Oxygen Consumption during Three Yoga-type Breathing Patterns.

MILES, WALTER R. Oxygen consumption during three yoga-type breathing patterns. J. Appl. Physiol. Ig(r): 75-82. Ig64.Short periods of conscious control of the rate and depth of breathing as a health-promoting exercise has claimed wide human interest. In India, yoga cults based in part on persevering efforts to achieve physiological control of bodily functions have included systems for the control of respiration. Such breathing patterns have a long history, but have received little scientific attention. This paper reports a large series of repeated yoga respiration tests, graphically recorded under laboratory conditions by an Indian man who served as subject. The study was made by means of basal metabolism technique, employing the Krogh recording spirometer. All three of the yoga breathing patterns examined, when individually continued for 20 min or more and compared with previous relaxed quiet breathing, were found to demand an increased oxygen consumption of a mere 12-357~ above basal need. The relaxed breathing that immediately followed a yoga pattern gave little or no indication that the subject had been exerting himself. There is some indication that such respiratory training may have elements in common with adaptation to high altitude and may serve to fortify an individual against the early onset of hypoxia in emergencies concerned with oxygen supply.