Physio effects y feb 2016

1. Physiological effects of yogic practices
Dr. Madanmohan
Professor and Head, Department of Physiology
&
Director, CYTER

2. Learning objectives
1. State why yoga should be introduced in medical
curriculam as a branch of physiology and
contemporary medicine.
2. Briefly describe the effects of yoga training on
physiological functions.
3. Briefly explain the beneficial effects of
pranayam.
4. Briefly explain the mechanism of action of yoga.
5. In a tabular form, give the differences between
yoga and physical exercise.

3. Yoga as a branch of
physiology and contemporary medicine
Why?

4. Relevance of yoga to medicos
1. Increased awareness and interest in
health and natural remedies
2. Yoga is holistic health science
3. Best lifestyle ever designed
4. Time–tested and effective
5. Physician practicing yoga:
better guide, stress free, calm, more stamina
6. Better student/doctor

5. Physiological effects of yoga practices
• Immediate: acute effect.
• Long – term: training effect improves
physiological functions.
• Response varies with:
• Duration
• Intensity
• Type of practices

6. Physiological effects of yoga training
1.Metabolism
2.Musculo-skeletel
3.Neurophysiological
4.Autonomic balance
5.Cardiovascular
6.Respiratory
7.Better immunity
8.Ability to withstand stressors

7. Metabolism
• resting O2 consumption
and metabolic rate.
• Yogis in underground pits
and water-tight chambers.

8. Biochemical changes:
• Improved lipid profile
• Decrease in blood glucose, catecholamines
Hematological changes:
Increase in hemoglobin, better immunity

9. Musculo-skeletal
Isometeric/static/sustained contraction:
• Biochemical changes
• Stimulate muscle growth
• Increase in strength and endurance
• Better performance, lesser fatigue

10. Slow bending, sustained stretch improves:
• Musculo-skeletal flexibility
• Range of joint movements
• Posture improves
• ? Reflexogenic effects

11. Slow movement + breathing + awareness
Improves concentration power → meditation
Mind–body-breath coordination →
psychosomatic health, concentration power

12. Neurophysiological
Faster:
Auditory reaction time ( ART )
Visual reaction time ( VRT )
Improved speed and dexterity
Meditation:
Predominant alpha waves: mind is relaxed.
Decreased anxiety and stress levels.
Less increase in anxiety score in stressful
situations (exam).
Re-orients functional hierarchy of CNS

13. Autonomic control
Nadi shuddhi: stimulates parasympathetic
Kapalabhati: stimulates sympathetic
Breathing through:
Left nostril: decreases sympathetic activity
Right nostril: increases sympathetic activity
Capable of controlling autonomic function
Overall effect: restores autonomic balance

14. Cardiovascular
• Decrease in resting HR & BP:
less load on heart, more reserve
• Head below the heart postures:
improve baroreflex regulation
• Exercise-incluced stress is less severe:
better efficiency and exercise tolerance
Improves cardio-respiratory function.

15. Respiratory
Respiration is unique:
• Automatic
• Can be greatly modified voluntarily
• Respiration ↔ visceral functions

16. Pranayam
Rapid, deep, bellows type (bhastrika):
Speeds circulation
Increases blood pressure and heart rate
Slow, deep, rhythmic breathing (nadi shuddhi):
Calms mind
Decreases BP and HR
Increases strength of respiratory muscles
Efficient ventilation

17. Slow, deep yogic breathing is economical
Normal Shallow Deep
Volume 500 200 1000
Rate 12 30 6
Ventilation 6000 6000 6000
Dead space 150 150 150
Dead space 1800 4500 900
ventilation
Alveolar 4200 1500 5100
ventilation

18. Benefits of pranayam
Increase in:
1. Vital capacity (VC)
2. Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP)
3. Maximum expiratory pressure (MEP)
4. Breath holding time (BHT)
Decrease in:
Resting respiratory rate and oxygen consumption

19. Benefits of pranayam
1. Economical, better O2 supply, ↓BP
2. Calms nervous system and mind
3. Facilitates meditation
4. Enhances vitality, health and healing
5. Massages abdominal viscera
6. Increases venous return
7. Improves respiratory muscle strength
8. Improves lung compliance and capacity

20. Overall benefits of yoga
1. Improved physiological and physical fitness
2. Mind is calm, tranquil and one–pointed
3. Improved mood, sleep, sense of well-being
4. Improved memory, intellect and problem
solving ability
5. Flowering of creative abilities
Changes are consistent and measurable

22. Mechanism of action
• Strengthens, sooths, relaxes body and mind →
promotes healing
• Decreases muscle tension → conserves energy
• Improves immunity: relaxation is opposite to stress
• Modulates hypothalamo–hypophysial–adrenal axis
• Restores autonomic balance
Psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinological:
health, stress, illness

23. Physical exercise:
• -------
• Competitive
• Awareness: outer
• Muscle activity not
harmonious
• Rapid forceful
movements
Yoga:
• Holistic
• Non-competitive
• Inner awareness
• Harmonious
• Slow dynamic or
steady stretched
Contd…..

24. • High impact
• High muscle tension
and energy
consumption
• Risk of injury high
• Breathing taxed
• Sympathetic
dominant
• Low impact
• Low
• Low
• Controlled
• Parasympathetic
dominant
….Contd