Title : Efficacy of yoga as a health promotion lifestyle method to reduce stress among medical students - A cross sectional study in the scope of preventive cardiology.
Abstract:
Management of stress by yogic practices like Surya Namaskar, Pranayama and Meditation. Medical education includes the strenuous course load and hectic schedule, most students have a lack of time to take care of health and relaxation techniques. Yoga is gaining prominence in improving mental health and quality of life and in the treatment of a number of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders. Thus, practice of yoga not only reduces basal anxiety levels it also promotes promote self-awareness, self-reflection, and self-care in medical students. Practice of Yoga needs just a mat and minimum 15 minutes. Moreover, it could be done anywhere. The main aim of this study is to reveal the prevalence of stress among medical students and effect of yoga in reducing stress. Cross sectional study is the study design used in a group of 100 students for a period of 6 weeks. In our study we used Hatha yoga. As designed by the Hatha yoga instructor, different asana were demonstrated and students were taught. The asanas which were taught by the Hatha yoga instructor for each session are Surya Namaskar or (sun salutation), Pranayama (Nadi Shodhana)- alternative nostril breathing, Marjariasana (Cat pose), Vrikshasana (Tree pose), Ustrasana (Camel posture), Janu Sirshasana (head to knee pose), Shavasana, Dhanurasana (bow pose), Paschimottanasana, Jathara Parivartanasana, Setu Bandha Sarvangasana. These asanas aids lymphatic and venous returns back to circulation, decrease in heart rate respiratory rate and blood pressure. Practice of pranayama daily after a time period, he will develop a habit of slow and deep breathing unconsciously throughout the day. By this way, there will be an increase in availability of oxygen to tissue not only during pranayama but also throughout the day. A questionnaire was circulated to students to assess stress levels before and after completing the 6 weeks of yoga sessions in order to register the feelings and thoughts of the students. Short-term study through which the grades of stress is assessed by perceived stress scale and the individual score is obtained. Data which is obtained was statistically analysed by doing Paired t-Test presented in Microsoft excel. By comparison of Perceived Stress Score of study participants, taken before starting and after completion of the yoga session we found p-value (<0.001) which is less than 0.05. We found difference in overall mean of Perceived Stress Score with p-value of (<0.001), consistent with our hypothesis that there is reduction in stress of the students after practicing yoga. Since the period of practicing yoga is of 6weeks we can see significant reduction in the Perceived Stress Score of the students, if the period of practicing yoga is increased further, we will be able to appreciate more difference in the Perceived Stress Score of the students. A WhatsApp group was constituted to motivate and to follow up the practice of yogasasnas taught to the students. This Cross-Sectional study is funded by Indian Council of Medical Research-Short Term Studentship
