by Dr. Shetty
A Research was conducted in 2008 by The International Board of Yoga
entitled 'Stress Management through Yoga or Mothers of Students
appearing for Competitive Examination.' The study was conducted at an
Educational Institution of Upnagar Shikshan Mandal. The aim of the
study was to show how Yoga intervention group can manage stress better
than the non interventional group. The study was based on the concept
of 'Bhavas'.
Method
All the study mothers were randomized with the help of random number
chart to one of the study groups to receive Yoga Therapy or without Yoga
as per schedule.
A special case record form (CRF) was designed to record the demographic
profile, clinical details, results of investigations and treatment
related data. Investigators or Scientific Officer assessed all these
informations at baseline and followed up 3 and 6 months for evaluation
of efficacy.
Analysis
The collected data was tabulated, compared and analyzed statistically
using appropriate tests of statistical significance.
Results and Discussion
Demographic Profile of the population under study
In all, 108 cases, 60 in the Study Group and 48 in the Placebo group
completed the study. The mothers or guardian in both the groups were in
the age range of around 35 to 50 years with their mean age 40.75 years
in Study and 30.07 years in Placebo. Mean weight and height of the
study cases were comparable. Both the groups were comparable as there
was not statistically significant difference between the two groups on
the demographic parameters, or other demographical profile like
Educational status.
Occupation of study population, mother tongue, habits, family type,
previous yoga knowledge was comparable in both the groups and difference
was not statistically significant.
Efficacy Assessment
As evident from results a statistically significant improvement in the
nutritional parameters – weight, waist circumference, HIP / waist ratio,
total calories, carbohydrates, proteins and fats observed in study group
but in placebo change was minimal and in comparison change was
significantly more among Study mothers than Placebo. No statistically
significant among laboratory investigations and in systolic or diastolic
blood pressures were observed at baseline.
But in laboratory investigations like Lipid profile that is Total
Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, VLDL and LDL / HDL ratio had significant change
in study group as compared to placebo; only TGL did not show any change
in both the groups.
Important efficacy variable that is salivary cortisol were comparable at
baseline in both the groups, after therapy salivary cortisol levels had
significant fall of 29.1% in study and only 4.8% among placebo by
comparison fall were significantly more (p=0.05) in study than placebo
group.
It is evident from other efficacy observations mentioned in protocol
that is anxiety rating scale, proactive coping inventory, self esteem
score and WHO well being index score had significant change at the end
of six months therapy in study group and improvement was significantly
very high as compared to change in placebo group.
Conclusion
From the above-mentioned results, it may be concluded that participation
in a structured planned yoga class can lead to significant reduction in
perceived levels of anxiety, proactive coping inventory levels, self
esteem and WHO well being index in women whose child was either studying
10th or 12th class.
Recommendations
Based on the result of this research we have following recommendations:
Determining precisely the different types of problems like, anxiety,
self esteem, well being and their sources.
Performing further more details with covering good population from
different schools with the aim of determining impact of yoga on all
problems.
Article from the Yoga & Total Health Magazine of August 2010
