Effects of uni and bilateral nostril yoga breathing on psychophysiological variables

Abstract

The practice of yoga includes voluntary breath regulation as a way to achieve a relaxed yet alert mental state with various methods to regulate breathing voluntarily. These include breathing through (i) the right nostril exclusively [called Surya Anuloma Viloma (SAV)], (ii) the left nostril exclusively [called Chandra Anuloma Viloma (CAV)], and (iii) switching inspiration and expiration alternately between nostrils [called Anuloma Viloma (AV)]. SAV practice is believed to stimulate while CAV and AV practices are believed to calm . However, the current research studies comparing the immediate effects of SAV and CAV are limited by the factors such as (i) small sample sizes, (ii) study designs and (iii) differences in the method of practice between the studies. newlineAim newlineTo evaluate and compare the effects of Surya Anuloma Viloma, Chandra Anuloma Viloma and Anuloma Viloma on (i) autonomic and respiratory variables, (ii) blood pressure, (iii) mood states and (iv) performance in a letter cancellation test. newlineObjectives newline(1) To evaluate and compare the effects of Surya Anuloma Viloma, Chandra Anuloma Viloma and Anuloma Viloma on (i) heart rate variability (HRV), (ii) respiratory variables, (iii) Galvanic skin conductance (GSC), (iv) finger plethysmogram amplitude (FPA), and (v) non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP). newline(2) To study and compare the effects of Surya Anuloma Viloma, Chandra Anuloma Viloma and Anuloma Viloma on (i) brief mood introspection scale, (ii) Spielberger s state trait anxiety, and (iii) global vigor and affect scale. newline(3) To assess and compare the effects of Surya Anuloma Ailoma, Chandra Anuloma Viloma and Anuloma Viloma on performance in a six letter cancellation test. newline(4) To determine if the respiratory characteristics of the three yoga breathing practices (i.e., Surya Anuloma Viloma, Chandra Anuloma Viloma and Anuloma Viloma) can explain the effects of the breathing practices on (i) autonomic variables, (ii) blood pressure, (iii) mood states and (iv) performance in a letter cancellation test.