Context:Yoga is an ancient science, which originated in India. Pranayama has been assigned a very important role in yogic system of exercises. It is known that regular practice of breathing exercises (pranayama) increases parasympathetic tone, decreases sympathetic activity, and improves cardiovascular functions. Different types of breathing exercises alter autonomic balance for good by either decrease in sympathetic or increase in parasympathetic activity. Mukh Bhastrika (yogic bellows), a type of pranayama breathing when practiced alone, has demonstrated increase in sympathetic activity and load on heart, but when practiced along with other types of pranayama has showed improved cardiac performance.Aim:The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of long term practice of fast pranayama (Mukh Bhastrika) on autonomic balance on individuals with stable cardiac function.Settings and Design:This interventional study was conducted in the department of physiology.Materials and Methods:50 healthy male subjects of 18 - 25 years age group, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent Mukh Bhastrika training for 12 weeks. Cardiovascular autonomic reactivity tests were performed before and after the training.Statistical Analysis Used:The parameters were analyzed by Student t test.Results:This study showed an increase in parasympathetic activity i.e., reduced basal heart rate, increase in valsalva ratio and deep breathing difference in heart rate; and reduction in sympathetic activity i.e., reduction in fall of systolic blood pressure on posture variation.Conclusion:It can be concluded that Mukh Bhastrika has beneficial effect on cardiac autonomic reactivity, if practiced for a longer duration.

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Background: Obesity has become a global epidemic. The prevalence and severity of obesity in young adult females are dramatically increasing worldwide. Along with other organs, respiratory system is also compromised. Obesity is likely the cause of pulmonary function decline which is linked to early morbidity and mortality. The maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) test evaluates the respiratory endurance and is influenced by the respiratory muscle strength, the lung and chest compliance, and the control of breathing and airway resistance. In the case of obese individuals, this variable is reduced mainly by mechanical injury to the respiratory muscles, caused in particular by the excessive weight on the thorax. Hence, this study was done to know the impact of obesity on MVV in adult females. Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the pulmonary function test (PFT) parameter in obese adult females and non-obese adult female patient and to evaluate the impact of obesity on MVV. Materials and Methods: PFTs of 50 normal, healthy, non-obese females and 50 healthy but obese females, age group 18-30 years of Hubli city were determined and were compared. Criteria for obesity in our study taken were according to the WHO criteria of body mass index. The PFT was carried out with computerized Spirometer Eazy on-PC model. MVV parameter was used as a measure of lung function. Results: In our study, obese females had MVV (liters) of 58 ± 12.2, whereas corresponding values in controls was 87 ± 66. There was statistically highly significant difference between two groups (P < 0.01). There was statistically significant lower MVV in the obese group than the non-obese group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: In our study, MVV was significantly reduced in obese females compared to non-obese female. These data demonstrate MVV of obese adult females were significantly reduced when compared to the normal weight counterparts. Obesity had a significant impact on MVV parameter.