International Conference on Enhancing Skills in Physical Education and Sport Science 2020

ISBN 978-1-913482-91-6, Editon:1st

Published by: Rubicon Publications, London, WCIA 2RP, England

Effect of Yogic Exercises on Breath-holding Capacity of

Undergraduate Male Students
Jasbir Singh
Assistant Professor, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to find out the effect of selected yogic exercises on breath-holding capacity of
undergraduate male students. To achieve this purpose, a total of sixty (n = 60) undergraduate male students were
selected. All subjects were healthy having no physical ailment and their age ranged from 18 to 22 years. The
selected subjects were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group I served as the experimental group (EG)
(n = 30) and Group II was treated a control group (CG) (n = 30). The dependent variables selected for this study
positive breath-holding time and negative breath-holding time (NBHT) were measured at baseline and after
6 weeks of training protocol. Random group pre-test and post-test design was used as an experimental design.
The collected data were statistically analyzed using Student’s t-test. The result showed a significant (P < 0.01)
improvement in both positive and NBHT of the EG and there was no significant change which was recorded in
the CG on positive and NBHT. It concludes that even 6-week yogic exercises are effective enough to enhance
breath-holding capacity of undergraduate male subjects.

Keywords: Breath-holding capacity, Negative breath-holding time, Positive breath-holding time, Yogic exercises.

1. INTRODUCTION with meditation or yoga, for its spiritual and perceived

Yoga is a psychosomatic spiritual discipline for achieving
union and harmony between our mind, body, and soul and
the ultimate union of our individual consciousness with
the Universal consciousness (Madanmohan et al., 2008).
From ancient times, people are doing yoga without
knowing its significance in health. In the modern
era, due to the poor lifestyle and the environmental
pollution, the respiratory health status of the people has
been decreased. Especially in case of students there are
so many health issues are reported, cardiorespiratory
disorders are one of the major health issues among
them (Singh and Galay, 2020). The air we breathe is our
passport to life. We can live a few days without water,
several days without food, but the moment oxygen is
taken away from us, our physical bodies immediately
begin to pass away. It, therefore, stands to reason that
not only is breathing the most essential element of
life but also that breathing correctly will enhance the
overall quality of your life (Shaw, 2004). The act of
controlling one’s breath for the purpose of restoring or
enhancing one’s health has been practiced for thousands
of years among Eastern cultures. For example, yogic
breathing (pranayama) is a well-known ancient practice
of controlled breathing, often performed in conjunction
health-enhancing effects (Brown and Gerbarg, 2005).
The beneficial effects of different yogic exercises are
well-reported and have a sound scientific basis (Lakhera
et al., 1984; Joshi and Gokhale, 1992). Many studies
show that yoga benefits many aspects of respiratory
health. In the present scenario, Yoga has become both
physical activity and spiritual practice. Yogic practice
is a key to good health (Gopal et al., 1973; Gupta and
Sawane, 2012); hence, yogic exercises are important
for improving the physical and physiological health of
everyone (Udupa et al., 1975). Yoga is a mind-body
activity that involves moving through a series of body
poses and breathing exercises that can improve strength,
flexibility, balance, and lung functioning. Therefore,
this study is designed to scrutinize the effect of yogic
exercises on positive breath-holding time (PBHT) and
negative breath-holding time (NBHT) of undergraduate
male students.
2. METHODOLOGY
To achieve this purpose, a total of sixty (n = 60)
undergraduate male students were purposively selected
as subjects. All subjects were fit and healthy; their age

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 International Conference on Enhancing Skills in Physical Education and Sport Science 2020
ISBN 978-1-913482-91-6, Editon:1st
Published by: Rubicon Publications, London, WCIA 2RP, England

ranged from 18 to 22 years. The selected subjects were 2.2. Statistical Analysis
randomly assigned into two groups: Experimental group
Statistical analyses were performed using the statistical
(EG) and control group (CG). Subjects of the EG (n = 30)
package for the social sciences 23.0 version. Data are
practiced yogic exercises for 6 weeks and subjects of CG
expressed as the mean and standard deviation (SD). A
(n = 30) were not allowed to participate in any special
dependent t-test was utilized to compare the means of
yogic exercises except their routine. The dependent
the pre- and post-test. The level of significance was set
variable selected for this study, breath-holding capacity,
at 0.01 level of significance.
was recorded through PBHT and NBHT with the help
of nostril clip method. All the subjects were tested at
baseline (pre-test) and after 6 weeks of yogic exercises. 3. RESULTS
Random group pre-test and post-test design was used as
an experimental design. Both groups were recorded for The analysis of the dependent t-test on the data obtained
PBHT and NBHT at baseline and after the 6 weeks of from the experimental and CG for PBHT and NBHT is
the training period. analyzed and presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

