, from the 1950s onwards, address a largely female audience. This article highlights a slightly different historical move: the promotion of yoga in line with a faith-based mindset. It presents a case study of two German sisters, who from 1952 onwards instructed an early generation of yoga teachers, referencing harmonious gymnastics, the Christian Indian Yesudian and the American legacy of Yogananda. I argue that in this sociohistorical context yoga practice was seen as a multi-religious method to increase and revive ethical rules and behaviour—regardless of the functional secular tone favoured in yoga manuals. This particular way of framing posture practice and its curative power was highly influenced by the aftermath of the war, and hence differed from what might be called New Age religion or today’s popular self-identification as ‘spiritual, but not religious’. The paper thus contributes to the entangled history of modern yoga and illustrates the impact of women for initiating the spread of respective posture practice. It adds theoretically to reconsidering religious narratives for positioning and rationalizing posture-based yoga.

Functional connectivity changes in meditators and novices during yoga nidra practice

Yoga nidra (YN) practice aims to induce a deeply relaxed state akin to sleep while maintaining heightened awareness. Despite the growing interest in its clinical applications, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying neural correlates of the practice of YN remains largely unexplored. In this fMRI investigation, we aim to discover the differences between wakeful resting states and states attained during YN practice. The study included individuals experienced in meditation and/or yogic practices, referred to as ‘meditators’ (n = 30), and novice controls (n = 31). The GLM analysis, based on audio instructions, demonstrated activation related to auditory cues without concurrent default mode network (DMN) deactivation. DMN seed based functional connectivity (FC) analysis revealed significant reductions in connectivity among meditators during YN as compared to controls. We did not find differences between the two groups during the pre and post resting state scans. Moreover, when DMN-FC was compared between the YN state and resting state, meditators showed distinct decoupling, whereas controls showed increased DMN-FC. Finally, participants exhibit a remarkable correlation between reduced DMN connectivity during YN and self-reported hours of cumulative meditation and yoga practice. Together, these results suggest a unique neural modulation of the DMN in meditators during YN which results in being restful yet aware, aligned with their subjective experience of the practice. The study deepens our understanding of the neural mechanisms of YN, revealing distinct DMN connectivity decoupling in meditators and its relationship with meditation and yoga experience. These findings have interdisciplinary implications for neuroscience, psychology, and yogic disciplines.

Does Practicing Only Yoga Asanas Impact Executive Functioning, Emotion Regulation, and Emotional Well-Being Among College Students with Anxiety and Depression? An Exploratory Study in India

The current study aimed to document the psychological benefits (if any) of hatha yoga on emotion regulation, emotional well-being and executive functioning in college students with depression and anxiety disorders. 83 participants (31 Males and 52 Females), 19 in Clinical Experimental (yoga practitioners with anxiety and depression), 21 in Clinical Control (non-yoga practitioners with anxiety and depression), 19 in Non-Clinical Experimental (yoga practitioners without anxiety and depression) and 24 in Non-Clinical Control (non-yoga practitioners of yoga without anxiety and depression) were recruited in the present study. Participants were assessed on emotional regulation, emotional well-being and executive functioning. The one-way ANOVA analysis on the four groups for different variables showed no significant differences. The results could be because practicing yoga asanas only as a fitness regime do not suffice to bring about changes in psychological processes as Hatha yoga focuses only on physical asanas (Csala et al., 2021). Conclusively, an inclusive approach of yoga, meditation and positive practices are important to bring about affective changes in participants’ emotional well-being and emotion regulation (Bhide et al., 2021).

P466 Yoga in children with cystic fibrosis: complementary therapy alternative to the yoga practice in the presence

P466 Yoga in children with cystic fibrosis: complementary therapy alternative to the yoga practice in the presence

Investigation of the Effect of Laughter Yoga on Stress-Coping Behaviors in Nursing Students’ Starting University

Aim. This study was aimed to investigate whether the practice of laughter yoga in nursing students who just started university can help them cope with stress. Design. An experimental randomized controlled study was conducted. Methods. The research was conducted with first-year students (n = 38) who were willing to participate in the study. The intervention group took part in six 45–50 minute laughter yoga sessions twice a week for three weeks. Results. The comparison of the mean and total scores obtained from the Coping Behavior Inventory and Physio-Psycho-Social Response Scale by the participants in the control and intervention groups before and after the implementation of the laughter yoga practices demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference between the two tests in the intervention group and the difference was especially evident between the pre- and posttest scores obtained from the Coping Behavior Inventory. Conclusions. In this study, laughter yoga practice helped the participating nursing students who just started university to cope with stress. It can be recommended that laughter yoga should be integrated into the curriculum in schools where nursing education is provided as a way of coping with stress, that its use should be expanded, and that randomized controlled experimental studies in which its physiological and psychological effects in different groups are investigated with objective and subjective parameters should be conducted.

