Effect of 6-week Anulom-Vilom Pranayama and Bhastrika Pranayama Yoga Training Intervention on Respiratory Parameters among High School Students of Punjab
Keywords:
Anulom, Vilom, Pranayama, Bhastrika Pranayama, Pulmonary Functions, Vital CapacityAbstract
Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effect of 6-week Anulom-Vilom and Bhastrika Pranayama practices on selected respiratory parameters among school students in rural Punjab.
Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design was employed. A total of 20 healthy male students aged 13–16 years from Wheat Field School, Punjab, were randomly selected as participants. The intervention consisted of 6 weeks of structured pranayama training. Respiratory parameters, including vital capacity (VC), expiratory VC (EVC), and expiratory reserve volume (ERV), were measured using the Minispir Portable USB Spirometer. Data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad online software.
Results: Post-intervention analysis revealed a statistically significant improvement in pulmonary function parameters. Anulom-Vilom Pranayama practice produced marked increases in VC (3.28 > 2.26) and EVC (2.37 > 2.26), while Bhastrika Pranayama showed a positive effect on ERV (2.60 > 2.26).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that regular Pranayama practice, specifically Anulom-Vilom and Bhastrika, significantly enhances pulmonary function among adolescents, and thus be recommended as a preventive and promotive health strategy to improve lung efficiency and reduce the risk of future respiratory disorders.
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