From the Annals of Yoga Research – April 2021 

Research is extremely important to support different approaches to health care. In the recent past, Yoga has been gaining lot of attention as Yoga Institutes, reseachers, scholars have started offering substantive clinical research evidence. In this issue, Indian Yoga Association brings to you the Research Papers published by our Member Institutes and other Institutes or individuals on the benefits of yoga for pregnant women with abnormal Doppler study, in high-risk pregnancy, in reducing anxiety during pregnancy and how Sukha Pranayama can be helpful

Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA)

Efficacy of yoga in pregnant women with abnormal Doppler study of umbilical and uterine arteries

Author: Shamanthakamani Narendran, R Nagarathna, Sulochana Gunasheela, Dr HR
Nagendra

Published in: Journal of the Indian Medical Association Published on: November 2005

To study the efficacy of yoga on the outcome of complicated pregnancy, 121 women attending antena­tal clinic at Gunasheela Surgical and Maternity Hospital (GSMH) in Bangalore, India, were enrolled between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy in a prospective, matched, observational study. Sixty-eight women were in the yoga group and 53 women in the control group. Women were matched for age, gravida and Doppler velocimetry scores of umbilical and uterine arteries. Yoga practices including physical postures, breathing and meditation were practised by the yoga group, one hour daily, from the date of entry into the study until delivery. The control group walked half an hour twice a day during the study period. Compliance in both the groups was ensured. In babies the birth-weight is significantly higher (P < 0.018) in the Yoga group (2.78 +/- 0.52 kg), compared to the control group (2.55 +/- 0.52 kg). Occurrence of complications of pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, pre-term delivery) shows lower trends in yoga group.

Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research (CYTER)

Immediate effect of Sukha Pranayama: A slow and deep breathing technique on maternal and fetal car­diovascular parameters

Author: Vasudevan Rajalakshmi Vasundhara, Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Meena Ramanathan, Seetesh Ghose, Ganesan Dayanidy

Published In: Yoga Mimamsa
Published On: 2018

This pilot study was done to evaluate the immediate effect of Sukha Pranayama, a slow and deep breathing technique on maternal and fetal cardiovascular parameters. Subjects and Methods: Single session pre-post comparison was done for 10 min of Sukha Pranayama in 12 pregnant women in their 3rd trimester. The study participants were guided to breathe in and out in a slow and regular manner for a count of 4 s each. Maternal cardiovascular parameters, namely mean heart rate (MHR), systolic pressure (SP), and diastolic pressure (DP), were measured before and after the session and rate-pressure product (RPP) derived with the formulae. Fetal heart rate (FHR) was derived from the nonstress test tracing. Results: SP, MHR, FHR, and RPP reduced significantly after single session of Sukha Pranayama. The mothers reported that they felt more relaxed and also sensed active fetal movement while performing the pranayama. Discussion: Reduc­tion in maternal cardiovascular parameters may be attributed to reduced sympathetic activity coupled with enhanced vagal parasympathetic tone. Reduction in RPP signifies reduced myocardial oxygen consump­tion and load on the heart as evidenced by previous studies. These changes in cardiac autonomic status may enhance placental circulation, leading to healthier fetal development. Conclusion: The present study reiterates the importance of yoga for the psychosomatic health of maternal-fetal unit as an add-on relaxation technique. We plan to develop this pilot study into a full-fledged evaluation of maternal and fetal wellbeing through yoga.

Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA)

Effects of yoga on utero-fetal-placental circulation in high-risk pregnancy: A randomized controlled trial

Author: Abbas Rakhshani, Raghuram Nagarathna, Rita Mhaskar Arun Mhaskar, Annamma Thomas, Sulochana Gunasheela

Published In: Advances in Preventive Medicine
Published On: 2015

Impaired placentation and inadequate trophoblast invasion have been associated with the etiology of many pregnancy complications and have been correlated with the first trimester uterine artery resistance. Previous studies have shown the benefits of yoga in improving pregnancy outcomes and those of yogic visualization in revitalizing the human tissues. Methods. 59 high-risk pregnant women were randomized into yoga (n = 27) and control (n = 32) groups. The yoga group received standard care plus yoga sessions (1 hour/day, 3 times/week), from 12th to 28th week of gestation. The control group received standard care plus conven­tional antenatal exercises (walking). Measurements were assessed at 12th, 20th, and 28th weeks of gesta­tion. Results. RM-ANOVA showed significantly higher values in the yoga group (28th week) for biparietal diameter (P = 0.001), head circumference (P = 0.002), femur length (P = 0.005), and estimated fetal weight (P = 0.019). The resistance index in the right uterine artery (P = 0.01), umbilical artery (P = 0.011), and fetal middle cerebral artery (P = 0.048) showed significantly lower impedance in the yoga group. Conclusion. The results of this first randomized study of yoga in high-risk pregnancy suggest that guided yogic practices and visualization can improve the intrauterine fetal growth and the utero-fetal-placental circulation.

Efficacy of Yoga Exercise to Reduce Anxiety in Pregnancy: A Meta-Analysis using Randomized Controlled Trials

Author: Sintia Ayu Ningrum, Uki Retno Budihastuti, Hanung Prasetya
Published In: Journal of Maternal and Child Health 4(2):118-125
Published On: 2019

Anxiety can have a negative impact on mothers and infants. Anxiety can cause prematurity, impaired motor development, mental and emotional development of children. This study aimed to examine ef­ficacy of yoga on reducing anxiety in pregnant women. This was a meta-analysis. As many as 6 ran­domized control trials (RCT) were extracted from Pubmed, Science Direct, Springer, Proquest, and Cochrane databases. A sample of 426 pregnant women who took yoga exercises for 4-12 weeks was selected for this study. The data were analyzed in RevMan 5.3. Results: Yoga exercise reduce anxiety in pregnant women (SMD= -0.48; 95% CI= -0.92 to -0.03; p= 0.030).

Disclaimer: The Research Papers have been selected by the Yogavani Content Team from a google search for ‘Benefits of yoga for pregnant women’