. CHAPTER II ' . REVIEW OF RELATED LITWTURE 2.1 Physical Fitness and Yoglc Exercises Extensive studies regarding exercise science, different exercise programmes and their developmental, hygienic, therapeutic an-^ other values, uses of big muscle activity and sports culture are available in research journals. But comparatively few studies are reported regarding Yogic exercises. Vijayendra Ppatap has taken a review of the scientific literature on Yoga which includes comparative studies not supported by experimental viorks and studies based on experimental works. Scientific interest support­ ed by experimental studies in this field seems to have been started in 1924 with the foundation of Kaivalyadhama by Swami Kuvalayananda. His works occupy a very import­ ant and unique position among all the scientific works in Yoga done so far in India or else\*Aiere, These are Vijayendra Pratap, "Scientific Studies on Yoga - A Review,” Yoga Mimamsa. 13:4:1-18, (1971). 38 2 reported in the journal Yoga Mimamsa. It was he who first brought home the impoT'tance and utility of the Yogic exercises for a common man in maintaining his health and physical fitness with his rational expla­ nation about these exercises based on scientific facts. Later other wrkers were attracted by this tox’:ards different Yogic practices and according to their vary­ ing interest they studied the effect of such practices on the different systems of the body. For example, Therese Brosse,^ Bagchi and Wenger et al.,^ Anand et 5 al., using electrophysiological techniques studied 2 Swami Kuvalayananda (ed.)» Yoga Mimamsa, Vol. 1; 1-310, (1924-25) 5 2:1-320, (1926) ; 3:1-320, (1928); 4:1-338, (1930-33); 5:1-18, (1934); 8:1-323, (1956); 7:1-2084-85, (1957-58). 3 There se Brosse, ’’Contribution to the Experimental study of Altruism,” In: P.A.Sorokin (Ed.) Forms and Techniques of^Altrulstic and Spiritual Growth, (Boston: The "beacon Press, 1964), pp. 189-282. "^.K.Bagchi and M.A.Wenger, '‘Electrophysiological correlates of; some Yogic exercises,*' In: SBG Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy, (London: Pergamon Press, 1959), pp.132-149. ^.K,Anand, G.S.Ghhina and B.Singh, "Some aspects of electroencephalographic studies in Yogis, Blectro- enceph. Clin. Weurophysiol., 13:452-56, (196l5~i 39 electrical activity of the brain during yogic meditation. V/enger 'and Bagchi"^ studied autonomic nervous system activity among yogic practitioners. Attempts to study individual yogic practices have been done by some workers. Kuvalayananda and 7 8 Karambelkar, ’ studied pressure changes in IJddiyana and Nauli and found marked negative pressures created in the oesophagus and th? stom.ach, Bhole and 9 Karambelkar shoved similar pressure changes occuring in different cavities including stomach, bladder and colon during the practice of Uddiyana and Nauli. The gastric and thoracic -pressure changes "were recorded in A.Wenger and B.K.Bagchi, "Studies of autonomic functions in practitioners of Yoga in India, Behav. Sci.. 5:312-323, (1951). '^Sv;ami Kuvalayananda and P.V.Karambelkar, “Studies in internal and external pressure changes in Uddiyana,'* Yoga-Mimamsa,. 5:203-208, (1953), ®-------------------------------- "StMies in internal and external pressure changes in Madhya (central), Dakshina (right), and Wama (left) Naulis," Yoga-Mimamsa, 6:273-295, (1957). ^^.V.Bhole and P.V.Karambslkar, "Press’ire changes in internal cavities during Uddiyana and Nauli," Yoga- Mimamsa. 13:14:19-25, (19i?l) . 40 Agnisara by Kuvalayananda and Ksrambelkar.Vary high negative pressures (start ~ 115 mni. Hg,, and nisintenance -55 mm, Hg.) -'/jere obtained in th2 stomach during the outward push of the abdomen. During inward push it vjas near about to normal resting. Intra~thoracic pressure in outward push was marked by positive and during inward push it was near atmospheric. The results also correlat­ ed with the skiagrams taken. Kuvalayananda and Kararabalkar^^ reported that the practice of Bhastrika Pranayama for 45 minutes did not show any increase in the urinary acidity. In another study by Kuvalayananda 12 13 and Karambelkar ’ a comparison of alveolar CO2 at the end of t^/TO and five-minutes of Kapalabhati type of breathing on the one hand, and of normal breathing on the Swami Kuvalayantinda and P,Y.Karambelkar, "Kymographic and X-ray studies 0^ pressure changes in Agnisara'*, Yoga-Mimamsa, 7: 157-167, (1957), ^ ^ ^ ,'‘Experiment s on Pranayama - Bhastrika Pranayama,” '*Yoga-Mimamsa, 6:9-20, (1956). ^ ,’’Studies in alveolar air in Kapalabhati, "Yoga-Mimamsa, 7:18- 25, (1 9 5 7 ). 13 ,"Studies in alveolar air in Kapalobhati - Part II, " Yoga-Mimamsa, 7:89-94, (1957). Tf) 3373 41 other showed the concentration to ba not different, investigated metabolic, cardiovascular and respiratory responses to head-stand posture (3hir shasana), It was shov/n that the mean VC was largest (4.00 t 0.40 litres)^' \*iil9 erect, smallest (3.63 t o. 13 litres) in the head-down position, and intermediate (3.78t 0,29 litres) in the recumbent posture. The results of IC and ERV in general followed the principles governing the pressure - volume relations of the respiratory system. He also studied Yoga-type of breathing for its oxygen cost.