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. 2022 May-Aug;15(2):130-136.
doi: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_63_22. Epub 2022 Sep 5.

Ashtanga Yoga Ethics-Based Yoga Versus General Yoga on Anthropometric Indices, Trigunas, and Quality of Life in Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized Control Trial

Aruna Mewada  1 , Jyoti Keswani  1 , Hemanshu Sharma  2 , Gulab Rai Tewani  3 , Pradeep M K Nair  4
Affiliations

Ashtanga Yoga Ethics-Based Yoga Versus General Yoga on Anthropometric Indices, Trigunas, and Quality of Life in Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized Control Trial

Aruna Mewada et al. Int J Yoga. 2022 May-Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: The philosophical tenets of yoga such as Ashtanga yoga (AY) and Trigunas are seldom considered while designing yoga programs for chronic diseases. This randomized control trial explored the impact of AY principle-based yoga on the anthropometric indices, personality traits, and quality of life (QoL) in abdominal obesity (AO).

Materials and methods: Sixty-two participants with AO were randomized (n = 31 in each arm) into an AY arm or general yoga (GY) arm. For 12 weeks, both the AY and the GY received the same yoga protocol; however, the AY received an additional AY-based orientation session fortnightly. Changes in waist circumference, hip circumference (HC), height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, Vedic Personality Inventory for gunas, and World Health Organization QoL-BREF were measured at baseline and at the end of 12 weeks.

Results: By the end of 12 weeks, the AY arm significantly differed from the GY arm in HC (P = 0.05) and BMI scores (P = 0.03). The AY arm has shown a significant increase in the sattva guna (P < 0.001) and reduction in the rajas (P < 0.001) and tamas gunas (P = 0.03). There was a significant improvement in the physical and social QoL domain, whereas the other variables examined remained insignificant. The increase in sattva guna was negatively correlated with waist circumference (P = -0.489) and BMI (r = -0.553).

Conclusion: Exposing participants to progressive AY philosophy can change the personality traits which are further associated with melioration in the determiners of AO. Future yoga programs for chronic disorders may consider including AY philosophy for substantive outcomes.

Keywords: Abdominal obesity; Ashtanga yoga; Trigunas; obesity; waist circumference; yoga.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trial profile
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in the personality traits before and after the interventions between the groups
Figure 3
Figure 3
Association between sattva guna, body mass index, and waist circumference
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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