INFLUENCE OF ADVANCE YOGA PRACTICE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS - A STUDY ON ADOLESCENT SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN

Abstract

Background Any effect on the mind can directly effect the body, as both the body and mind are interrelated to each other, with this insight the process can be reversed as well, that is any impact on body can also have the effect on the mind. Through yoga, one can indirectly gain the mastery over the mind by controlling the gross aspect, that is the physical body. Asana helps to gain the mastery over the physical body, advance asana can have even more impact. The cognition and Self Regulation (one ability to regulate the self) are the integral part of mind. The advance asana can play an important role to indirectly gain mastery over these two aspect. Methods and materials The measured Cognitive Flexibility and Self Regulation of adolescent school going individuals practicing advance asana and participating in Yoga competition was compared with that of control subjects who did not practice yoga. RESULT The Cognitive Flexibility and Self Regulation of the advance asana practitioner was significantly greater than that of the non-asana group, having high effect size for both variable, Also there was the significant correlation between both the variable. CONCLUSION This study shows that there is a significant increase in Cognitive Flexibility and Self Regulation in asana practice group compared to non asana practice group, with the relation established between two variable as increase cognitive flexibility leads to increase in the self regulation and Vice-versa. Hence practice of Advance asana not just help in increasing bodily flexibility but also the flexibility of the cognition and ability of self regulation.