Effects of yogic practice in certain cardio respiratory parameters on overweight postmenopausal women

Objectives: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of yogic practice in some cardiovascular and respiratory parameters of overweight females after menopause. Background: Non pharmacological management of cardiorespiratory efficiency on overweight postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m 2 and < 30 kg/m 2 ) females after menopause (age 53.7 ± 1.04, Mean ± SEM) were participated in a 03 weeks of yoga program for 06 days a week for 1 hour daily. Blood pressure and heart rate was recorded using Omron BP monitor. Rate pressure product and double product was measured using standard formula. Respiratory rate and breath – hold time was recorded using standard protocol. Paired ttest was performed to find out any significant different between the data collected before and after yogic practice. Results: A significant decrement was noted in body weight (p<0.01) and body mass index (p<0.05) following yogic practice. Systolic (p< 0.001) and mean (p< 0.01) blood pressure was decreased significantly after yogic practice. RPP an index of myocardial oxygen consumption and double product an index of load on the heart was decreased significantly (p<0.001) following yogic practice. Resting heart rate and Respiratory rate was decreased significantly (p<0.001) following yogic practice. Breath-hold time was increased significantly (p<0.001) following yogic practice. Conclusions: This particular yogic package when practiced 03 weeks 06 days a week for 01 hour daily is beneficial for cardiovascular improvements of overweight females after menopause. In addition to that same package is also beneficial for the improvement of respiratory rate and breath – hold time. Apart from that, study is limited within a small no of subjects without any control group, which remains to be studied.