The Influence of Kapalabhati on Working Memory and Phasic Heart Rate Variability.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive communication abilities, such as working memory (WM), are vital for accomplishing daily activities and are also important for higher-order processes such as planning and problem-solving. The current study investigates the simultaneous effect of kapalabhati (KBH) on WM and phasic heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Twenty participants who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, with an average age of 23.65±3.07 years (mean±SD), were recruited for the study. Prior to data collection, the participants underwent a seven-day orientation to maintain uniformity in KBH practice. EKGs were assessed using a 16-channel polygraph system arranged in a standard limb lead II configuration. WM was assessed using E-Prime version 2.0 (Psychology Software Tools, Sharpsburg, PA, USA). RESULTS: There was a significant increase in accuracy after the immediate KBH practice in all three conditions of the WM task (i.e., n-back task: 0-back, 1-back, and 2-back). However, there was also an increase in reaction time. Repeated measures ANOVA of HRV measures showed statistically significant changes in mean rhythm-to-rhythm (RR) intervals, heart rate (HR), number of adjacent N-N intervals over 50 milliseconds (NN50), percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals greater than 50 milliseconds (pNN50 RR), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF), with HR, NN50, pNN50, LF, and HF all significant at p<0.001 and the LF/HF ratio significant at the p<0.01 level. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study suggest that KBH practice can modulate vagal tone or parasympathetic activity and improve WM performance. Furthermore, the parasympathetic shift found in the present study may promote better cardioprotective health and longevity.

Wearable Device for Yogic Breathing with Real-Time Heart Rate and Posture Monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Yogic breathing also called as "Pranayama" is practiced with inhalation (Pooraka), holding the breath for some time (Kumbhaka) and then exhalation (Rechaka). The effective methods of yogic breathing keep oneself healthy and also improves immunity power. The yogic breathing can be practiced irrespective of one's age and gender and even in the office which helps to reduce the stress. To get the best results through yoga, a person has to follow certain timings and sit in a correct posture. Although many devices are existing in the market to monitor heart rate, posture and breathing during physical activity, there is a need of a device which is simple, cheap, and easy to use without an additional requirement of a smartphone. Moreover, the proposed device is able to evaluate the breathing data by transmitting it to a webpage through a Wi-Fi hotspot of the Microcontroller. METHODS: The developed device has two subsystems: (i) A wrist subsystem to measure the heart rate, visual aid of breathing and vibration feedback for kapalabhati. (ii) A waist subsystem to monitor the posture with help of flex sensor and the results are displayed on the display of the wrist device. It also provides vibration feedback. The inertial measurement unit is used for breath detection. The subsystems are communicated through SPI communication. The breathing data are transmitted to a webpage through a Wi-Fi hotspot of the microcontroller. RESULTS: The various yogic breathing and normal breathing exercises are tested on different normal subjects using the developed device and analyzed. The heart rate and beats per minute are evaluated. The heart rate sensor is validated using a standard medical device and it is observed that there was a 97.4% accuracy. CONCLUSION: The results show that the device is able to accurately monitor different kinds of breathing and additionally provide heart rate and posture information while performing the breathing exercises.

Protective Role of Moolabandha While Practicing Bhastrika and Kapalabhati by Women Vulnerable to Bladder Dysfunction: A Preliminary Ultrasound Study.

AIM: Obstetrical trauma and chronic exposure to increased intraabdominal pressure (IIAP) are known to increase vulnerability toward stress urinary incontinence. Bhastrika and Kapalabhati being fast yogic breathing maneuvers (FYBM), their association with IIAP is likely. Therefore, a preliminary descriptive study was conducted using transabominal ultrasound mode, to find whether impact of FYBM reinforced by prevailing risk factors had any adverse effect on the bladder neck status and urethral mobility of female yogic practioners and whether simultaneous application of Moolabandha inhibited such impact. MATERIAL: Mindray DC N3 model of diagnostic ultrasound unit with M probe was used for assessment. METHODS: This study included 15 heterogenous female yoga teachers having average age, years of practice, and body mass index as 42.7 years, 7.33 years, and 24.86 kg/m2, respectively. Retrovesical angle (RVA) and posterior displacement (PD) and inferior displacement (ID) of urthetrhra were assessed while performing Bhastrika and Kapalabhati maneuvers with and without applying Moolabandha. Data obtained were then used for descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Analysis showed a mixed picture, i.e., negative impact as well as preservation of protective strain-levator reflex in certain variables while practicing FYBM. Complicated labor and practice of power yoga appeared to reinforce the impact of FYBM. The values of RVA as well as PD and ID dropped and were statistically significant when FYBM was performed with Moolabandha. Aging factor, uneventful vaginal labor, or obesity could not confirm as prevailing risk factors. CONCLUSION: Moolbandha proved its protective behavior while practicing Bhastrika and Kapalabhati by vulnerable women.

Yoga: Can it be integrated with treatment of neuropathic pain?

