Twenty one normal boys (age : 17-19 years) were recruited for the present study. Those having a history of active sports training or yoga practice, medical illness such as tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma or major surgery in the recent past were excluded from the study. After explaining the design and purpose of the study, informed consent was obtained from them. Clearance was obtained from Institute Ethical Committee. 

A few days before actual recording, the subjects were familiarized with the laboratory environment and experimental procedure. On the day of the test, the subjects reported at our laboratory in the morning, two hours after a light breakfast. The laboratory temperature was maintained at 27 ± 1°C. After 15 minutes of supine rest, heart rate (HR) and right brachial blood pressure (BP) was recorded with noninvasive semi-automatic blood pressure monitor using the oscillometric method (Press-Mate BP 8800, Colin Corporation, Japan). Pulse pressure (PP = SP – DP), mean pressure (MP = DP + PP/3) and rate pressure product [RPP = (HR × SP)/100] and double product (Do P = HR × MP) were calculated for each recording. Three BP recordings at one-minute intervals were taken and the lowest of these values was included for calculation. Cardiovascular response to exercise was determined by Harvard step test using a platform of 45 cm height (6). The subjects were asked to step up and down the platform at a rate of 30/ min for a total duration of 5 min or until fatigue, whichever was earlier. HR and BP response to exercise was measured in supine position before exercise and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 minutes after the exercise. 

The subjects were taught yogasans and pranayams for two weeks. Then they practiced the same under our direct supervision, daily for 45 minutes, for a total duration of 2 months. The yogasans and pranayams taught were: talasan, utkatasan, trikonasan, ardha-matsyendrasan, bakasan, pavanmuktasan, navasan, noukasan, matsyasan, pashchimottanasan, halasan, bhujangasan, shalabhasan, sarvangasan, shavasan, mukh-bhastrika, mahat-yoga pranayam, nadi shuddhi and savitri pranayam. 

The cardiovascular response to exercise was measured before the training and again at the end of the 2 months of study period. The data was analyzed using Student’s paired ‘t’ test to compare the pre and post training values. A p value of less than 0.05 was accepted as indicating significant difference between the compared values.