Effect of Pranayam on Learning Ability of Adolescent Boys

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of 12 weeks Pranayama programme on student’s learning ability. Total 90 students were taken as subjects within the age group of 13 to 16 years. Three groups were formed having 30 subjects each. The Group A and Group B were served as experimental groups and Group C was treated as the Control Group. The experimental Group A and B were given pranayama treatment for 12 weeks. The pranayama programmes of Group A and B were different. The statistical analysis of research data revealed that the experimental groups, administered with different types of pranayama as allotted to their groups had showed significant gains in learning ability variables after administration of pranayama programmes for duration of 12 weeks.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

The term Pranayama, a Sanskrit word, translates as ‘control of prana’ and prana is basically our life-force or energy. It is a separate ‘arm’ of yoga, intended to clear and cleanse the body and the mind. It makes a fantastic preparation for meditation, helping to center the focus the mind. The scientific study of learning was carried on primarily by psychologists. The skill to understand navigates learning. Responding to a situation basing on the earlier experiences depicts learning. Growth initiate the passage for learning as both physical and physiological aspects along with psychological status makes a leap in every stages of life till reaching adulthood. There are many activities which indicate that learning resembles with acquiring a language, memorizing a rhyme, operating a computer and like.  There are many of activities which cannot be specified about their presence in the human being and is depicted on one’s behaviour. These are mannerisms, sporting gestures and many more. This learning continues throughout life. Learning abilities are pre-requisites for every individual especially for the adolescent school students.

The purpose of the study was to determine whether participation in 12 weeks Pranayama programme effects the student’s learning ability or not.

Methodology:

Total 90 students belonging to S R High School, Baliapal, Balasore of Odisha State were taken as subjects within the age group of 13 to 16 years. The selection of subjects was being done randomly and being divided into three groups having 30 numbers of subjects each. Among the three groups the Group A and Group B were served as experimental groups and Group C was treated as the Control Group. The experimental Group A and B were given pranayama treatment for 12 weeks. The pranayama programmes of Group A and B were different. Group A was given treatment of Ujjayi Pranayama, Shitali Pranayama, Kapalbhati pranayama and Bhramari Pranayama whereas Group B was treated with Anuloma Viloma Pranayama, Suryabhedam Pranyama, Bhastrika Pranyama and Shitkari Pranayama. The control group (Group C) did not practice in any type of pranayama and allowed to continue with the normal programme of the School.

Following learning ability variables were measured prior to the treatment of pranayama to both the experimental groups. After 12 weeks of treatment the post-test on the listed variables were measured for statistical analysis.

1. Memory: Word Series test, Digit Span test, Passage Comprehension test
2. Concentration: Listening Comprehension test, Number Detection test

Analysis of data was made through application of analysis of variance and analysis of covariance finding significant differences among groups along with finding out the inter-group variability towards comparison between initial and final scores with regard to individual parameters under study. Further, effect of initial score towards achieving final or terminal scores was estimated taking the initial score as covariate and then subjected to analysis to evaluate the effect of treatments concisely.

II. DISCUSSION ON FINDINGS

The statistical analysis of research data revealed that the experimental groups, administered with different types of pranayama as allotted to their groups had showed significant gains in learning ability variables after administration of pranayama programmes for duration of 12 weeks. The control group did not show any significant increase on the performance of any variable under study. Precisely, the experimental groups (pranayama group A and B) compared with that of control group showed significant gain in performance of learning ability variables, under memory such as word series test, digit span test, passage comprehension test, under concentration which includes listening comprehension test and number detection test subjects.

Conclusion

Summing up the results in the present study it may be concluded that, non-pharmacological interventions like pranayama along with some modification in life style may be encouraged to improve leaning ability in adolescent boys, which is the primary influencing factor for building the career afterwards.

Copyright

Copyright © 2024 Bappaditya Pramanick, Md. Julfikar , Prativa Nayak, Prof. (Dr.) Srikanta Mishra, Prof. (Dr.) Sakti Ranjan Mishra. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.