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a debilitating condition that may result from spinal cord injury (SCI). Nearly 75% of all SCI results in NP affecting 17,000 new individuals in the United States every year, and an estimated 7-10% of people worldwide. It is caused by damaged or dysfunctional nerve fibers sending aberrant signals to pain centers in the central nervous system causing severe pain that affects daily life and routine. The mechanisms underlying NP are not fully understood, making treatment difficult. Identification of specific molecular pathways that are involved in pain syndromes and finding effective treatments has become a major priority in current SCI research. Yoga has therapeutic applications may prove beneficial in treating subjects suffering chronically with SCI induced NP, chronic back and associated pains if necessary experimental data is generated. SUMMARY: This review aims to discuss the implications of various mechanistic approaches of yoga which can be tested by new study designs around various nociceptive molecules including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cation-dependent chloride transporter (NKCC1) etc in SCI induced NP patients. KEY MESSAGES: Thus, yogic practices could be used in managing SCI induced NP pain by regulating the action of various mechanisms and its associated molecules. Modern prescriptive treatment strategies combined with alternative approaches like yoga should be used in rehabilitation centers and clinics in order to ameliorate chronic NP. We recommend practical considerations of careful yoga practice as part of an integrative medicine approach for NP associated with SCI.

Kapalabhati pranayama: An answer to modern day polycystic ovarian syndrome and coexisting metabolic syndrome?

Breath, the vital force of life, is controlled positively by pranayama to ensure homeostasis and wellbeing in humans. Kapalabhati is the rapid breathing technique of pranayama, which is considered as a cure for various ailments. The possible use of this technique to combat metabolic syndrome (MS) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been discussed in this article. Various published literature from PubMed, Scopus, and theses were reviewed to reinforce the hypothesis that this technique is the answer to ailments due to modernization. It was worthwhile to note that Kapalabhati does combat various features of MS, but its efficacy against PCOS is yet to be proven. However, since both syndromes arise due to a common factor hyperinsulinemia primarily induced by stress in this modern world, it is hypothesized that Kapalabhati holds good against PCOS too. Hence, in conclusion, it can be said that it would be beneficial to conduct a study on PCOS women to ascertain the efficacy of Kapalabhati in their population.

Frontal hemodynamic responses to high frequency yoga breathing in schizophrenia: a functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Frontal hemodynamic responses to high frequency yoga breathing technique, Kapalabhati (KB), were compared between patients of schizophrenia (n = 18; 14 males, 4 females) and age, gender, and education matched healthy subjects (n = 18; 14 males, 4 females) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The diagnosis was confirmed by a psychiatrist using DSM-IV. All patients except one received atypical antipsychotics (one was on typical). They had obtained a stabilized state as evidenced by a steady unchanged medication from their psychiatrist for the past 3 months or longer. They learned KB, among other yoga procedures, in a yoga retreat. KB was practiced at the rate of 120 times/min for 1 min. Healthy subjects who were freshly learning yoga too were taught KB. Both the groups had no previous exposure to KB practice and the training was carried out over 2 weeks. A chest pressure transducer was used to monitor the frequency and intensity of the practice objectively. The frontal hemodynamic response in terms of the oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyHb), deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb), and total hemoglobin (totalHb) or blood volume concentration was tapped for 5 min before, 1 min during, and for 5 min after KB. This was obtained in a quiet room using a 16-channel functional near-infrared system (FNIR100-ACK-W, BIOPAC Systems, Inc., USA). The average of the eight channels for each side (right and left frontals) was obtained for the three sessions. The changes in the levels of oxyHb, deoxyHb, and blood volume for the three sessions were compared between the two groups using independent samples t-test. Within group comparison showed that the increase in bilateral oxyHb and totalHb from the baseline was highly significant in healthy controls during KB (right oxyHb, p = 0.00; left oxyHb, p = 0.00 and right totalHb, p = 0.01; left totalHb, p = 0.00), whereas schizophrenia patients did not show any significant changes in the same on both the sides. On the other hand, schizophrenia patients showed significant reduction in deoxyHb in the right pre-frontal cortex (right deoxyHb, p = 0.00). Comparison between the groups showed that schizophrenia patients have reduced bilateral pre-frontal activation (right oxyHb, p = 0.01; left oxyHb, p = 0.03 and right total Hb, p = 0.03; left total Hb, p = 0.04) during KB as compared to healthy controls. This hypo-frontality of schizophrenia patients in response to KB may be used clinically to support the diagnosis of schizophrenia in future.

Effect of kapalabhati on performance of six-letter cancellation and digit letter substitution task in adults.

BACKGROUND: Attention and concentration are valuable skills for all fields of human activity. Training to improve these skills is described in ancient hatha yoga texts. AIMS: To study the effect of 1-min Kapalabhati (KB1) and 5-min Kapalabhati (KB5) practice of the Yoga rapid breathing exercise, Kapalabhati (KB), on psychomotor performance, as measured by the six-letter cancellation task (SLCT) and digit-letter substitution task (DLST). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six subjects, 21 male (mean age 25.71 years, SD 2.10), 15 female (mean age 24.13 years, SD 2.23) participated in the study. All were participating in a 3-month pranayama training program, part of residential degree courses at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Yoga University. The subjects were divided into two groups, and assessed on the SLCT and DLST, immediately before and after KB on two successive days. The first group did KB1 on day 1, and KB5 on day 2. For the second group, the order was reversed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences on SLCT and DLST on Total and Net Scores between sessions for the same group, and between groups for the same session i.e. the effects of KB1 and KB5 were not distinguishable. However, both groups made more errors on DLST after the interventions, 525% after KB1 and 562.5% after KB5, P < 0.018 and P < 0.041, respectively (Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test). In contrast, scores on SLCT remained completely unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Both KB1 and KB5 found no change on both SLCT and DLST. But, this kind of breathing practices leads to increases error score.