Cardiorespiratory and metabolic changes during Yoga sessions: the effects of respiratory exercises and meditation practices

Date
2008-06-01Author
Dias Danucalov, Marcello Arias [UNIFESP]
Simoes, Roberto Serafim [UNIFESP]
Kozasa, Elisa Harumi [UNIFESP]
Leite, Jose Roberto [UNIFESP]
Type
ArtigoISSN
1090-0586Is part of
Applied Psychophysiology and BiofeedbackDOI
10.1007/s10484-008-9053-2Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The novelty of this study was to investigate the changes in cardiorespiratory and metabolic intensity brought about by the practice of pranayamas (breathing exercises of yoga) and meditation during the same hatha-yoga session. the technique applied was the one advocated by the hatha-yoga system. Nine yoga instructors-five females and four males, mean age of 44 +/- 11, 6, were subjected to analysis of the gases expired during three distinct periods of 30 min: rest, respiratory exercises and meditative practice. A metabolic open circuit computerized system was applied (VO2000, MedGraphics-USA). the oxygen uptake (VO(2)) and the carbon dioxide output (VCO(2)) were statistically different (P <= 0.05) during meditation and pranayama practices when compared with rest. the heart rate also suffered relevant reductions when results at rest were compared with those during meditation. A smaller proportion of lipids was metabolized during meditation practice compared with rest. the results suggest that the meditation used in this study reduces the metabolic rate whereas the specific pranayama technique in this study increases it when compared with the rest state.
Citation
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. New York: Springer/plenum Publishers, v. 33, n. 2, p. 77-81, 2008.Keywords
yogameditation
respiratory exercises
metabolism
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