Assessment of physiological and psychological well being in practitioners of Rajayoga meditation.

Preeti Jain; Ashwini A. Mahadule

Volume : VII, Issue : VIII, August - 2018

Assessment of physiological and psychological well being in practitioners of Rajayoga meditation.

Preeti Jain, Ashwini A. Mahadule

Abstract :

Objective: Present study was conducted to assess the physiological, biochemical and psychological variables in Rajayoga meditators and compare them with those of non–meditators.

Methods: Sixty participants were divided in two groups(n=30 each), group1 included non–meditatorsand group2comprised of practitioners of Rajayoga meditation (RYM).Physiological and biochemical variableswere recorded. Psychological health was assessed using 21–item depression, anxiety and stress scale(DASS–21).

Results: Meditators showed a significant (p<0.05–<001) declining trend in physiological and biochemical parameters as compared to non–meditators.DASS–21 scores were significantly lower (p<0.001)ingroup2 as compared to group1. All the meditators scored within normal range, whereas, nearly one–third to three–fourths of non–meditators scored above the threshold values on DASS–21 subscales.

Conclusion:Considerably high prevalence of psychological morbidity was self–reported by group1 participants. Concomitant physiological and psychological findings indicate that practice of RYM induces mental and physical relaxation, thereby having a beneficial influence on the overall health of an individual.