Introduction: Yoga is beneficial for mental, physical stress and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Due to long and hectic working hours, nursing officers experience stress and NCDs. Awareness of yoga helps adopt yoga practice and healthy lifestyle. Our objective was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and beliefs regarding yoga and examine their association with its practice among nursing officers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of an intervention study on in-service nursing officers employed at workplace for at least 1 year. Those who were under treatment for any psychiatric disorder and any condition preventing practice yoga were excluded. After taking informed written consent, a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Data were extracted in Microsoft Excel and analyzed by statistical software STATA V12. Results: A total of 105 participants completed the questionnaire, 78% were female, and the mean age was 33 years. Majority (79.0%) of them were aware of yoga as a way of healthy life and beneficial practice. A proportion of ever practiced participants were 53.3% and currently practicing were 12.4%. The level of knowledge, attitude, and belief score was positively correlated among themselves. The belief score had a significant association with current practice of yoga (odds ratio of 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–2.7, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude, and belief were higher among most of the participants though the level of practice was low. The score of knowledge, attitude, and belief was higher among those who had a history of either current or past practice. Belief score was significantly associated with current yoga practice. A larger study is recommended at workplace setting with further exploration.
This scoping review aimed to explore and summarize the published evidence on yoga as an adjunctive intervention to standard rehabilitative care for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five databases – PubMed/MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest Health and Medicine Collection, Web of Science Core Collection, and CINAHL – using the terms “Duchenne muscular dystrophy” (or DMD) and “yoga.” Studies were included if they (1) were published between January 2000 and December 2024; (2) involved participants with DMD; (3) examined yoga as an intervention; (4) were peer-reviewed; and (5) were published in English. We used a standardized data extraction form to capture study characteristics, including authorship, publication year, sample size, participant demographics, intervention details, outcome measures, and main results. We assessed study quality with the Modified Downs and Black Checklist (MDBC). Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Five were rated as having fair quality (MDBC score: 15–17/28), and one was rated as having poor quality (MDBC score: 3/28). Yoga interventions incorporated asanas (postures), dhyana (meditation), and pranayama (breathing practices). Outcome measures varied widely, encompassing mobility, self-care, comfort, heart rate variability, respiratory function, quality of life, and functional performance. Modest improvements were noted in pulmonary function and self-reported well-being; however, evidence remains limited and inconsistent. Current literature provides preliminary support for yoga as a complementary therapy in DMD rehabilitation. More rigorous, large-scale trials are needed to establish their efficacy and clinical relevance.
Background:Surya Namaskar (SN) is a popular yogic practice consisting of a sequence of 12 postures. The rationale of this sequence is, however, not fully known. Limited studies have investigated the posture-wise physiological changes across the SN sequence considering varying paces. Objectives:This study aims to quantify the posture-to-posture cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during fast SN (FSN) and slow SN (SSN) and describe the dynamics of change in physiological parameters across the sequence through a regression model. Materials and Methods:In this self-as-control comparative study, twenty healthy males (age: 25.44 ± 5.02 years) were selected and randomly assigned to perform FSN and SSN. Cardiometabolic parameters were continuously recorded using a Polar H10 heart rate monitor and metabolic gas analyzer. Results:Within-condition dynamics showed SSN elicited significantly lower heart rate (HR) (P < 0.01), oxygen consumption (VO2) (P < 0.001), minute ventilation (VE) (P < 0.01), reduced Fat% utilization (P < 0.01), and a higher respiratory quotient (RQ) (P < 0.001) in most of the postures than FSN. HR was found stable with the changes in SN pace, whereas other cardiometabolic parameters exhibited greater variability. The regression model demonstrated that the change in postures plays a major role in modulating VO2 and VE responses, whereas HR, RQ, and Fat% dynamics showed lesser sensitivity with posture change. Conclusions:Posture-by-posture dynamics of acute cardiometabolic responses revealed distinct physiological rhythms, which could be a potential pointer to further investigations on the rationale of the sequence. Yoga practitioners and instructors can judiciously use the results to tailor SN sessions to achieve specific goals and preferences.
Sūrya-namaskāra, the widely practiced yogic sequence of 12 āsanas, is conventionally recognized for its musculoskeletal and cardiovascular benefits. This paper presents a conceptual hypothesis that the traditional sequence may encode an ancient internal practice known as Vāta-sāra, involving the deliberate ingestion of air into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Based on anatomical, physiological, and experiential observations, we reinterpret Kākī-mudrā as a technique that facilitates controlled air entry into the stomach. Preliminary demonstrations, including auscultation and radiographic imaging, suggest a measurable increase in gastric air volume following this maneuver, indicating its physiological plausibility. This conceptual framework explores potential mechanisms through which GI air might influence hormonal regulation – notably ghrelin suppression and glucagon-like peptide-1 stimulation – and proposes possible antimicrobial implications against pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori and Entamoeba histolytica. These observations are intended to stimulate further scientific inquiry rather than to serve as controlled experimental proof.
