Abstract:
Effect of shavasana training on cardiovascular response
to exercise in young healthy volunteers.
Background and objective: The effect of physical training
on cardiovascular response to exercise is a well known
concept. But there are limited studies done on the effect
of yoga training on cardiovascular response to exercise.
Yogic techniques in general and shavasana in particular
are known to combat stressful situations. Therefore in
the present study, the effect of shavasana on
cardiovascular response to exercise was performed on
young healthy volunteers.
A total of 40 young healthy male volunteers
aged between 17–20 years of first year MBBS were
selected from Mysore Medical College and Research
Institute, Mysore. Basal HR, Basal BP and Basal RPP was
recorded before Shavasana training and after Shavasana
training. Shavasana training was given for 30 minutes
daily for 3 months duration by a yoga teacher.
Cardiovascular response to exercise (Heart rate, blood
pressure, rate pressure product) using Harvard step test
are recorded before shavasana training and after
shavasana training.
esults were analysed and statistically treated
paired 't' test was applied between pre shavasana ̧ and
post shavasana values. It was found that there was
reduction in basal HR, BP and RPP after shavasana
training. And also after three months of shavasana
training, exercise induced changes in these parameters
were significantly reduced except DBP. Overall, the study
suggested that there was probable increase in
parasympathetic activity and decrease in sympathetic
activity
Interpretation and conclusion: The findings of the
present study shows that practice of shavasana may
probably shift autonomic equilibrium towards
parasympathetic dominance leading to milder
cardiovascular work
to exercise. This physiological
change could be a suitable clinical application for
individuals with coronary artery disease.
