Abstract
The novelty of this study was to investigate the changes in cardiorespiratory and metabolic intensity brought about by the practice of pranayamas (breathing exercises of yoga) and meditation during the same hatha-yoga session. The technique applied was the one advocated by the hatha-yoga system. Nine yoga instructors—five females and four males, mean age of 44 ± 11, 6, were subjected to analysis of the gases expired during three distinct periods of 30 min: rest, respiratory exercises and meditative practice. A metabolic open circuit computerized system was applied (VO2000, MedGraphics—USA). The oxygen uptake (VO2) and the carbon dioxide output (VCO2) were statistically different (P ≤ 0.05) during meditation and pranayama practices when compared with rest. The heart rate also suffered relevant reductions when results at rest were compared with those during meditation. A smaller proportion of lipids was metabolized during meditation practice compared with rest. The results suggest that the meditation used in this study reduces the metabolic rate whereas the specific pranayama technique in this study increases it when compared with the rest state.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arambula, P., Peper, E., Kawakami, M., & Gibney, K. H. (2001). The physiological correlates of kundalini yoga meditation: A study of a yoga master. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 26, 147–153.
Benson, H., Malhotra, M. S., Goldman, R. F., Jacobs, G. D., & Hopkins J. (1990). Three case reports of the metabolic and electroencephalographic changes during advanced Buddhist meditation techniques. Behavioral Medicine, 16, 90–95.
Dusek, J. A., Chang, B. H., Zaki, J., Lazar, S. W., Deykin, A., Stefano, G. B., et al. (2005). Association between oxygen consumption and nitric oxide production during the relaxation response. Medical Science Monitor, 12, 1–10.
Frostell, C., Pande, J. N., & Hedenstierna, G. (1983). Effects of high-frequency breathing on pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange. Journal of Applied Physiology, 55(6), 1854–1861.
Infante, J. R., Torres-Avisbal, M., & Pinel, P. (2001). Catecholamine levels in practitioners of the transcendental meditation technique. Physiology & Behavior, 72, 141–146.
Iyengar, B. K. S. (2005). Light on Prãnãyãma: The yogic art of breathing. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company.
Jerath, R., Edry, J. W., Barnes, V. A., & Jerath, V. (2006). Physiology of long pranayamic breathing: Neural respiratory elements may provide a mechanism that explains how slow deep breathing shifts the autonomic nervous system. Medical Hypotheses, 67(3), 566–571.
Jevning, R., Anand, R., Biedebach, M., & Fernando, G. (1992). The physiology of meditation: A review. A wakeful hypometabolic integrated response. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 16, 415–424.
Lutz, A., Greischar, L. L., Rawlings, N. B., Ricard, M., & Davidson, R. J. (2004). Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 101, 16369–16373.
MacLean, C. R. K., Walton, K. G., Wenneberg, S. R., Levitsky, D. K., Mandarino, J. V., Waziri, R., et al. (1997). Effects of the transcendental meditation program on adaptive mechanisms: Changes in hormone levels and responses to stress after four months of practice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 22(4), 277–295.
Miyamura, M., Nishimura, K., Ishida, K., Katayama, K., Shimaoka, M., & Hiruta, S. (2002). Is man able to breathe once a minute for an hour? The effects of yoga respiration on blood gases. The Japanese Journal of Physiology, 52, 3131–3316.
Peng, C. K., Henry, I. C., Mietus, J. E., Hausdorff, J., Khalsa, G., Benson, H., et al. (2004). Heart rate dynamics during three forms of meditation. International Journal of Cardiology, 95, 19–27.
Solberg, E. E., Ekeberg, O., Holen, A., Ingjer, F., Sandvik, L., Standal, P. A., et al. (2004). Hemodynamic changes during long meditation. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 29(3), 213–221.
Spicuzza, L., Gabutti, A., Porta, C., Montano, N., & Bernardi, L. (2000). Yoga and chemoreflex response to hypoxia and hypercapnia. Lancet, 356, 1495–1496.
Telles, S., & Desiraju, T. (1991). Oxygen consumption during pranayamic type of very slow-rate breathing. The Indian Journal of Medical Research, 94, 357–363.
Udupa, K. N., Singh, R. H., & Settiwar, R. M. (1975). Studies on the effect of some yogic breathing exercises (pranayams) in normal persons. The Indian Journal of Medical Research, 63(8), 1062–1065.
Wallace, R. K. (1970). Physiological effects of transcendental meditation. Science, 167, 1751–1754.
Wallace, R. K., Benson, H., & Wilson, A. F. (1971). A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state. The American Journal of Physiology, 2213, 795–759.
Wolkove, N., Kreisman, H., Darragh, D., Cohen, C., & Frank, H. (1984). Effect of transcendental meditation on breathing and respiratory control. Journal of Applied Physiology, 56, 607–612.
Woods, J. H, (1927). The yoga-system of Patanjali: Or the ancient Hindu of concentration of mind. 2ª Edição: The Harvard University Press, p 381.
Young, J. D. E., & Taylor, E. (1998). Meditation as a voluntary hypometabolic state of biological estivation. News in Physiological Sciences, 13, 149–153.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Danucalov, M.Á.D., Simões, R.S., Kozasa, E.H. et al. Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Changes during Yoga Sessions: The Effects of Respiratory Exercises and Meditation Practices. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 33, 77–81 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-008-9053-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-008-9053-2