Effect of surya namaskar on anthropometric parameters and serotonin level in apparently healthy subjects

Authors

  • Himani Hanumant More Department of Physiology, Autonomous State Medical College, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Ajaya Deep Singh Community Health Centre, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Archana Ghildiyal Department of Physiology, King Georges Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20250685

Keywords:

Overweight, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Surya namaskar

Abstract

Background: Although surya namaskar was not considered an asana or part of classical yoga, it is now part of modern yoga practise. It consists of twelve postures. Surya namaskar has a profound calming effect and helps to detoxify the deep-seated organs through abundant oxygenation. The purpose of this study was to investigate how surya namaskar affects anthropometric measures, serotonin levels, and anxiety (as measured by the DASS 21 score).

Methods: Using inclusion and exclusion criteria, 80 healthy overweight participants (BMI of 23.0-24.9 kg/m2) were selected for the study. They were between 20 and 45 years of age. The subjects practiced surya namaskar 5 days a week for 6 months. Anthropometric characteristics such as height, weight, waist, hip and sagittal abdominal circumference were measured before and surya namaskar sessions. The psychological status of the patients was then assessed using the DASS-21 questionnaire at the time of subject enrolment and after 6 months of surya namaskar.

Results: After surya namaskar, there were significant changes in weight (kg), waist circumference (cm), BMI (kg/m2), sagittal abdominal circumference (cm), and WHR were significantly reduced. Hips circumference was mildly increased. Increase in serotonin levels was seen. After surya namaskar, mild depression, severe anxiety and moderate stress were significantly reduced.

Conclusions: Surya namaskar has an effect on the physiological, psychological and physical properties of the body. It is recommended to apply surya namaskar in clinical settings to treat psychological stress and obesity.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Prasanna Venkatesh L, Vandhana S. Insights on surya namaskar from its origin to application towards health. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2022;13(2):100530. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2021.10.002

World Health Organization. Constitution of the World Health Organization. In: Basic documents. 45th edn, supplement. 2006.

Mental Disorders State- Level Disease Burden. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Public Health Foundation of India. Available at: https://phfi.org/mental-disorders-state-level-disease-burden/. Last assessed on March 5th, 2022

David DJ, Gardier AM. The pharmacological basis of the serotonin system: Application to antidepressant response. Encephale. 2016;42(3):255-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2016.03.012

Gilmore J, D'Amato S, Griffith N, Schwartzberg L. Recent advances in antiemetics: new formulations of 5HT3-receptor antagonists. Cancer Manag Res. 2018;10:1827-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/CMAR.S166912

Kitson SL. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor ligands. Curr Pharm Des. 2007;13(25):2621-37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/138161207781663000

Tan ZL, Bao AM, Tao M, Liu YJ, Zhou JN. Circadian rhythm of salivary serotonin in patients with major depressive disorder. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2007;28(4):395-400.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Depression: Management of depression in primary and secondary care- NICE guidance. Available: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg23. Accessed on 5 March 2022.

Madanmohan, Thombre DP, Balakumar B, Nambinarayanan TK, Thakur S, Krishnamurthy N, et al. Effect of yoga training on reaction time, respiratory endurance and muscle strength. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1992;36(4):229-33.

Birkel DA, Edgren L. Hatha yoga: improved vital capacity of college students. Altern Ther Health Med. 2000 Nov;6(6):55-63.

Yadav RK, Das S. Effect of yogic practice on pulmonary functions in young females. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2001;45(4):493-6.

Mandanmohan, Jatiya L, Udupa K, Bhavanani AB. Effect of yoga training on handgrip, respiratory pressures and pulmonary function. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2003;47(4):387-92.

Mead MN. Benefits of sunlight: a bright spot for human health. Environ Health Perspect. 2008;116(4):A160-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.116-a160

Dash M, Telles S. Improvement in hand grip strength in normal volunteers and rheumatoid arthritis patients following yoga training. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2001;45(3):355-60.

Tran MD, Holly RG, Lashbrook J, Amsterdam EA. Effects of hatha yoga practice on the health-related aspects of physical fitness. Prev Cardiol. 2001;4(4):165-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1520-037X.2001.00542.x

Gopal KS, Bhatnagar OP, Subramanian N, Nishith SD. Effect of yogasanas and pranayamas on blood pressure, pulse rate and some respiratory functions. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1973;17(3):273-6.

Bhavanani AB, Udupa K, Madanmohan, Ravindra P. A comparative study of slow and fast suryanamaskar on physiological function. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(2):71-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.85489

Selvamurthy W, Sridharan K, Ray US, Tiwary RS, Hegde KS, Radhakrishan U, et al. A new physiological approach to control essential hypertension. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1998;42(2):205-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0294-3506(99)80158-6

Shimpi A, Shetye J, Mehta A. Comparison between effect of equal intensity training with suryanamaskar or physical education activity or combination of both on physical fitness in adolescent urban school children- a randomized control trial: a hypothesis. J Med Thesis. 2014;2(2):16-20.

