High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748 EFFECT OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF YOGA PRACTICES ON BODY MASS INDEX AND STRESS AMONG MIDDLE AGED OBESE WOMEN Dr. S. Chidambara Raja1, and Mr. J. K. Sampath2 1Professor, Department of Physical Education 2Ph.D. Research Scholar, School of Yoga Studies, Annamalai University, Chidambaram. ABSTRACT Purpose of the study: The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of different methods of yoga practice on body mass index and stress among middle aged obese women. Materials and Methods: 45 middle aged obese women were selected with BMI > 27.5 kg/m2, and the age of the subjects was ranged from 43 to 50 years. They were divided into three equal groups, each group consisted of 15 subjects, in which experimental group - I underwent Bihar School of yoga practice, experimental group - II underwent B.K.S. Iyengar yoga practice and group - III acted as control that did not participate in any special activities or training. The period for the study was six days (Monday to Saturday) for twelve weeks. Prior and after the experimental period, the subjects were tested on BMI and stress. BMI was assessed by applying the Quetelet et al formula. Stress was tested by administering the Giordano and Everly Stress Scale. Statistical Tool: The Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to find out any significant difference between the experimental and control groups on selected variables. The Scheffé S test was applied as post-hoc test whenever the ‘F’ ratio of the adjusted post-test means were found to be significant. Results: The result of the study shows that Bihar School of Yoga practice and B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga practice were decreased the BMI and stress significantly. Conclusions: It was concluded that Bihar School of Yoga practice and B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga practice has bring positive changes in BMI and stress as compare to the control group and it was also found that there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups in BMI and stress. Key words: Bihar School of Yoga and B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga, body mass index, stress, ANCOVA and Scheffé S test. INTRODUCTION Like men in India during Vedic period2, the Indian women also enjoyed their equivalent status1 in all aspects. This statement was also supported by primeval Indian grammarians such as Patanjali (father of Yoga) and Katyayana, that women were enrolled themselves in different educational institutions, like Gurukhula like men.3,4 They selected their life partners at mature age at this period, in a practice called Swyamvaram or Gandharva marriage.5 They (Dampathi – husband and wife) shared their daily duties and even women were also joined the army and rules their territories. Later the condition of Indian females during the medieval period, was deteriorated.6,7 The Jauhar and purdah system were introduced during this period by Rajputs and Muslim rulers. Sati, devadasi and nari pooja were also introduced during the period. During British rule, the survival of woman was improved by demolishing the devadasi and sati systems. At present in India, women were participating wholly in the field of politics, education, sports, art and culture, Indian civil services, etc., and they suffered more health Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 375 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748 problem than men like psychological distress and medical problems, which leads to lower morale.8 Rapid growth in economic, has seen swift alteration in dietary prototype towards energy rich foods along with increased urbanization and also associated with sedentary lifestyle which leads to overweight and obesity in India.28 Indian women affects by the cardiovascular diseases more than men9 and 26.3% women in urban area were overweight than men.10 Cardio-vascular disease which leads the obesity, also a major risk factor and Indian Heart Association alarming the awareness about this issue.11 in India the research on overweight (obesity), have shown that overweight and obesity are major disease in women in urban areas.12-14 In Tamilnadu, the women stood fourth on obesity in overall India.15,16 Middle class families income is raising in this region now a days, which results in increasing average caloric intake and above income helps to buy the latest households which increases BMI.17 A study shows that there was a higher chances of arthritis, hypertension and shortness of breath among obese (with high WHR) women.18 The middle aged women, i.e. 35 years and above, were establish that five times are further probable to be fattier and they were more risky by twelve times to be obese than women of 15-24 years.19 Practice of Yoga will definitely decrease the level of obesity, but the particular yogic technique should be taught and are more effective for reducing the weight.20 Several studies supports that yoga has decreased the anxiety and depression symptoms as well as obesity without altering the diet.21,22,23 