| Abstract : The present study assessed the visual memory in school children following general yoga practices. Children (n= 270 whose ages ranged from 13-17 years) were randomly assigned into 3 groups. Each group practiced a specific yoga technique (Physical stamina= Dynamic practices, Creativity= artwork, crafts, skits, IQ= Special quiz, dibate). These techniques were practiced for 10 days. Visual memory was assessed initially and after 9 days. All 3 groups showed significant increase in visual memory (p<0.001, paired sample test) but physical stamina showed greatest increase (33.7 % change) among them. |
| Summary & Conclusion : The present study showed that 9 days of yoga practice caused a significant increase in physical stamina group. Blakeslee (1980) stated that the right hemisphere is more involved with verbal memory. Another study showed that after 10 days of yoga breathing practices (pranayama) all four trained groups showed a significant increase in spatial memory scores but not the control group.
On the verbal memory scores each of the 5 groups showed no significant increase but relatively large standard deviations were noted (Naveen et al, 1997). Children's were enthusiastic about performing well on the test, which they had been told were a way of assessing the benefits they had obtained during the course. |