Table 1 shows the result of the comparison of PBHT

2.1. Training Protocol
The subjects in the EG participated in the yogic
exercise training program for 6 days in a week except
Sunday for 6 weeks. The yogic exercises period was
approximately 50 min, including warming up and
cool down exercises. The package of exercises such as
Surya Namaskar, asanas (trikonasana, sarvangasana,
ustrasana, setubandha, janusirsasana, padottanasana,
paschimottanasana, viparitakarani, and savasana),
pranayama (anulom vilom, nadi shodhana, ujjayi,
agnisara, sheetali, sheetkari, bhastrika, kapalbhati, and
bhramari pranayama), meditation, and mantra chanting
were given in the morning session between 6:30 am and
7:30 am. More emphasis of the yogic session was given
on the pranayama.
among experimental and CG undergraduate male
students. The mean of 30 pre- and post-test of EG
undergraduate male students is 52.9 and 65.03 with
SD of 14.19 and 14.57, respectively. Further, t-value
is 3.27, mean and SD of PBHT on the other sample,
i.e., 30 pre- and post-test of the CG undergraduate male
students are 41.48, 42.89, 7.51, and 8.0, respectively.
Further, t-value of CG is 0.7.
P-value of both groups reveals that there is a significant
difference between the pre- and post-test mean scores
of EG on PBHT as the obtained P = 0.000 is <0.01.
Whereas in the case of CG the obtained P = 0.242 is
>0.01 level. Thus, it is concluded that due to the effect of
6 weeks of yogic exercises, the PBHT of EG increased

Table 1: Comparison of positive breath-holding time among experimental and control group undergraduate male
students
Group n Test Mean Standard deviation Standard error of the mean t-value P-value
Experimental group 30 Pre-test 52.9 14.19 2.59 3.27 0.000*
Post-test 65.03 14.57 2.66
Control group 30 Pre-test 41.48 7.51 1.37 0.7 0.242
Post-test 42.89 8.0 1.46
*Significant at 0.01 level (P<0.01)

Table 2: Comparison of negative breath-holding time among experimental and control group undergraduate male
students
Group n Test Mean Standard deviation Standard error of the mean t-value P-value
Experimental group 30 Pre-test 41.37 10.56 1.93 4.6 0.000*
Post-test 53.89 10.51 1.92
Control group 30 Pre-test 43.89 9.74 1.78 0.97 0.168
Post-test 46.51 11.18 2.04
*Significant at 0.01 level (P<0.01)

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 International Conference on Enhancing Skills in Physical Education and Sport Science 2020
ISBN 978-1-913482-91-6, Editon:1st
Published by: Rubicon Publications, London, WCIA 2RP, England

significantly. The pre-test and post-test mean scores of 4. CONCLUSIONS

the EG and CG for PBHT are graphically presented in
Figure 1. In summary, the present work manifests an overriding
endeavor to explore the effects of yogic exercises on
Table 2 shows the result of the comparison of NBHT breath-holding capacity of undergraduate male students.
among experimental and CG undergraduate male The result showed a significant (P < 0.01) improvement
students. The mean of 30 pre- and post-test of EG in positive and NBHT of the EG, whereas there was
undergraduate male students is 41.37 and 53.89 with no significant change which was recorded in the CG
SD of 10.56 and 10.51, respectively. Further, t-value on positive and NBHT. It concludes that even 6-week
is 4.6, mean and SD of NBHT on the other sample, yogic exercises are effective enough to enhance the
i.e., 30 pre- and post-test of the CG undergraduate male breath-holding capacity of undergraduate male students.
students are 43.89, 46.51, 9.74, and 11.18, respectively. The daily practice of yogic exercises may help to improve
Further, t-value of CG is 0.97. respiratory health; thus, yogic exercises should be a part
of the lifestyle of the undergraduate male students.
P-value of both groups reveals that there is a significant
difference between the pre- and post-test mean scores of
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