Effect of Yogic Practices on Alpha Brain Waves and Adjustment Neuroticism on University Students By: Shreedhar Acharya

Abstract

Background: The Yoga practices including Asana, Pranayama, Mudra-Bandha and Meditation are now widely used to treat and protect from various diseases around the world. The Yoga has significant effect on physical, vital, mental, intellectual and spiritual dimension of human life. These facts have been proved by various modern and old researches carried out since it was pioneered by Swami Kuvalayananda in 1924. The effect of Yogic practices on relaxation (especially release of alpha waves by brain) and ability to adjust easily in surrounding around are profound. But this kind of research on collective effect of Yoga on Alpha waves and adjustment neuroticism is very rare. So, we have focused on Yogic effect on these two parameters among University students doing 6 months course in this research.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to assess the effect of Yogic practices like Asana, Pranayama, Mudra-Bandha and Meditation on mental ability to relax itself through generation of Alpha waves and to adjust effectively to its environment with emotional stability.

Research Methodology: The certificate students of Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (DSVV) (N₁=20, N₂=13) participated in this single group pre-post study. The Alpha waves measurement of 20 students and feedback of 15 students were collected within a span of 1 month using Alpha EEG Biofeedback Machine and questionnaire of Adjustment Neuroticism respectively.

Sample and Sampling: This research was carried out using Accidental Sampling where we randomly assigned subjects as per their availability.

Research Design: This research was formulated using single group pre-test and post-test module.

Tools: Two major tools were used for the study. One of them is Alpha EEG Biofeedback. It is the process of monitoring and displaying to an individual the ongoing Alpha EEG activity generated by the brain developed by Hans Berger of Germany in 1929. Another tool used for the test is questionnaire based Adjustment Neuroticism developed by Dr. Ram Narayan Singh and Dr. Mahesh Bhargava. It measures the mental ability of an individual to adjust proficiently in the environment around him/her.

Procedure: The Yogic intervention in the study was Yogic package of 1 hour and 15 minutes including Asana, Pranayama, Mudra-Bandha, Om-chanting and Meditation for a period of 1 month in morning time.

Statistical Analysis: For carrying out analysis of the data obtained we used t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means with the help of MS-Excel.

Result: The Alpha Brain-waves significantly increased while measuring pre and post data i.e. (M₁=9.13, M₂=10.11). The first (M₁= 8.85, M₂= 6.54), the second (M₁= 8.31, M₂= 5.92), third (M₁= 13.38 , M₂= 10.84), fourth (M₁= 18.3 , M₂= 15.69), fifth (M₁= 8.38 , M₂= 6.15), sixth (M₁= 9, M₂= 7.61) and seventh (M₁= 14.46, M₂= 11.69) dimension of Adjustment Neuroticism were significantly and positively affected.

Conclusion: The Yogic package including Asana, Pranayaam, Mudra-Bandha and Meditation has significant positive affect on the production of Alpha Brain-waves and reduction of Neuroticism in all dimensions among the practitioners, if practiced under strictly controlled environment.

Key words: Yogic practices, Alpha EEG Biofeedback, Adjustment Neuroticism