Influence of yoga on heart rate variability, blod pressure and subjective perception of stress in individual with and without previous experience

Joga je konstantno razvijajući filozofsko-duhovno-psihološko-praktični sustav holističkog pristupa čovjeku, ujedno i česti predmet polemika današnjice s obzirom na veliku brzinu širenja zemljama zapada. Tisućama godina poznati su pozitivni benefiti koje joga može pružiti svakodnevnom čovjeku, no tek nedavno je postala čestim predmetom znanstvenih istraživanja, te je uočen veliki utjecaj iste na psihofiziološko stanje organizma. Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrditi akutni utjecaj uobičajenog sata joge na ponašanje varijabilnosti srčanog ritma, vrijednosti tlaka, kao i subjektivan osjećaj stresa, depresije i anksioznosti kod žena s i bez iskustva u jogi. Istraživanje je provedeno na 18 zdravih žena različite dobi. Devet žena s dugogodišnjom jogijskom praksom činilo je skupinu joga žena (JŽ=9), dok je ostalih devet žena bez prethodnog iskustva u jogi činilo skupinu ne-joga žena (NJŽ=9). Obje skupine ispitanica provodile su jedan identični program joge koji se sastojao od početnog opuštanja i meditacije na dah (15 minuta), asana (43 minute), pranayame Chandrabhedana (8 minuta), te završnog opuštanja u Shavasani (7 minuta). Rezultati provedenog t-testa za nezavisne uzorke ukazali su na statistički značajne razlike u varijablama stresa, anksioznosti i depresije u finalnom mjerenju u odnosu na inicijalno mjerenje kod obje grupe ispitanica. Varijable promjenjivosti srčanog ritma i tlaka su također pokazale promjene, ali nisu sve bile statistički značajne. Rezultati dvofaktorske analize varijance ponovljenih mjerenja nisu pokazali znatnu međugrupnu razliku niti u jednoj promatranoj varijabli. Isto pokazuje kako je sat joge djelovao podjednako na pojedinca neovisno o prethodnom jogijskom iskustvu. Ovo istraživanje naglašava mogućnost akutnog i neposrednog djelovanja na psihofizičko stanje žena provedbom samo jednog sata joge. S obzirom na promjenu većeg broja praćenih varijabli također upućuje na moguću povezanost i međuzavisne mehanizme adaptacije različitih organskih sustava pod utjecajem joge. 4 Dobiveni rezultati mogu uvelike pomoći narednim istraživanjima na istom području, kao i omogućiti lakše razumijevanje procesa koji se događaju u tijelu tijekom joge. S praktičnog stajališta, spoznaje dobivene ovim istraživanjem, zajedno sa dosadašnjim spoznajama pružaju osnovu za planiranje smjernica programiranja sata joge sa ciljanim djelovanjem na varijabilnost srčanog ritma, krvni tlak, ali i na stres, anksioznost i depresiju.Yoga is a constantly evolving philosophical-spiritual-psychological-practical system of holistic approaches to man, as well as a frequent subject of modern day discussions if we take into consideration it's high speed spreading through western regions. The beneficial influences yoga can have on the average person have been known to us for thousands of years, but have only recently become a common subject of scientific research, in which a great influence on the psychophysical condition of the observed organism has indeed been documented. The main goal of this research is to determine the immediate impact a usual yoga session might have on the behavior of cardiac rhythm variability, blood pressure values, as well as on the subjective sensation of stress, depression and anxiety in women with or without the prior experience. The research was conducted on 18 healthy women of different ages. Of those, nine women with already acquired long-standing practical yoga experience were set to form the "yoga women" group (YW = 9), while the other nine women without such previous experience were set to form the "non-yoga women" group (NYW = 9). Both groups have been given a single, identical yoga program, starting with relaxation and breath meditation (15 minutes), asana (43 minutes), Chandrabhedan pranayama (8 minutes), and a final relaxation in Shavasana (7 minutes). The results showed statistically significant differences in stress, anxiety and depression variables in the final measurement relative to the initial measurement in both groups. Heart rate variability and pressure variables also showed changes but not all were statistically significant. The results of the two-factor analysis of variance in repeated measurements did not show significant intergrup differences in any of the observed variables. The same analysis also showed that the impact the yoga session has on an inidividual isn't affected by their previous yoga experience. 6 This research highlights the interrelationship of separate organic systems, the connection they have, as well as the possibility of acute and immediate influence upon the mentioned aspects of the organism through yoga practice. The obtained results could greatly assist future research in the same area as well as allow the average person to understand the processes that occur in the body during yoga. Practically, results acquired by this research combined with previous findings provide guidelines for yoga class sequencing with targeted impact on heart rate variability, blood pressure, and stress, anxiety and depression