Yogic exercises are an ancient system which gives, superior body structure, personality development, spirit and mind in the world.24 It is an exercise for mental and moral cultivation which gives better and good health (arogya), helps to lengthier life (chirayu), and the internal discipline, which improves the perennial and positive peace and happiness.25 Patanjali, in his book “Yoga Sutra”, teaches how to collated, coordinated and systematized way of doing yoga and also divided it by 185 terse aphorisms.26 In olden and contemporary India, various types of yoga are practiced, such as, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Laya Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Integral Yoga, Sahaja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and so on. But Hatha yoga includes practices of pranayama, asana and kriya. Hatha yoga practices which ease the mind, improved the immunity power, increases the flexibility, tones the spine, releases the tension, strengthens the body, and helps the cravings.27 The researchers in India have identified that most of the women are having high level of stress. 25% of women in United States were died due to the heart diseases,48,49,50 but in India 87% of women felt on stress at almost all the times and even 82% of stressed women did not have sufficient time to relax.51 The women homemakers are higher stress of 37% and anxiety 40% than occupational women in India.52 The psychological benefits, like stress relief, sense of well-being, and sake of religion, like good relationship with God and spirit, or feeling of superiority and some poses in yoga will be done at anywhere and sometimes the program me may be last long for hours, according the individual’s schedule.53 The impact of diabetes, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory disorders and stress, hyper and hypotension, depression, and other various diseases were treated with yoga practice. Latest research results exhibits that the yoga practice along with pranayama and meditation on health, establish the improvement in all aspects of the functioning such as, brain, hormonal, sleep, mood and balance, etc. Many supportive researches shown that the yoga, prayanama and meditation treated the diabetes, obesity, hyperthyroidism, problems associated with respiration, oxidative and mental stress.28 Volume 26, Issue 8, 2020 376 http://www.gjstx-e.cn/ High Technology Letters ISSN NO : 1006-6748 Bihar School of Yoga (Swami Satyananda Saraswati) is a kind of school of yoga which amalgamates the brain power, passion and action: the heart, head and hands. Satyananda Yoga known as Bihar Yoga (the School lies in Bihar in India), embraces have different philosophies which also encourages yogis to improve their well being and improve gradually about their awareness on health. Satyananda Yoga is considered truly holistic and suitable for everyone.29 B.K.S. Iyengar developed the Iyengar Yoga, is the concept of Hatha Yoga, that has an importance on detail, accuracy and arrangement in the recital of posture (asana) and breath control (pranayama).30 Several research studies31-33 supports significant reduction in BMI and stress after the yoga practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study was to find out the impact of different methods of yoga practices on BMI (BMI) and stress among middle aged women. STUDY PARTICIPANTS Forty five middle aged obese women with BMI > 27.5 kg/m2, residing around Annamalainagar, Chidambaram Taluk, Cuddalore district, Tamilnadu were selected as subjects. The age of the subjects were ranged from 40 to 45 years. The selected subjects were divided into three equal groups, each group consisted of fifteen subjects, in which group - I (n = 15) underwent Bihar School of Yoga practice, experimental group - II (n = 15) underwent B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga practice and group - III (n = 15) acted as control, which did not participate in any special activities apart from their regular curricular activities. Different methods of yoga practices were conducted six days (Monday to Saturday) per week for twelve weeks. The experimental group underwent their respective programmes by 5 am to 7 am under the guidance of well-trained yoga instructors for the period of twelve weeks. The attendance of the participants was taken at each yoga practice sessions and both the yoga practice group attendance were 99% and 98% respectively. The different yoga practice schedule was given below: Table – I: Yoga Practice Schedule Bihar School of Yoga Practice Weeks Name of the Asanas (Maintaining Duration in minutes : Recovery) 1 – 4 Suryanamaskar (10 Min : 5 Min), Vajrasana (1 : 1), Pawanmuktasana (1 : 1), Gomukasana (1 : 1) - All 2 repetitions, Shavasana (2 min), Pranayama –Bhramari (1 min), Meditation – Omkar. (2 min) 5 – 8 Suryanamaskar (10 Min : 5 Min), Vajrasana (1 : 1), Pawanmuktasana (1 : 1), Gomukasana (1 : 1), Ardhamatyendrasana (30 sec : 30 sec), Paschimotsasana (30 sec : 30 sec), Bhujangasana (1 min : 1 min) - All 2 repetitions, Shavasana (2 min), Pranayama – Basthikara (1 min), Meditation – Omkar.