Kaushik M, Jain A, Agarwal P, Joshi SD, Parvez S. Role of yoga and meditation as complimentary therapeutic regime for stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders: utilization of brain waves activity as novel tool. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2020;25:2515690X20949451. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X20949451

Sinha B, Ray US, Pathak A, Selvamurthy W. Energy cost and cardiorespiratory changes during the practice of surya namaskar. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2004;48(2):184-90.

Mandlik V. History of yoga. In: Yog Shikshan Mala, Yog Parichay. 6th edn. Nashik India: Yogchaitanya Publication; 2001:36-45.

Bhutkar MV, Bhutkar PM, Taware GB, Surdi AD. How effective is sun salutation in improving muscle strength, general body endurance and body composition? Asian J Sports Med. 2011;2(4):259-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34742

Mody BS. Acute effects of surya namaskar on the cardiovascular and metabolic system. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2011;15(3):343-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2010.05.001

Khanal H, Khanal U. Benefits, barriers and determinants of practicing yoga: a cross sectional study from Kathmandu, Nepal. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2021;12(1):102-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2021.01.007

Woodyard C. Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(2):49-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.85485

Büssing A, Michalsen A, Khalsa SB, Telles S, Sherman KJ. Effects of yoga on mental and physical health: a short summary of reviews. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:165410. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/165410

Sayeed SA, Prakash A. The Islamic prayer (salah/namaz) and yoga togetherness in mental health. Indian J Psychiatr. 2013;55(Suppl 2):S224-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.105537

Behan C. The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as COVID-19. Ir J Psychol Med. 2020;37(4):256-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2020.38

Kim Y, Khil J, Wangmo-Seo, Keum N. The effects of mindfulness and buddhist meditation coaching on mental health outcomes in college students. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022;2022:8178930. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8178930

Vinesett AL, Whaley RR, Woods-Giscombe C, Dennis P, Johnson M, Li Y, et al. Modified African ngoma healing ceremony for stress reduction: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med. 2017;23(10):800-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0410

Jakhotia KA, Shimpi AP, Rairikar SA, Mhendale P, Hatekar R, Shyam A, et al. Suryanamaskar: An equivalent approach towards management of physical fitness in obese females. Int J Yoga. 2015;8(1):27-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.146053

Aggarwal R, Ranganathan P. Study designs: Part 4 - Interventional studies. Perspect Clin Res. 2019;10(3):137-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/picr.PICR_91_19

Shakeela R, Sugumar SN. Effect of surya namaskar with and without walking on body mass index among college girls with premenstrual syndromes. Int J Recent Tech Engin. 2020;8(5):316-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.E4913.018520

Na Nongkhai MP, Yamprasert R, Punsawad C. Effects of continuous yoga on body composition in obese adolescents. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021;2021:670276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6702767

Zala A. Effect of suryanamaskar on flexibility of middle elementary school students. Aayushi Int Interdiscipl Res J. 2019;VI:13-5.

Joshi SJ, Khan SN, Kantharia JS, Mhase S, Pashine AA, Umate R. A pragmatic comparison between aerobic exercise and suryanamaskar in stress management in medical professionals: a quasi-experimental study. Cureus. 2022;14(9):e29414. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.29414

Fischer S, Macare C, Cleare AJ. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning as predictor of antidepressant response-meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017;83:200-11 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.10.012

Jayaram N, Varambally S, Behere RV, Venkatasubramanian G, Arasappa R, Christopher R, et al. Effect of yoga therapy on plasma oxytocin and facial emotion recognition deficits in patients of schizophrenia. Indian J Psychiatr. 2013;55:S409-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.116318

Kumar S, Subramaniam E, Bhavanani AB, Sarkar S, Balasundaram S. Effect of adjunct yoga therapy in depressive disorders: Findings from a randomized controlled study. Indian J Psychiatr. 2019;61(6):592-7

Godse AS, Shejwal BR, Godse AA. Effects of suryanamaskar on relaxation among college students with high stress in Pune, India. Int J Yoga. 2015;8(1):15-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.146049

Agre S, Agrawal R, Asgar SIF. Effect of surya namaskar on stress levels in SSC students. Indian J Public Health Res Dev. 2021;12(3):3218-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v12i3.16069

Lall MK, Atri K. Effect of surya namaskar on anxiety and mental stress in medical students. Int J Allied Med Sci Clin Res. 2021;9(3):449-56.

Gala D, Savalia K. Effect of suryanamaskar on stress in delayed-postpartum indian women- a pilot study. Dev Sanskriti. 2022;20:1-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36018/dsiij.v20i.258

Shohani M, Badfar G, Nasirkandy MP, Kaikhavani S, Rahmati S, Modmeli Y, et al. The Effect of Yoga on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Women. Int J Prev Med. 2018;9:21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_242_16

Kumar S, Subramaniam E, Bhavanani AB, Sarkar S, Balasundaram S. Effect of adjunct yoga therapy in depressive disorders: findings from a randomized controlled study. Indian J Psychiatr. 2019;61(6):592-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_173_19

Downloads

Published

2025-02-28

How to Cite

More, H. H., Singh, A. D., & Ghildiyal, A. (2025). Effect of surya namaskar on anthropometric parameters and serotonin level in apparently healthy subjects. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 13(3), 1181–1189. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20250685

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles