Two hundred and twenty-six subjects who consented to participate in the study, were randomly allocated into two groups of equal size. The final data was available on 173 subjects. Inclusion criteria were (a) healthy individuals of both sexes and between the ages of 18 and 71 years, and (b) ability to read and write English because the participant had to fill up the questionnaire available in the English language. Exclusion criteria were (a) individuals with diseases such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, anxiety, depression etc., (b) substance abuse, and (c) active nicotine abuse. Source of subjects: Normal adult volunteers who
consented to participate in the study were recruited from different locations in Bangalore.Ethical clearance: Signed informed consent was obtained from all the subjects and also from the institutional heads where the classes were conducted. The institutional ethical committee of the parent institution had cleared
the project proposal.

This was a prospective randomized control design to compare the efficacy of yoga (Y) with physical exercise (PE) as a control intervention in normal healthy volunteers. Motivational lectures were arranged in public centers such as colleges, health clubs, Rotary clubs, Lions’ clubs and apartment complexes. The classes were planned in five different centers in the city of Bangalore. After reading the instructions in the informed consent form about the design of the study, these subjects agreed to be in the allotted group. The experimental group was given Y practices and the control group was given PE for one hour daily on an empty stomach (6 to 7 a.m.). The classes were conducted six days a week for eight weeks and attendance was maintained by the teachers. Trained experts in either Y or PE conducted parallel sessions for the two groups in different rooms of the same building. It was ensured that there was no interaction between the
subjects. The tests were administered on the first and last day of the study before starting the classes, by arranging the subjects to sit in a quiet hall, free from distractions and influences from each other, with supervisors moving around to clarify any doubts.

The subjects selected for the study were randomly allotted into two groups by using five different random number tables (different tables for each center) generated from the random number generator program.[21]

Masking

The answered questionnaires were coded and kept away for future scoring. A psychologist who was not involved in the subject allocation or supervision of the classes, scored the questionnaires which were decoded only after the scoring of all answer sheets was completed.

Assessments

The Verbal Aggressiveness Scale (VAS)—VAS [Table 1] is an interpersonal model and measure. The VAS developed by Infante and Wigley contains 20 items scored on a 5-point linear rating format with reverse scoring on ten out of 20 items (questions: 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 20). The scores can range from 20 to 100. The VAS gives a single overall score that describes the disposition of an individual

towards low, moderate, or high verbal aggressiveness. Scores from 20–46 suggest low verbal aggressiveness, 47–73 suggest moderate verbal aggressiveness and 74–100 suggest high verbal aggressiveness.

Validity: This scale is stable across time. The reported test-retest reliability is 0.82 for a four week period. Further, cross-culture reliability has been supported in a number of studies.[7]

Interventions
Yoga group

Table 2 shows the list of practices used for the two groups. The integrated yoga module was selected from the integrated set of yoga practices used in earlier studies on yoga for positive health.[22] The module was developed based on ancient Yoga texts[23] to bring about a total development at the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual levels.[24] The techniques included i) physical practices (Kriyas, asanas, healthy yoga diet), ii) breathing practices with body movements and Pranayama, iii) meditation, iv) devotional sessions, v) lectures on yoga, vi) stress management based on yogic philosophy, and vii)
lifestyle change through notional corrections for blissful awareness under all circumstances (action in relaxation). Qualified yoga teachers taught yoga.

Physical exercise group

Data extraction

The scoring of the questionnaires was carried out as per the instructions in the manual and under the guidance of a psychologist. They were decoded after the scoring of both pre- and post- data

Data analysis

Data was analyzed using SPSS version 10.0. A sample size of 164 was calculated based on previous studies,[26] which showed an effect size of 0.8, with a power of 0.8 and alpha set to 0.05. This calculation was done using G power.[27] The size of the sample actually recruited was 226 while only data on 173/226 subjects were available for analysis. The statistical tests used were paired samples t-test for pre-post comparison and ANCOVA for change score
comparison of the two groups. Interaction between males and females in their change scores in yoga and control groups was checked by Repeated Measures ANOVA (RMANOVA). As the study population had a wide age range, analysis was also carried out by considering the median age of 25 years as the value for grouping them as juniors (age ≤ 25 years) and seniors (age > 25 years). The interaction between these two groups in their change scores were also checked by RMANOVA.