RESULTS

Effects of Surya Anuloma Viloma Pranayama (right nostril breathing or ‘S’ group) and Nadisuddhi Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing or ‘N’ group): The ‘S’ group showed a statistically significant (P<0.05, Wilcoxan’s paired signed rank test) increase of 37% in baseline levels of oxygen consumption. However, the ‘N’ group did not show such a significant change (i.e. a 19%, non-significant increase was observed).

Both groups showed a comparable and significant reduction in body weight ranging from 4.2 to 5.1%, (P<0.001, Wilcoxan’s paired signed rank test). Also, both groups showed a significant increase in heart rate at the end of a month (P<0.001, Wilcoxan’s paired-signed ranks test). The volar galvanic skin resistance (GSR) and respiratory rate did not alter in either group (Table 1).

Effects of Chandra Anuloma Viloma Pranayama (Left nostril breathing or ‘C’ group) and Nadisuddhi Pranayama (alternate nostril breathing or ‘N’ group) : Both ‘C’ and ‘N’ groups showed an increase in baseline oxygen consumption (by 24% and 17%, respectively), though this was not statistically significant for either group (P>0.01, Wilcoxan’s paired signed rank test).

Table I. This table gives a summary of the effects of ‘S’ Group and ‘N” Group pranayamas.
 

The ‘C’ group showed a statistically significant increase, in volar galvanic skin resistance (CSR), (P<0.05, Wilcoxan’s paired signed rank test). In contrast the ‘N’ group did not show such a change. In contrast, the ‘N’ group showed a significant increase in heart rate (P<0.001) while the ‘C’ group did not change. Both groups showed a comparable (ranging from 3.8 to 2.6%) and significant (P<0.05, Wilcoxan’s paired signed rank test) reduction in body weight. Neither group showed change in respiratory rate (Table II).