Yoga Dissertations by MSc Students, 2003-04

Part: I Concept of Prana & Yoga through Spiritual Lore
Part: II Clinical and Anthrometric Changes in Obese Person Undergoing Yoga Intervention with Three Types of Pranayama in Comparison to a Control
By

Part: I Concept of Prana & Yoga through Spiritual Lore
In our contemporary society we see a lot of successful alternate sources of healing emerging such as Präëic healing, Reiki, and various präëäyäma based healing systems. Though these systems at the core encompass the subtlest essence of präëa, they concentrate more upon utilising the grosser (ädhibhoutika) aspects of präëa.
But the subtle form of präëa, if harnessed, properly promises to be a treasure which has the potential to bestow highest spiritual benefits. On realising this subtlest Präëic energy the Åñis of the yore of this country were able to attain the most exalted levels of consciousness called Åtambharā Prajïā which is the absolute mastery over the psychic powers. The Åtambharā Prajïa is explained in the Pataïjali Yoga Sūtras as:
inivRcar vEzar*e=XyaTm àsad> .
Nirvicära vaiçäradye'dhyätma prasädaù (1. 47 PYS)
On at any the utmost purity of the Nirvicära Stage (of Samädhi) there is the dawning of the spiritual light.
\tMÉra tÇ à}a
Åtambharä tatra prajïä (1. 48. PYS)
There, the consciousness is Truth and Right-bearing
The Åñis with åtambharä prajïä became universal beings, feeling oneness with the whole nature.

DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY

In our contemporary society we see a lot of successful alternate sources of healing emerging such as Präëic healing, Reiki, and various präëäyäma - based healing systems. Though these systems at the core encompass the subtlest essence of präëa, they concentrate more upon utilising the grosser (ädhibhoutika) aspects of präëa.
But the subtle form of präëa, if harnessed, properly promises to be a treasure which has the potential to bestow highest spiritual benefits. On realising this subtlest Präëic energy the Åñis of the yore of this country were able to attain the most exalted levels of consciousness called Åtambharā prajïā which is the absolute mastery over the psychic powers. The Åtambharā prajïa is explained in the Pataïjali yoga sūtras as:
inivRcar vEzar*e=XyaTm àsad> .
Nirvicära vaiçäradye'dhyätma prasädaù (1. 47 PYS)
On at any the utmost purity of the Nirvicara Stage (of Samadhi) there is the dawning of the spiritual light.

\tMÉra tÇ à}a.
Åtambharä tatra prajïä (1. 48. PYS)
There, the consciousness is Truth and Right-bearing
The Åñis with åtambharä prajïä became universal beings, feeling oneness with the whole nature.
The above references in the Upaniñads, the fountain head of spiritual wisdom clearly reveal the subtle dimensions of präëa. On realising the subtlest Präëic energy following the path laid down by Adhyätma Yoga, humanity transcends differences and the whole universe is a place of worship sanctified by peace and harmony.

` ÉÔ< k[eRiÉ> z&[uyam deva> ÉÔ< pZyema]iÉyRjÇa>,
iSwrEr¼Eòuva‡sStnuiÉ> Vyzem deviht< ydayu>.
` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt> . zaiNt mÙ-à %.
Om bhadraà karëebhiù çåëuyäma deväù bhadraà paçyemäkñabhiryajaträù
Sthirairaìgaiñöuväðsastanubhiù vyaçema devahitaà yadäyuù.
Om çäntiù çäntiù çäntiù. Çanti Mantra- Pra. Upa..
Om! Oh Gods, may we hear auspicious words with the ears; while engaged in sacrifices, may we see auspicious things with the eyes; while praising (the gods) with steady limbs, may we enjoy a life that is beneficial to the gods.
Om peace peace peace
Keywords: Präëa, Adhyätma, Åtambharä prajïä

Part II: Clinical and Anthrometric Changes in Obese Person Undergoing Yoga Intervention with Three Types of Pranayama in Comparison to a Control.

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) above 30 in males and above 28.6 in females is recognized in many countries as a major public health problem. It is a paradox that in a developing country like India, there is an increasing prevalence of obesity. This is due to changes in lifestyle in modern society.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of clinical and anthropometric changes in obese persons after yoga intervention. There were 94 participants with 61 women and 33 men, ages ranging between 22 to 55 years. They participated in a two-week program of integrated approach of yoga therapy (IAYT) in a yoga health home. Subjects were assessed for clinical and anthropometric measurement and allocated into four groups Sürya anuloma viloma, Candra anuloma viloma, Näòi çuddi, Breath awareness (i.e. SAV, CAV, NDS and BAW) sequentially in the order in which they were admitted on the day one and the final assessments were taken on day fourteen. Results showed decrease in weight, mid arm circumference, waist/hip ratio, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and body mass index in all the four groups. The SAV group individually showed a better reduction in weight (5.8%), mid arm circumference (5.6%), waist hip ratio (2.4%), systolic blood pressure (7.3%) and body mass index (4.6%) when compared to other three groups.

The CAV group individually showed a better reduction in weight (4.4%), mid arm circumference (4.8%), waist hip ratio (3.3%), systolic blood pressure (2.9%) and body mass index (5.0%) when compared to other three groups.
The NDS group individually showed a better reduction in weight (4.0%), mid arm circumference (5.1%), waist hip ratio (2.4%), systolic blood pressure (5.2%) and body mass index (4.1%) when compared to other three groups.
The BAW group individually showed a better reduction in weight (3.9%), mid arm circumference (6.9%), waist hip ratio (2.3%), systolic blood pressure (6.1%) and body mass index (4.4%) when compared to other three groups.

The present study was conducted to assess the effects on clinical and anthropometric changes in obese persons after yoga intervention.
In this study obese subjects (n=94, age range = 22 to 55 yrs of both sexes, female n = 61, male n = 33), were sequentially allocated into four groups viz. BAW, CAV, SAV, NDS.
The groups had interventions of

BAW              n = 22
CAV               n = 23
SAV                n =28
NDS                n = 21

The assessments for weight, mid arm circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist hip ratio, body mass index, pulse rate, respiratory rate breath holding time, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were done on Day 1 and day 14 of the yoga intervention. Their diet pattern was kept constant in all the groups. This was done so by using the annapurna software 2000.
The data were analyzed using the statistical package SPSS ver.10.
The baseline data showed that the groups were normally distributed. The paired-t test indicated that all the four groups showed significant improvements following three präëäyäma
A separate analysis was done for males and females using independent sample-t test. This showed significant reduction observed in WT, MAC, W/HR, BHT and systolic and diastolic blood pressure for males and females, whereas no such difference was found in BMI for either sex.
Among the three präëäyäma SAV was the best based on weight, MAC, WC, HC, W/H ratio, PR, RR, BHT, BP sys And BP Diastolic.

CONCLUSION

The above study shows that all the three different types of effective breathing practices of yoga intervention in bringing out reduction in all studied parameters, probably due to increase in Oxygen consumption
The SAV group individually showed a better reduction in WT, MAC, W/HR, systolic blood pressure and BMI when compared to the other three groups due to sympathetic arousal.

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