Effect of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama on Forced Vital

Capacity
Researcher Director
Rachna Sirohi Dr. Pranav Pandya
Yoga Department
Dev Sanskriti University
Shantikunj, Haridwar.

A Study of The Effect of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama on Forced Vital Capacity

—— Rachna Sirohi

Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama on
Forced Vital Capacity, which is an index of vital lung capacity. The study was conducted at
Brahmavarchas Shodha Sansthan, Shantikunj Haridwar.

The total sample consisted of 30 male participants in the age group of 20-40 yrs. They were
divided into 2 groups, 20 subjects were assigned randomly to experimental group and 10 were assigned
to control group. The results indicate that Nadi Shodhan Pranayama significantly improves the vital lung
capacity of individuals.

Introduction
Pranayama occupies second place in Hatha Yoga, while it constitutes fourth step in Patanjali’s
Ashtanga Yoga. According to Patanjali Yoga Sutra:

The pause brought in the movement of inhalation or exhalation is nothing but Pranayama.
Patanjali has explained four types of Kumbhaka on the basis of the Pause. Svatmaram’s Suri mentions
eight varieties of Kumbhaka which is for him another name of Pranayama. Hatha Yoga advocates that
one should perform the Nadi Shodhan Pranayama before starting the main eight type of Pranayama as it
will cleanse the Nadis. The technique of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama is also described in Hatha Pradipika,
Siva Samhita, Gheranda Samhita and Vasistha Samhita. Hathapradipika also mentions in clear cut terms
the effect of Pranayama on body and mind. It says that there is no doubt that by practicing pranayama
one acquires complete control over one’s body. It further states that those who have mastered pranayama
have slimness of body, lustrous face, clarity of voice, brightness of eyes, freedom from disease and
stimulation of gastric fire. Nagarathna and Nagendra (1985) have found reduction of clinical symptoms
of bronchial asthma through Pranayama. They conducted a study on 51 patients over 6 month period.
The author reported a significant improvement in FVC with no improvement of FEV of FMEF (0.25-
0.75) or peak flow rate. Studies on Hatha Yoga by udupa et.al. (1972) showed a significant improvement
in respiratory function, with lowered rate of respiration, increased expansion of the chest, vital capacity
and breath holding time in 12 young normal male volunteers.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama on
vital lung capacity of the subjects.

Sample
The sample of the study consisted of 30 subjects belonging to the age group 20-40 yrs. Who
came to attend one month session at Shantikunj Haridwar. 20 male subjects were assigned randomly to
the experimental group and 10 male subjects were assigned to control group.

Duration
The duration of study was 3 weeks during which the subjects of experimental groups undertook
Nadi Shodhan Pranayama daily and regularly for half-an-hour under expert supervision. Both the groups
were not allowed to participate in any usual spiritual activity of Shantikunj. All the subjects took the
same simple vegetarian food and lived in the same environment during the course of the study.

Independent Variable
Nadi Shodhan Pranayama as prescribed by Pt. Shri Ram Sharma Aacharya in his book
“ ”

Dependent Variable
Vital lung capacity as measured by Spiro meter.

Hypotheses
The practice of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama significantly increases the vital lung capacity of
individuals.

Results

Mean Std. Deviation N df

Experimental Group 3.28 0.479 20 19
Control Group 2.81 0.421 10 9

t = 2.76

The results conclusively prove that Nadi Shodhan Pranayama increases the vital lung capacity of
the individuals. ‘t’ value is significant at 0.01 level of confidence.

Discussion
In normal breathing, inspired air is not distributed uniformly. In the erect posture the unit volume
of lung is greater in the lower than in the upper parts. In normal breathing after a particular degree of
stretching or even before this, stretch receptors (situated in the alveolar walls) are stimulated and send
message to the respiratory centre so that exhalation starts. But in Pranayama we continue the phase of
inhalation with our strong voluntary control so that lungs are expanded considerably and the walls of the
alveoli are stretched to the maximum. Thus the chest continues to get expanded under cortical control.
The stretch receptors are thus trained to withstand more and more stretching. This helps us to hold the
breath for a longer period. The duration of Kumbhaka is gradually increased by the practice of
pranayama so that the respiratory centre is gradually acclimatized to withstand higher and higher CO2
concentration in the alveoli and the blood.

The chemo receptors, located in the medulla oblongata near the entry of the IXth & Xth cranial
nerves, are sensitive to the amount of CO2 in the blood. The CO2 stimulates these chemoreceptors which
in turn send the impulses to the respiratory centre. The respiratory centre which would have otherwise
started exhalation is now helpless against the strong voluntary control from the cortex. So in a way we
are training these chemo receptors to tolerate more and more tensions and CO2 during kumbhak. The
peripheral chemo receptors which are sensitive to lowered O2 level in the blood, would also send
powerful stimulation to the respiratory centre to start exhalation .As the CO2 goes on accumulating
Kumbhak the chemo receptors report it promptly to the pnuemataxic centre which in turn tries to
stimulate expiratory centre. The autonomic or the reflex mechanism of respiration is far more powerful
than the control from the higher centers. That is why after a particular stage it is not possible to hold the
breath further. The receptors however get acclimatized to the increased concentration of CO2 gradually
by regular practice of Pranayama.

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