Yoga for Nursing Students: Rationale & Psychophysical Benefits A presentation for the HPE2016 conference by Dr. Meena Ramanathan (Cordinator-cum-Yoga Therapist CYTER), Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani (Deputy Director CYTER) and Dr K Renuka (Dean, Faculty of Nursing), Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India.

1. Meena Ramanathan1,
Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani 2, Renuka K3
1Cordinator-cum-Yoga Therapist CYTER, 2Deputy Director
CYTER and 3 Dean, Faculty of Nursing, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth

2. SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH
(Deemed University Accredited with “A” Grade by NAAC)
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education
and Research (CYTER)
Salutogenesis, our focus!

3. Introduction
• Health professionals, especially of nursing
cadre are under extreme pressure from
patients, caregivers, doctors & hospital
authorities.
• They require high levels of
professional competency, skill,
resilience, as well as ethical &
compassionate behavior.
• Yoga has potential to facilitate all aspects of
human development & hence can help develop
these attributes through attainment of physical,
mental, emotional & spiritual wellbeing.

4. Materials and Methods
• Biweekly Yoga training (60 min /session) was
imparted to 60 students of BSc Nursing course for 6
months, in collaboration with KGNC.
• Introduction to theoretical aspects of Yoga & Yoga
philosophy was given as part of training
• Practice sessions comprised of jathis (loosening
practices), kriyas (breath-body coordination), surya-
namaskar (sun salutation), asanas (postures),
pranayamas (energy techniques) & relaxation.

5. Materials and Methods
• Selected biochemical & hematological parameters
were recorded before & after training period along
with Ferrans and Powers QoL index that was
recorded before, mid & after training period.
• Changes in all parameters were correlated with
frequency of attendance for each student.

6. Results

9. Results
• Post-intervention statistical analysis (RM-ANOVA)
revealed highly significant & beneficial changes in
most hematological and biochemical parameters.
Major
Findings
• enhanced bone marrow function
• reduced allergic tendency
• alkalization of urine
• metabolic reconditioning &
• improvement in QoL indices.
• Positive correlation with frequency of attendance
(Pearson’s linear correlation testing).

10. "Comparaison avant-après”
Yoga for Nursing Students

12. Improved metabolic
activity
Improved cardiovascular
endurance
Decreased sympathetic
activity / HPA axis,
Enhanced
parasympathetic tone
Positive feeling of well-
being indicated by QoL
indices
Psycho-somatic
re-integration.
Discussion
These health-promoting changes may be attributed to:

13. Conclusion
• The present pilot study
provides evidence of
beneficial psychophysical
effects
• We suggest that Yoga be
made an integral part of
nursing education as
being done at Sri Balaji
Vidyapeeth.

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