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NIMHANS Journal, Vol 1, No 1 (1983), Pagination: 71-80
Abstract
A comprehensive study was conducted on 30 healthy men (20-30 years of age) to evaluate the effects of six months of regular yogic practice on autonomic balances, thermoregulatory efficiency, orthostatic tolerance, energy metabolism and biochemical profile. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups (A&B) of 15 each, Group-A served as control, while in group-B yogic training was administered daily in the morning hours for one hour under the supervision of qualified Yoga Instructor from Vishwaytan Yogashram for six months. Various physiological tests and biochemical estimations were done before, and after every month of yogic training, in both the groups. Yogic practice for six months resulted in a trend of shift in the autonomic equilibrium towards relative parasympathodominance, improvement in thermoregulatory efficiency and orthostatic tolerance. It has also brought about improvement in physical performance by minimising the energy expenditure during submaximal exercise. The changes in the biochemical profile indicated a relative hypometabolic state after six months of yogic practice. Physiological significance of these findings is discussed in this paper.