EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT MODES OF YOGA PRACTICE ON PERCENTAGE OF BODY FAT AND BIOCHEMICAL VARIABLES

The purpose of the present study was to find out the effect of different modes of yoga practice on percentage of body fat and bio-chemical variables among middle aged women. For this purpose, forty five middle aged women residing around Kumbakonam town, Thanjavur district, Tamilnadu, were selected as subjects. The age of the subjects were ranged from 40 to 45 years. They were divided into three equal groups, each group consisted of fifteen subjects, in which experimental group - I underwent Bihar School of yoga practice, experimental group - II underwent B.K.S. Iyengar yoga practice and group - III acted as control that did not participate in any special activities apart from their regular curricular activities.  The training period for the study was six days (Monday to Saturday) in a week for twelve weeks.  Prior and after the experimental period, the subjects were tested on percentage of body fat, high density lipoprotein and total cholesterol. Percentage of body fat was assessed by applying the Deurenberg et al formula. High density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were tested after taking 5 ml of blood samples by venous puncture method, by using Boehringer Mannheim Kit Method. The Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was applied to find out any significant difference between the experimental groups and control group on selected criterion variables.  The result of the study shows that the Bihar School of Yoga practice group and B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga practice group were decreased the total cholesterol, percentage of body fat and increased the high density lipoprotein significantly.  It was concluded from the results of the study that Bihar School of Yoga practice and B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga practice has ing positive changes in percentage of body fat, high density lipoprotein and total cholesterol as compare to the control group. Moreover it was also concluded that there was no significant difference was found between the experimental groups in all criterion variables. 

Bihar School of Yoga and B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga   Breath holding time   high density lipoprotein   total cholesterol   Boehringer Mannheim kit method   ANCOVA.