Pushkarmuni Abhinandan Granth

Author(s): Devendramuni, A D Batra, Shreechand Surana
Publisher: Rajasthankesari Adhyatmayogi Upadhyay Shree Pushkar Muni Abhinandan Granth Prakashan Samiti

Page 1145

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श्री पुष्करमुनि अभिनन्दन ग्रन्थ : नवम खण्ड
the psychological and spiritual benefits fully from the Asanas, which otherwise may become mere physical exercises. Subjects' capacity to relax is also generally improved in an overall way.
Bhole studied the effect of turning the head to one side on the relative transparency of the two sides of the lungs with X-ray fluoroscopy in the Radiology section of Kaivalyadhama. It was seen that the ventilation is more on the side to which the head is turned. This explains one of the benefits accruing from practices like Brahmamudrā, Vakrāsana etc., and could be used therapeutically in certain lung conditions.
Gharote and associates in Physical Education Research Wing of Kaivalyadhama have reported the following results observed in groups of subjects trained in Asanas, some Pränayamas, a few Kriyās, Mudrās and Bandhas :
(1) Significant improvement in the Cardiovascular efficiency.
(2) Improvement in various flexibility measures viz., forward flexion, backward extension, extent flexibility and dynamic flexibility, while no change was found in shoulder and ankle flexibilities.
(3) Physical Fitness Index Scores as measured by Fleishman Battery of Basic Fitness tests showed a significant increase in both males and females.
(4) Improvement of the tone of the abdominal muscles, which is very poor in most people and for which other systems of physical training have no exercising techniques as good as yoga.
(5) Vital capacity and Breath-holding time were significantly increased.
V. Pratap, H. C. Kochar and associates from the Psychological Section of the Kaivalyadhama have noted the following effects of yogic training and practice of the similar type :
(i) Handsteadiness scores showed a marked improvement, which is indicative of physical as well as mental steadiness claimed by Yoga through practice of Āsanas and Prānāyāmas.
(ii) Autonomic balance measured by A score method of Wenger showed generally a shift towards parasympathetic side. But the subjects having either sympathetic or parasympathetic extremes came into normal range of scores and those within the normal range also showed a betterment as their scores usually shifted towards the standard mean as a result of Yoga practice even of a few weeks.
(iii) Free Association test examinations showed a reduction in Free Associations of thoughts, indicative of increased relief from emotional conflicts as a result of Yoga practice.
(iv) Leg persistence, which serves to measure emotional stability, was found to have increased even after one month yoga practice.
(v) Railwalking tests indicating body control and balancing ability evidencing neuromuscular co-ordination level also showed improvement after yogic training,
(vi) Scheier and Cattell Neuroticism Questionnaire tests proved that a month's yoga practice reduces neurotic tendencies markedly as a result of resolution of emotional conflicts.
(vii) Studies employing Questionnaire tests viz., N.S.Q., A.S.Q., H.D.H.Q. were made on groups practising yoga for varying periods. Significant reduction in Total Neuroticism, Anxiety and Hostility was seen with demonstration of better emotional equilibrium.
(viii) Memory drum test was given (1) to a group of adult, males and females and (2) to a group of schoolboys before and after a programme of three weeks of yoga practices. Both groups showed significant improvement in immediate memory after even such short yoga course.
(ix) Tests for production of mental fatigue were given to see the effect of Ujjayi Prāņāyāma practice on this. The Prānāyāma delayed significantly the onset of mental fatigue.
The above running-survey of work done in Kaivalyadhāma Laboratories shows that the objective is to elucidate the psycho-physiological principles behind the Yoga practices, rather