A PILOT STUDY ON THE SHORT TERM EFFECT OF BHASTRIKA PRANAYAMA TO ENHANCE THE BREATH HOLDING CAPACITY OF STUDENTS

Abstract

Yoga is a technique towards the improvement of total health by acting on physical and mental level. This present study has been undertaken to examine the effect of BhastrikaPranayama on breath holding capacity of students. Ten students of B.A.M.S. were randomly registered voluntarily, aged 18-28 years to participate in this study, from Yoga unit of Swasthavritta department of national institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan.The breath holding capacity was measured twice before Bhastrika and during Bhastrika. During Bhastrika Pranayama, breath holding capacity was increased near about double of its normal duration. Difference between mean of breath holding time, before and during Bhastrika Pranayama, is about 31.6 and T value is 6.0733 and P value is <0.001 and it is highly significant on statistical parameters. In BhastrikaPramayamathe rate of exchange of air in alveoli and the ventilation at the lower areas of lungs increase, which increases the oxygen and decreases the carbon di-oxide level in blood, which increased the breath retention during the practice of this Pranayama.