Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
SHORT COMMUNICATION
*Corresponding Author : Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, #19, Eknath Bhavan, Near
Gavipuram Circle, K.G. Nagar, Bangalore – 560 019, India. Ph.: 91-80-26612669;
Fax : 91-80-26608645; E-mail : anvesana@gmail.com
188 Telles et al Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2006; 50(2)
answer the second question, i.e., whether of a six-pointed star while looking in a
mirror star tracing is influenced by re- mirror to observe the movements of the hand
testing. Hence this is not a randomized (7). A shield prevented the subject from
controlled trial and the control group served looking directly at the pattern which was
solely to understand the re-test effect. placed on a board and was visible in the
mirror (Anand Agencies, Pune, India). The
METHODS
outline of the star consisted of 60 circles,
Subjects each circle approximately 4 mm in diameter.
The star was placed so that two points faced
There were two groups, Yoga and up or down and one point faced right or left.
Control. The yoga group consisted of 26 Alternate subjects were asked to begin
subjects (12 female) who had elected to join tracing with either the right hand or with
a one-month residential yoga training the left hand. This order was kept the same
program. Their ages ranged between 18 and at the final assessment. Tracing with either
45 years (group average age ± S.D., hand began from mid-way between the two
25.7 ± 7.1 years). The control group of 26 lower points, and then proceeded either
subjects (11 female), were within the same clockwise (with the left hand) or anti-
age range as the yoga group. All subjects clockwise (with the right hand).
had normal health based on a routine
clinical examination and were right hand The volunteers were asked to trace the
dominant based on the Edinburgh outline of the star passing through as many
handedness inventory (6). The two groups circles as possible within one minute. Hence
were not matched in any other way. Hence the total number of circles crossed in one
the control group served to assess the re- minute need not be 60, i.e., they may not
test effect on performance in the task. The have been able to pass through all the circles
volunteers of both groups had all completed in one minute. The numbers of circles crossed
their graduation (minimum) and were all and left out were calculated from the point
office (‘white collar’) workers. of starting till the end-point, i.e., the circle
reached at the end of one minute. In the
Design process of moving along the outline volunteers
would (i) cross circles which is what they
Assessments were made at the beginning are meant to do, and (ii) leave out circles -
(initial) and end (final) of a thirty day period which is considered as an error. The
during which the yoga group received variables noted were: (i) number of circles
training in yoga while the control group crossed, and (ii) number of circles left out.
carried on with their routine activities.
For both groups the testing (pre and post) Training in yoga
was between 10.00 a.m. and 12 noon. The
The yoga group received training in
project was reviewed and approved by the
physical postures (asanas, 90 minutes),
Institutional Ethics Committee.
cleansing practices (kriyas, 30 minutes),
Assessment yoga voluntarily controlled breathing
(pranayama, 60 minutes), meditation (60
The task involved filling in the outline minutes), devotional sessions (90 minutes)
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2006; 50(2) Yoga Improves Mirror-Tracing 189
and lectures on the theory of yoga (60 showed a significant decrease in the number
minutes). of circles left out when using the right hand,
at the final assessment (P<0.05). The Control
The asanas which were practiced
group showed a significant increase in the
every day included: ardhacati cakrasana,
number of circles crossed using the left hand
ardha cakrasana, padahastasana, ardha
at final assessment compared to the initial
matsyendrasana, paschimottanasana,
assessment (P<0.05). There was no change
ustrasana, matsyasana, salabhasana, and
cakrasana. The kriyas were: trataka (daily) for the right hand or for the number of
and jala neti and vaman dhauti (twice in a circles missed (for both hands) at the final
week). The pranayama practices included assessment compared to the initial values.
brahmari, nadisuddhi, sitali, sitkari, and There was no significant difference between
sadanta pranyamas, as well as sectional the initial values of the two groups (P>0.05,
breathing (with attention shifting from the for all comparisons, Mann-Whitney U test).
abdomen, to the chest, and to the clavicular The group average values ± S.D. are given
(upper) part. in Table I.
Yoga 18.7±12.4 36.2±15.5*** 22.7±13.4 42.7±18.8*** 0.4±0.7 0.1±0.3* 1.0±1.4 0.9± 1.2
(n=26)
Control 19.3±10.2 23.1±9.6 21.9±12.5 27.3±12.6* 1.5±3.6 1.0±1.3 1.7±3.3 2.0± 2.0
(n=26)
*P<0.05, ***P<0.001, Wilcoxon paired signed ranks test, for ‘After’ values compared to ‘Before’.
190 Telles et al Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2006; 50(2)