IAHRW International Journal of Social Sciences © 2020 Indian Association of Health, Research and Welfare

Review, 2020, 8(7-9), 333-335 ISSN-2347-3797, NAAS Rating 2.72

https://iahrw.org/our-services/journals/indian-journal-of-health-wellbeing/

Impact of Ujjayi Pranayama on anxiety

Nishtha Dwivedi1 and Sachin Kumar Dwivedi2
School of Education, Oriental University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh1
and Department of Psychology, LNCPS, Indore, Madhya Pradesh2

A pre-post research design has been used to explore the effect of Ujjayi Pranayama on Anxiety. Total 60 participants
were chosen through accidental sampling from Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidhyalaya, Gayatrikunj, Haridwar. Sinha's
Comprehensive Anxiety test (SCAT) was used to obtain the scores on anxiety. 15 Minutes of Ujjayi Pranayama was
given to the participants for 45 days on daily bases in the evening. t-test has been used to verify the hypothesis
.Results indicates that Ujjayi Pranayama reduces the level of anxiety.

Keywords: ujjayi pranayama, anxiety, intervention

Anxiety is an emotional encounter of discomfort and distorted
cognition toward future life typically summed up and unfocused as
an eruption to a circumstance that is just abstractly observed as
threatening. Anxiety isn't comparable to fear, which is a response to a
certifiable or saw brief peril; uneasiness incorporates the desire for
future danger. Individuals confronting anxiety may pull back from
circumstances which have incited anxiety previously. Rynn and
Brawman (2004) found in his research that Anxiety can be
experienced with long, drawn-out daily symptoms that reduce the
quality of life, known as chronic (or generalized) anxiety, or it can be
experienced in short spurts with sporadic, stressful panic attacks,
known as acute anxiety. Famous American Psychologist Barlow
defines anxiety as “"a future-oriented mood state in which one is not
ready or prepared to attempt to cope with upcoming negative
events," and Susan (2011) referenced that it is a distinction between
future and present dangers which divides anxiety and fear. Another
description of anxiety is agony, dread, terror, or even apprehension.
Anxiety considered as negative emotions that make troublesome an
individual's life.
The impact of Anxiety can be found in the conduct (Behaviour),
enthusiastic (Emotions) and psychological piece of a person (Mental
Health), which hampers his life. Anxiety can be seen with extreme
blue that can build self-hurting behaviour. Anxiety is essentially
characterized as the gap among from time to time conditions. There
are N numbers of manifestations of Anxiety yet most regular is
hyperventilation (quick breathing), fast pulse and shaking or muscle
jerking that is the reason the treatment of anxiety incorporates the act
of breathing and muscles relaxation preparing. Such sort of
component functions as counter molding in the administration of
anxiety.
Author Note
1
Nishtha Dwivedi, M.Ed Student
School of Education, Oriental University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
2
Dr. Sachin Kumar Dwivedi, Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology, LNCPS, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
E-mail: drsachindwivedi@gmail.com
We have no known conflict of interest to disclose
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Nishtha Dwivedi, M.Ed Student
School of Education, Oriental University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
E-mail: nishthadwivedi777@gmail.com
The literature of review in the relevant area indicates that
indigenous psychotherapy such as Yogic intervention (Asana,
Pranayama & Meditation) has been found an effective management
tool for management of anxiety. Stukin (2009) and Gupta (2002)
found that Ujjayi Pranayama is one of the techniques of Indigenous
Psychotherapy, which is use in the management of anxiety and
related conditions. Indeed all types of Pranayama found to be
effective in management of anxiety. Ujjayi Pranayama is driven
from a Sanskrit Word “Ujjayi” which signifies “to vanquish” or “to
be successful.” The other name of Ujjayi Pranayama is Sea Breath or
Murmuring Breath. Ujjayi is supposed to be like the breathing of
another conceived infant before the Praná (Life) starts to stream out
into the world's attractions. Ujjayi is a diaphragmatic breath, which
first fills the lower stomach (said to initiate the first & second
chakras), ascends to the lower rib confine (said to compare to the
third and fourth chakras), lastly moves into the upper chest and
throat. This procedure is made by moving the glottis as air goes in
and out. As the throat section is limited thus, as well, is the aviation
route, the entry of air through which makes a "surging" sound. The
length and speed of the breath is constrained by the stomach, the
reinforcing of which is, to some extent, the reason for Ujjayi. The
inward breaths and exhalations are equivalent in term, and are
controlled in a way that makes no misery the practitioner. The
regular practice of Ujjayi Pranayama decreases the level of ACTH,
i.e., reduce stress. According to Iyenger (2000), “The Science behind
the mechanism for the management of anxiety is that regular practice
of Ujjayi Pranayama activates the parasympathetic nervous system
that makes practitioner relaxed and calm”. Ujjayi is not calm nervous
system but also relaxing the muscles also. This mechanism regulates
our blood pressure that enhances attention and concentration reported
by (Pederson, 2005).
The act of yoga ought to be investigated as a treatment for messes
with low GABA levels, for example, melancholy and anxiety
disorders mentioned by Streeter et al. (2007) but systematic studies
are not done in this field so it cannot be said that Ujjayi Pranayama is
reducing the level of anxiety or it is not effective management option
for the treatment of anxiety and related medical and psychological
condition. Hence present topic was selected to investigate the effect
of Ujjayi Pranayama on Anxiety.
Objective of the study
To evaluate the effect of Ujjayi Pranayama on Anxiety.