A COMPARATIVE STUDY

OF GARDIO.RESPIRATORY

PARAMETERS BEFORE AND AFTER

SUDARSHAN KRIYA

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO

THE GAUHATI UNIVERSITYFOR THE DEGREE OF DOGTOR OF MEDIGINE

(M.D) PHYSTOLOGY 2OO9

DR. ROSY PEGUGAUHATI MEDIGAL GOLLEGE & HOSPITAL

GUWAHATT.32.

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INTRODUCTION

Human race has walked millions of miles in the roads ofindustrialization and modernization. We had been rejoicing andbragged around for years only about how mankind has gone so farand how these achievements have made our lives indescribablycomfortable. This is definitely a fact. Thanks to all the modemgadgets! But in the long run we have also felt that we were in anillusion for years only to discover another truth that they have left usmore lonelier then ever with very minimal interaction with the natureand with our fellow beings. We had almost forgotten to use in balanceboth the "Man made" and "Natural" assets that we posses. Only offlate we have realized about the negative effects, how these luxuries oflife, how an imbalance use of these assets have in fact crippled us ininnumerable ways. There has been definitely increased mental stresswith very few or no one to share with, increased consumption ofcalories and fat with decreased or no physical activities at all,environmental pollution and many more. We have been exposed torapid alterations in life-style within a very short span of time due towhich there has been a chronic imbalance in both body and mind,thus having a direct effect on the physiology of mankind.

Perception of stress affects both body and mind. It leads torestlessness, irritability, aggressive behaviour, anxiety give birth tonegative emotions like hatred, dislike, jealousy, greed, possesiveness,lust, arrogance, anger and thus affects our interpersonal relationships,power of concentration and decrease our work output. Above all thesestress also leads to addiction to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, suicides.These reactions are due to release of chemicals from different cells ofour body whenever we are exposed to stress. Therefore exposure tochronic stress leads to irreversible physiological changes in our bodyresulting in diseased states like high blood pressure, diabetes, heartattacks, asthma, gastrointestinal ulcers, viral infections ,migraine etc.These life-style diseases are the outcomes of our wrong ways ofliving which can definitely be prevented and coruected ONLY IF WEWANT IT.

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Since centuries, many sages and rishis have recofltmended thepractice of yoga, meditation and pranayama to prevent or minimizeour reactions to stress. More recently, Sudarshan Kriya has beenintroduced by sadguru Sri Sri Ravishankarji.

These processes strengthen the parasympathetic tone, increase the thresholdof our responses to stress, and prepare our minds to be more receptivetoward the day-to-day stresses and react accordingly without muchrestlessness and thus we can prevent much of the damage to our body andmind.

ru"*R{_rDt-CTION

:"*,. -:-rmic Nervous System [ANS] is that part of the nervous

--:t r-r--rrtrols the visceral functions of the body.

The earlier concept that the ANIS cannot be

3: our will has changed .Now a days, it is seen that with the

-.:a.meditation and other relaxation techniques it can be

and the Sudarshan kriya is one such technique.

Sudarshan kriya [sanskrit :su :right, darshan :.-:.\ a means purifying action ] is a unique rhythrnical breathing

't:-

..., ent in to

: sllence ,

:hr-thmic

It was introduced by Sri Sri Ravishankar in 1982

a spell of silent meditation for 10 days.During this

the Sudarshan Kriya was revealed to him which is

breathing.

Sudarshan Kriya is a standardized technique of

-'s. -: -:e hour duration. It is advisable to practice regularly in the

- -- :: ' -+.30 to 5.30 am ] in a hall with good ventilation free from

: *:: : :s practiced usually in sitting posture fsukasana] on clean

-.!-€=-: -* ith eyes closed to cut off external stimuli so that one can

- -:::-::ate on himself or herself. It should be done in empty stomach.

- : ::'. ,sable to give a gap of t hour if a person habreakfast or a gap

' I ' -.lrs if a person had lunch.

"u*l tllcTIOli

, .-::>:rn Kriya is a rhythmical cyclical breathing. It consists of

-.:-;m . and fast cycles of breathing practiced for a total

,- -15 minutes without any relaxation inbetween.At the end ,

: -: - . :sked to remain in yoga nidra I tranquil state ] for about 10

,."::

Sudarshan Kriya is taught by a trained and certified

-"-::-: as a 20-22 hours programme and is typically five to six

,-. ..: t,.r'o and a half or three hours. Follwing the course , home

-:. :- ;onsists of : [1] 3 stage Ujjayi pranayama

[2] Bhastrika and

[3] Omkar meditation which is then followed by

> *iarshan Kriya

The three stage Ujjayi prarryama is performed in the

-'.i ing manner :

Posture - Bajrasana

Breath - Ujjayi fbreathing in and out via throat]

Count - breathin 1-2-3-4hold 1-2-3-4breathout 1-2-3-4-5-6hold 1- 2

The 1st stage consists of 8 -10 rounds. During this stage both the

rands should be at the waists such that a glass can be kept over the

T\TRODUCTION

:::sum of the hands.

lle 2nd stage also consists of 8 -10 rounds. During this stage , the

=ds should be kept under the arm pits with dorsum of the hands

-;.ng upwards.

The 3rd stage consists of 6-8 rounds. During this stage, the hands

=:iould be touching the shoulder blades.

.r between each of these stages , there's a relaxation period of 30

--econds.

