Immediate effect of ujjayi pranayama on cardioautonomic variables among young healthy volunteers a randomized cross over study

Tobe healthy, maintaining equilibrium between the internal and external environmentsis essential and the process is  known ashomeostasis. The body’s physiologically active systems, including theneurological, digestive, and cardiovascular systems, are all involved inmaintaining homeostasis. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is crucial inregulating the body’s internal environment in response to changes in theenvironment outside.

There is growing evidence that physiological andpsychological stress disrupts autonomic balance and prolonged autonomicimbalance is associated with a wide range of somatic and mental diseases. Such autonomic imbalance is reflected inmeasures of heart rate variability (HRV), which have been positively associatedwith aerobic fitness, resilience to stress, and psychological and physiologicalflexibility and negatively associated with cardiovascular disease, stress,neuronal atrophy, negative affective states, and maladaptive stress responses.

Yogahas an impact on cardiovascular autonomic regulation. They regulate the heartrate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the ANS. Slow pranayama and yogarelaxation raise parasympathetic activity while lowering sympathetic activity.By balancing the sympathovagal stress response properly, these techniquesimprove cardiovascular health.

In the traditional text, Hatha yoga PradeepikaUjjayi pranayama is recommended for insomnia and mental tension. The simpleform, without retention, is in the yogic management of heart disease. Ujjayiresistance breathing, a breathing practice taught by the yogic tradition,reduces airflow, and during expiration it increases the intrathoracic pressuredue to a slight contraction of the glottis muscles, potentially resulting inintensified vagal activity.

To assess the immediate effect of Ujjayi pranayama onCardio Autonomic variables among healthy young volunteers.