^’^ Datay et al.^® found Shavasana - A Yoga .Hao. ’’Metabolic cost of head-stand posture,” J,APPl*P‘^ysiol., 17: 117-118, (1932), 15 ■ — ^''Cardiovascular responses to head-stand posture," y.Appl.Physiol., 18:987-990, (1963), 16 ‘ - ----- ? "Respiratory responses to hea:’-stand posture," J.Appl.Physiol., 24:697-399, (1938), 17 ______ /"Oxygen consumption during Yoga-type breathing at altitudes of 520 m. and 3,800 m.," Ind. J.Med.Re s., 56:701-705, (1968), .K.Datey et al., "Shavasana - a Yogic exercise in the management of hypertension," Angiology, 20:325* 333, (1969), --------- 42 relaxation method to be of great utility in the manage- 19 ment of hypertension. Tulpule et al. studied >!’ogic exercises in the management of Ischaemic Heart Disease and found that they help the patients of late and recent myocardial infarcts in early ambulation, quicker rehabilitation am? possibly reduce the chances of other 20 complications. Gharote in a pilot study suggested the favourable effect of the Yogic exercise in air swallow­ ing on the reduction o'^:' gastric acidity. In another 21 study Gharote reported significantly lower energy 22 expendituj-e during deep meditation. Wallace also obtained similar results with Transcendental Meditation, T.H.Tulpule, Shantilal J.Shah, H.M.Shah and H.K. Havelivala, "Yogic exercises in the management of Ischaemic Heart Disease," Indian Heart Journal. 23:4t 259-264, (1973). Gharote, “Effect of air swallowing on the gastric acidity, - A pilot study," Yoga-Mimamsa. 14j 1 & 2:7-10, (1971). 21 __________ ;"Enargy expanditure during deep meditative state," Yoga-Mimamsa. 14: 1 & 2:57-32, (1971). 22 R.K.Wallace, "Ph^/siological effects of Transcend­ ental Meditation," Science. 137: 1751-1754, (1970). 43 23 Vijayendra Pratap compared the response level using heart rate, respiration, palmer conductance, and the movement in erect sitting posture (Yogic condition) and reclining posture (non-Yogic condition). He reported the response level to be lower and the movement lesser in the Yogic condition than in the non-Yogic condition, 24 Bhole and Karambelkar have presented to interesting record of heart control through employing some Yogic practices. Intragastric pressure changes were studied in 25 Asanas by Bhole and Karambelkar. It was reported that in asanas like Shirshasana, Sarvangasana, Hatsyasana, Halasana, Ardha-Shalabhasana, Vakrasana and Yoga Mudra, positive (higher than atmospheric) pressures of a small magnitude of 6 to 20 mm. Hg, were developed in the stomach. In Bhujangasana, Ardha-Matsyendrasana, Chakrasana, the positive pressures developed upto 50 mm, Hg,, \rtiile those in Dhanurasana, Shalabhasana, Naukasana and Mayurasana ^ijayendra Pratap, "Difference in magnitude of response in Yogic and non-Yogic conditions - a synopsis of an experimental study, *' Ypga-Mlmaasa. 12*2*9-18, (1969). 2%^VrBhole, and P.V,Karambelkar, "Heart control and Yoga practices," Yoga»Miaamsa. 13*4*53-65, (1971)* 25---------------------------------- ulntragastric pressure changes in Asanas," Yoga-Mimansa. 13*4*67-73, (1971), 44 were as high as 60 to 100 mm. Hg. These data are useful in preparing training schodule of asanas where pressure manipulations are to be taken as the guiding principle. An electro-m3'‘ographic study of selected asanas was 26 undertaken by Karambelkar et al. and it was shorn how proper instructions along the traditional lines help one to relax various muscles even during the performance of 27 PR asanas Investigated. Karambelkar et al. have shown that yogic practices tend to reduce the uropepsin exeretion which is indicative of reduced corticoid production and consequently of a state of reduced stress and tensions. The curative aspect of Yoga exercises has been 29 very ^^;ell brought forward by Kuvalayananda and Vinekar, Karambelkar et al., "Muscle activity in some asanas," Yoea-Mlmamsa. 12:1; 1-13, (1969). 27 --------------- ------ j "Uropepsin excretion as influenced by some Yogic practices," Yoga-Hlmamsa. llj 1: 1-6, (19683. 28 ---------------------- ^"Uropepsin excretion as influenced by some yogic practices (Part II)," Yoga- Mimamsa, 11:3:9-14, (1969). ^%wami Kuvalayananda and S.L.Vinekar, Yogic Therapy - Its Basic Principles and Methods. (New Delhi: Central Health Education Bureau, Directorate General of Health Services, "Unistry of Health, Government of ■^ndia, 1963), pp.96. 45 Utility of the Yogic exercises in the treatment of various disorders like asthma, obesity and diabetes 30,31,32,33,34,35,36 has been discussed by others. ’’’’’’ In spite of these attempts to study different Yogic exercises individually and their utility in the treatment of certain disorders,' limited research has been carried out to study the effects of the selected routine of Yogic exercises on the improvement of physical fitness. Considerable amount of w r k in this regard is being done in the Scientific Research Department of the Kaivalyadhama 3®M.V .Bhole and P.V.Karsunbelkar, '’Effect of Yogic treatment on blood picture in asthma Patients, ”Yoga Mimamsa.