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Garments, Yoga, and Ayurveda: A Holistic Perspective

Garments, being the closest layer to the human body, hold a profound influence on the well-being of an individual. The skin, being the body's largest organ, acts as a protective barrier, selectively allowing external elements to interact with the body. This dual role becomes especially crucial when considering the garments we wear, as they come in direct contact with our skin. The characteristics of fabrics, including color, texture, aroma, raw materials, and energy, have a tangible impact on the wearer's body, mind, and energy. Yoga practitioners, known for their heightened sensitivity, become particularly receptive to the subtle influences of garments, including fabrics and designs. The ancient healing disciplines of Yoga and Ayurveda, deeply rooted in Indian traditions, recognize the significance of these influences. According to Ayurveda, the materials used in garments should not only be comfortable but also supportive of different yogic practices and lifestyles. This paper explores the intricate relationship between garments, Yoga, and Ayurveda, delving into how the choice of fabrics and designs can contribute to the holistic well-being of individuals. By understanding and aligning with the principles of Ayurveda, practitioners can make informed decisions about the garments they choose, ensuring that these articles of clothing not only complement their physical activities but also contribute positively to their mental and energetic states. In essence, this research aims to shed light on the interconnectedness of these ancient disciplines and provide insights into how conscious choices in clothing can enhance the overall experience and benefits of Yoga practice in harmony with Ayurvedic principles.

Yoga and its effect on sperm genomic integrity, gene expression, telomere length and perceived quality of life in early pregnancy loss.

Achieving successful pregnancy outcomes is a delicate interplay between the maternal and the fetal counterparts. Paternal factors play a critical role in health and disease of offspring. Early pregnancy loss (EPL) is a psychologically devastating condition affecting the quality of life (QOL). Thus, it needs to be managed by a mind body integrated approach like yoga.The prospective single arm exploratory studyincluded male partners of couples experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL, n = 30), and recurrent implantation failure (RIF, n = 30) and semen samples wereassessed at the beginning and completion of yoga (6weeks) (WHO 2010).A significant increase in the sperm concentration, motility, decrease in seminal ROS, DFIand increase in relative sperm telomere length was found at the end of yoga. The relative expression of genes critical for early embryonic developmentnormalized towards the levels of controls. WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire scores to assess QOL also showed improvement.Integration of regular practice yoga into our lifestyle may help in improving seminal redox status, genomic integrity, telomere length, normalizing gene expression and QOL, highlighting the need to use an integrated, holistic approach in management of such cases. This is pertinent for decreasing the transmission of mutation and epimutation load to the developing embryo, improving pregnancy outcomes and decreasing genetic and epigenetic disease burden in the next generation.

Effect of Yogic Practices on Concentration of Senior Secondary School Students

Aim of this study is to find the effect of yogic practices on concentration of senior secondary school students. There were 100 participants (50 from control group and 50 from experimental group) in this study. Yogic practices for 6 months (daily for 1 hour) were done by experimental group students and control group students did no yogic practices. Digit letter Substitution Test (DLST) tool was used for measuring the concentration of students. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for determining the nature of data. T-test was used to find the significant difference between the pre-test and post - test scores. Results show that there is a significant and important difference in concentration of experimental and control group of senior secondary school students

EXPLORING THE HOLISTIC APPROACHES FOR PROMOTING HAIR HEALTH FROM INSIGHTS OF AYURVEDA: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Background: Hair health is a multifaceted aspect of human well-being, encompassing various physiological, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Numerous factors, including family history (heredity), hormonal changes during and after pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid disorder, are known to contribute to hair illnesses in contemporary medicine. Owing to the limitations and adverse effects of modern treatment, some hopeful out-comes from Ayurveda are anticipated. According to the Ayurvedic view, disturbance of Trisdosa (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) is the main reason for common hair diseases, i.e. Aakal-Palitya, Khalitya and Darunaka with its curative and preventive methods like Pathya-Apathya, Nasya, Murdha taila, Lepa, etc. Ayurveda has a lot of potential in treating these illnesses. Aim: This abstract aim to elucidate the significance of holistic approaches in Ayurveda for promoting hair health, outlining the essential practices, routines, and lifestyle adjustments recom-mended for individuals to achieve vibrant and resilient hair. Methodology: To gather information on Ayurvedic perspectives on hair health, a comprehensive review of clas-sical Ayurvedic texts such as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and Bhavprakash, as well as contemporary literature and clinical studies, was conducted. Discussion: Ayurveda considers hair health as a reflection of overall well-being, influenced by the balance of the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and the proper functioning of bodily tissues (Dhatus) and metabolic processes (Agnis). Daily regimens for hair care en-compass a range of practices tailored to individual constitutions and hair types. These may include oil massage (Abhyanga) of the scalp and hair with herbal oils, gentle cleansing using natural cleansers, such as herbal pow-ders (Shikakai, Reetha), maintaining scalp hygiene, nourishing the scalp, strengthening hair roots, preventing premature greying, treat conditions such as hair loss, dandruff, and scalp infections and following dietary and lifestyle guidelines conducive to hair health. Abhyanga (Massage) improves blood circulation, increasing nutri-ents to the hair roots and scalp. Conclusion: Ayurveda offers a comprehensive and personalized approach to hair health, addressing hair disorders’ symptoms and root causes. By restoring doshic balance, optimizing digestion, and nourishing hair follicles with natural remedies, i.e. Daily regimens, wholesome diet, Rasayana, Panchakar-ma, and Yogic practices, Ayurvedic interventions aim to promote long-term hair vitality and overall well-being.

Impact of Selected Yoga Practices on Balance and Flexibility among Geriatric Population

Impact of Selected Yoga Practices on Balance and Flexibility among Geriatric Population