Effect of Different Pranayamas on Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) is the differential change of Heart Rate (HR) in response to inspiration and expiration. This is a noninvasive sensitive index of parasympathetic cardiac control.
This interdisciplinary collaborative study at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondichery by Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Prof Jeneth Berlin Raj, Dr Meena Ramanathan, and Prof Madanmohan Trakroo aimed to evaluate changes in RSA by utilizing a simple and cost-effective analysis of electrocardiographic (ECG) tracings obtained during performance of four pranayama techniques.
Fifty two trained volunteers performed the following pranayamas with different ratios for inspiration and expiration: sukha (1:1), traditional (1:2), pranava (1:3) and savitri (2:1:2:1) and ECG was recorded while performing the techniques with rest period of 5 minutes in-between.
Four yogic breathing techniques (pranayama) utilizing different ratios for inspiration and expiration were selected and as the subjects were already receiving biweekly yoga training, they were well conversant with them. The following breathing techniques detailed by Swami Gitananda Giri were used in the present study:
Breathing in for a count of four followed by breathing out for a count of four (1:1 ratio) as done in sukha pranayama,
Breathing in for a count of four followed by breathing out for a count of eight (1:2 ratio) in traditional pranayama pattern,
Breathing in for a count of four followed by breathing out for a count of twelve (1:3 ratio) while making the audible sound of aaa-uuu-mmm as done in pranava pranayama, and
Savitri pranayama was performed by breathing in for a count of four holding in for count of two, breathing out for a count of four and holding out for count of two (with a ratio of 2:1:2:1).
HR was calculated and maximum HR during inspiration (Imax), minimum HR during expiration (Emin), differences between Imax and Emin (Δ), percentage differences between Imax and Emin (Δ%) and expiration: inspiration ratio (E:I) calculated by respective formulae.
Statistical analysis was carried out using repeated measures of ANOVA with Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test.
The analysis indicated there were significant differences between groups in all five aspects namely: p= 0.0093 for mean Imax, p = 0.0009 for mean Emin, and p < 0.0001 for Δ HR (I-E), Δ% HR (I-E) and E:I ratio.
Pranava pranayama produced the greatest changes in all five comparisons.
This study gives evidence that pranayamas performed with differing ratios of inspiration and expiration produce differential effects on HR and RSA that may be attributed to enhanced vagal activity due to conscious changes in higher centers that override the lower respiratory centre in the brain stem.
The authors suggested that further short and long term studies be undertaken with pranava pranayama in patients to further qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate inherent mechanisms of this simple technique.
They also suggested that, the addition of such cost-effective techniques to the medical armory will help patients of rhythm disorders and other cardiovascular conditions to manage their condition more effectively.
The full paper can be accessed on Pubmed at
