Impact of Suryanamaskar Training on Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Cognitive Functions among Medical Students

A great deal of stress is experienced by medical students, causing the medical community to pay attention to yoga practices. Suryanamaskar is a yoga practice composed of dynamic muscular movements that are synchronized with an in-depth rhythmic breathing process and considered the best all-around exercise. To determine the effect of Suryanamaskar practice on cardiovascular, respiratory, and cognitive performances among medical students.

A total of 85 first-year medical students (50 males and 35 females) were entered the study voluntarily and received 60-minute training sessions on Suryanamaskar for 6 days weekly for 3 months. Cardiovascular-respiratory parameters and cognitive functions were assessed. Resting blood pressure, pulse rate, vital capacity (ml), maximum ventilatory volume (MVV) (l/min), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), maximal oxygen consumption in l/min/kg body weight, and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised for cognitive function testing were recorded at the baseline and after 12 weeks of Suryanamaskar training. Data were analyzed statistically in SPSS software, and the significance was checked by the student's paired t-test. The significance level was considered < 0.005.

After 12 weeks of regular Suryanamaskar practice, a significant decrease was found in resting pulse rate and blood pressure and an increase in vital capacity (ml), MVV (l/min), PEFR, and cognitive functions in both male and female participants.

Based on the results, after 3 months of Suryanamaskar training, it had a significant effect on the improvement of cardiovascular, respiratory, and cognitive functions among medical students.