Author(s): Dr. Sindhu RS

Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of Yoga practices and Meditation on selected physiological variables of college women. In this study statistical population included 90 selected subjects from St. Thomas College Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta, Kerala. The selected subjected were not involved in any kind of physical activity before. The necessary data was collected from the criterion measures. The criterion measures chosen to test hypotheses were Body weight, Resting pulse, Pulse rate, Blood pressure (Systolic & Diastolic). Random group design was used in this study. The subjects numbering ninety female students were divided in to Experiment group I (N: 30) Yoga experiment group, II (N:30) Meditation experiment group and a control group III (N:30). The experimental group I was given a set of 12 yogic asanas and experimental group II was given a meditation training for a period of 3 months. The subjects had under gone the training 3 days in a week. Twelve selected yogic asanas suitable for women subjects selected are Suriyanamaskar, Virabhradrasana II, Vrikshasana, Trikonasana, Vijrasana, Naukasana, Bhnjanjgasana, Ushtrasana, Salabhasana, Virasana, Paschimotasana, Savasana were included in the training programme. In the training programme the experimental group II underwent the listening meditation. In the first 2 weeks of the training programme the subject were made to relax for 10 minutes in Savasana by deep breathing and then gave them 15 minute listening meditation. The next weeks they were allowed to sit in any of meditative posture and then allowed to concentrate towards relaxation music for 15 minutes after 5 minutes savasana relaxation. To determine the difference between pre -test and post test results ‘t’ test was computed for each of the selected variables. Analysis of t ratio for the data pre and post- test of experimental group and control group in variables among yoga practice revealed the following conclusions. It is revealed that in the case of most of the physiological variables such as heart rate, resting pulse rate and blood pressure shows significant changes following 3 month yoga training program. From the findings we can understand that the body weight of experimental group had shown significant difference. But the differences are just above the significant value. There were significant changes in the heart rate for the experimental group. It is suggested that performing suryanamaskara improves the cardio vascular fitness. As an aerobic exercise suriya namaskara seemes to be ideal as it involves both static stretching and slow dynamic component of exercise with optimal stress on the cardio respiratory system. The resting pulse of the experimental group decreases following yoga training programme It might be due to the yogasanas which would have been strenuous enough to bring about an improvement in the efficiency of the heart and respiratory muscles. The significant difference in the systolic blood pressure may be due to effect of yogic techniques. The result of the study also reveals that there will be no significant changes in the body weight variables of meditation practice group.

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