METHOD

Subjects

In Part one, 40 girls between 12 and 16 years of age were selected at random from a total of 120 girls in a community home. All had a history of difficulty in adjusting at home or in society. Fifteen were from broken homes (one or both parents were dead or their parents were separated). For comparison, another 40 girls of the same age group were selected at random from students who were attending a regular school and living at home. Both groups were from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. A routine medical examination verified that the girls had normal health, and none was receiving medication. For both groups the informed consent of the subjects and their guardians was obtained. 

The second part was carried out on 28 girls of the 40 from the community home. They were randomly assigned to either the yoga or the games group. The group's average age ± SD was 15.1 ± 0.6 yr. (games group) and 14.9 ± 0.6 yr. (yoga group). The duration for which they had lived in the home ranged from 6 to 36 mo. (average for the games group was 12.8 mo. and for the yoga group 12.0 mo.).

Design of the Study

In Part one 40 girls aged between 12 and 16 yrs., were selected at random from the residents of a community home. Forty girls from a regular school who were of the same age group and socioeconomic status were selected for comparison. The two groups were matched for age (±6 mo). Of the 80 girls 20 age-matched pairs could be formed for comparison. Their data were analyzed. Both groups were assessed polygraphically under similar conditions. 

In the second part, the community home girls alone were assessed. Out of the 40, 28 girls were matched for age (±6 mo.) and duration of stay in the community home (±2 mo.). Subjects of a pair were then assigned to a random order of the two groups, viz., games or yoga. The baseline assessments of these groups were made in a similar manner before the programs commenced. After this the Yoga group received training in yoga, while the Games group played games for an hour, at the same time of the day, five days a week. The programs were not part of the earlier routine. The staff members of the home supervised the programs. Also, staff were asked to alternate between supervising yoga and games on different days. After six months of practice, both groups were assessed once more, under conditions like those of the baseline assessment. The subjects were also asked to give a report of their experience of the program in which they had participated.

Yoga training 

Staff members of the community home who were first trained in yoga were involved in teaching and supervising the subjects. A trained yoga teacher visited the class every fortnight to check the practice. Yoga techniques included simple yogasanas, postures which are maintained for as long as possible while relaxed for, 50 minutes. As subjects had more experience in yogasanas the time for which the posture was maintained was gradually increased. Also, brief (10-min.) relaxation in shavasan (corpse posture) was included. Throughout both practices, the emphasis was on relaxation and awareness of physical and other sensations.

Games 

The session included jogging in place, rapid bending forwards and backwards, twisting, and bending sideways (40 minutes) as well as games such as relay races in which all the girls had to take an active part for about 20 minutes. 

Measurements 

Measurements for Part 1 (Community Home girls versus those from an ordinary school) as well as for Part 2 (Yoga versus Games groups of Community Home girls) were made under identical conditions. A moderately lit, sound-attenuated cabin was used for recording. After an initial period of 15 min. while sitting at ease, assessments were made for 10 min., also in the same Posture. 

A 10-channel polygraph (Polyrite Recorders and Medicare, Chandigarh, India) was used to record the electrocardiogram (EKG), respiration, and the skin resistance. The EKG was recorded using standard limb lead 1 configuration. Skin resistance was recorded using silver chloride disc electrodes filled with electrode paste, and placed in contact with the volar surfaces of the distal phalanges of the index and middle fingers of the left hand. A constant current of 10 microamperes was passed between the electrodes. Respiration was recorded using a volumetric pressure transducer. Subjects were asked to stand erect and the transducer was fixed around the trunk, approximately 5 cm below the lower costal margin.

Data extraction and analysis

Data extraction was carried out similarly for both parts of the study. Polygraphic data were scored "blind" as follows. The heart rate (in beats per minute), was obtained by counting the number of QRS complexes in successive 60-sec. epochs continuously. The skin resistance (in kilo ohms) was sampled at 20-sec. intervals continuously. The breath rate (in breath cycles per minute) was obtained by counting the breath cycles in 60-sec. epochs continuously. For each subject the average of the values obtained during the 10-min. recording session were analysed.

The data of girls from the community home were compared with those of regular school girls of the same age using the Mann-Whitney U test. The data of both groups obtained at the end of six months were compared with their respective baseline data using the Wilcoxon paired-sample test.