Bhastrika : It is performed as follows :

Posture : Bajrasana

Breath : notmal forceful

Count : In - I ; In -2 ;In-3...........up to In -20

During bhastrika one should make a fist of both the hands and kept at

the level of the shoulder I the tips of the thumbs should touch both the

shouldersl.While breathing in the hands should be lifted up and the

i-rsts should be opened.While breathing out the hands are brought

down and make a fists.

After the bhastrika, a person should sit in

sukasana and chant Om three times.

The Omkar meditation is then followed by the

Sudarshan Kriya. During sudarshan kriya, a cassette is played by the

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6INTRODUCTION

teacherwherethereisGuruji,srecordedvoicegivinginstructionsto

participants to take the breath in and out at different rate and rhythrn'

This process continues for 35 minutes which is then followed by yoga

r-ridra (tranquil state) for about 10 minutes' Towards the end of the

yoganidra,theparticipantsaremadetorneditateforafewminutes.

oncetheyareawareoftheenvironment,theyareallowedtositup

and oPen their eYes'

Following the course' home practice

consistsof3stageujjayipranayama,bhastrikaandomkarmeditation,

which is then followed by the short sudarshan kriya' It is perfotmed as

follows: Posture : sukasana

Breath: normal

Cyclicalbreathingconsistsofslowcycles,mediurncycles,andfast

cyclesofbreathing_3roundsfor20-30rninutestornaintainthe

effects and benefits of Sudarshan Kriya'

The Art Of Living [AOL] basic course

comprisesoftheabovementionedpranayamasviz.,Ujjayipranayama

andbhastrikapranayama'omkarnreditationandthesudasrshan

Kriya.There should be Proper use of this

breathing technique, since improper or excessive use can lead to

harmfuloutcomes.Inadditiontothis,participantsmustusethe

appropriate conditions which are modified to f,rt pregnancy, Severe

INTRODUCTION

depression and other comorbid medical illnesses such as uncontrolled

hypertension, migraine headaches, severe chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease, acute asthma symptoms, fecent neck, shoulder or

chest injuries or recent major surgery or myocardial infarction.

Sudarshan Kriya is a unique rhythmical breathing process that

normalizes sympathetic nervous system activity and increases

parasympathetic system tone thereby affecting the cardio - respiratory

parameters.

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SUMMARY 95

In the present study, a comparison has been made benr.een Cardio-

respiratory parameters before and after 90 da1's of practicing

Sudarshan kriya. In this study, the historical background of the

Sudarshan Kriya, Cardiovascular System, Respiratov Sr-stem and the

Autonomic Nervous System have been reviewed. Relevant literarLrres

on the effects of Sudarshan Kriya on the cardio-respiratory parzuneiers

have also been reviewed and the study methods were noted.

The study has been undertaken in the Gauhati

Medical College and Hospital campus, Guwahati and other centres in

Guwahati where Sudarshan Kriya practices are conducted. The srudl-

was conducted during the period from July, 2008 to october,2009.

In the present study sample size of 150 u-a*s

considered. Only those cases were selected who were free from anr-

systemic diseases;and who have not been instructed the Sudarshan

Kriya technique earlier but interested in learning and practicine the

same regularly. Proforma was distributed among the participants and a

preliminary examination of the subjects was carried out before the

instruction of the Sudarshan Kriya by noting the bloodpressure. pulse

rate, heart rate, respiratory rate, forced vital capacity and forced

expiratory volume in the first second. These cardio-respiratory

parameters obtained before the practice of Sudarshan Kril'a u-ere then

compared with the cardio-respiratory parameters recorded after 90

days of practicing Sudarshan Kriya regularly.

SUMMARY

Statistical analysis has been done by calculating different ,statistic,,

say mean, standard deviation etc. and the comparison between theparameters before and after sudarshan Kriya was made by apprying t_test to detetrnine the p-value. Statistically significant results have beenobtained from the study (p<0.05).

It has been seen in this stucly thatthe Sudarshan Kriya definitely effects the cardio-respiratoryparameters. Alr the participants who were incruded in the presentstudy were normal hearthy individuars. Ail the cardio_respiratoryparameters considered in this study were within normal rimitsdependi'g upon the age, sex, height and posture of the incrividualsbefore the practice of the Sudarshan Kriya. It needs mention that ailaverage blood pressure readings were greater in subjects of older agegroups compared to the younger ones. They also showed a slightdecrease in the FVC and FEVI before the practice of the sudarshanKriya compared to the younger individuals.

This study has reveared statisticalrvsignificant difference in the parameters before and after 90 days ofpractice of sudarshan Kriya. Statistically significant decrease in Heartrate, Pulse rate, Diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate has beenseen i9n this study. Though statisticalry insignificant, there has been aslight reduction in the Systolic blood pressure also. The study has alsorevealed a statistically significant increase in the forced vital capacity

96

SUMMARY

and forced expiratory volume in the first second after 90 days ofpractice of Sudarshan Kriya.

The asthrnatic and the hyper-tensivepatients who were not included in the present study but whoseparameters were also recorded before and after the sudarshan Kriyashowed significant changes in the various cardio-respiratoryparameters especially the blood pressure, forced vital capacity and theforced expiratory volume in the first second. In the asthmaticindividuals, there has been significant increase in the forced vitalcapacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second and adecrease in the respiratory rate. In case of the hyperlensive subjects,the levels of antihypertensive rnedication were rnaintained withoutchange throughout the experiment. In these individuals there has beengood control of the blood pressure within high normal revels with theantihypertensive medication and the sudarshan Kriya which otherwiseshowed a increase before the Kriya even though these participantswere under the same antihypertensive medication.

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