THE EFFECT OF SHAVASANA ON CARDIOVASCULAR PARASYMPATHETIC FUNCTIONS IN HEALTHY ADULTS
Author: KASTURI. K.K
Category: Physiology
Abstract:
Background: The fast face of competitive modern life has induced many problems like stress, anxiety, insomnia, irritability and other psychosomatic disorders leading to cardiovascular problems with unexpected mortalities at younger age. The Shavasana is one of the important relaxation technique in yoga practice which leads to total relaxation of both body and mind there by reducing the stress related problems like blood pressure, coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular accidents (CVA).
Aim : The presentstudywastakenuptoevaluatetheeffect of shavasana on cardiovascular parasympathetic functions like the basal heart rate, heart rate response to standing (30:15) and Valsalvamaneuver in healthy adults.
Materials and methods: The present study consists of 65 healthy medicos of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute. The shavasana training was given by expert yoga teacher for eight weeks. The basal heart rate, 30:15 ratio and Valsalva ratio before and after yoga training were recordedandstatisticallyanalysedby ANOVAand“t” test.
Results: It was found that there was a significant reduction in all parameters, basal heart rate p-value was 0.000 (p <0.001) , 30:15 ratio p-value was 0.043 (P <0.05) and Valsalva ratio p- value was 0.040 (P value <0.05 ) after shavasana training.
Conclusion: The regular practice of shavasana results in a gradual shift of autonomic equilibrium towards a relative parasympatho dominance leading to decrease heart rate. Hence the practicing of shavasana will reduce the stress and helps to overcome stress related problems.
Keywords: Heart rate, Shavasana, Stress, 30: 15 ratio, Valsalva ratio
