Skip to main content

Immediate Effect of Specific Nostril Manipulating Yoga Breathing Practices on Autonomic and Respiratory Variables

Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback volume 33, pages 65–75 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The effect of right, left, and alternate nostril yoga breathing (i.e., RNYB, LNYB, and ANYB, respectively) were compared with breath awareness (BAW) and normal breathing (CTL). Autonomic and respiratory variables were studied in 21 male volunteers with ages between 18 and 45 years and experience in the yoga breathing practices between 3 and 48 months. Subjects were assessed in five experimental sessions on five separate days. The sessions were in fixed possible sequences and subjects were assigned to a sequence randomly. Each session was for 40 min; 30 min for the breathing practice, preceded and followed by 5 min of quiet sitting. Assessments included heart rate variability, skin conductance, finger plethysmogram amplitude, breath rate, and blood pressure. Following RNYB there was a significant increase in systolic, diastolic and mean pressure. In contrast, the systolic and diastolic pressure decreased after ANYB and the systolic and mean pressure were lower after LNYB. Hence, unilateral nostril yoga breathing practices appear to influence the blood pressure in different ways. These effects suggest possible therapeutic applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Andreassi, J. L. (2000). Psychophysiology—Human behavior and physiological response (pp. 257–275). New Jersey: Lawrence Earl Baum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Backon, J. (1988). Changes in blood glucose levels induced by different forced uninostril breathing; a technique which affects both hemisphericity and autonomic activity. Medical Science Research, 16, 1197–1199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Backon, J., & Kullock, S. (1989). Effect of forced unilateral nostril breathing on blink rates: relevance to hemispheric lateralization of dopamine. International Journal of Neuroscience, 46, 53–59.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardi, L., Sleight, P., Bandinelli, G., Cencetti, S., Fattorini, L., Wdowczyc-Szulc, J., & Lagi, A. (2001). Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study. British Medical Journal, 323, 1446–1449.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delius, W., & Kellerová, E. (1971). Reaction of arterial and venous vessels in the human forearm and hand to deep breath or mental strain. Clinical Science, 40, 271–282.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, R. (2000). Nasal airflow in health and disease. Acta Otolaryngologica, 120(5), 580–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, P., & Eccles, R. (1997). Spontaneous changes of unilateral nasal airflow in man. A re-examination of the nasal cycle. Acta Otolaryngolica, 117(4), 590–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowles, D. C. (1986). The eccrine system and electrodermal activity. In M. G. H Coles, E. Donchin, & S. W. Porges (Eds.), Psychophysiology; systems, processes and applications (pp. 51–96). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franklin, S. S. (2004). Systolic blood pressure: It’s time to take control. American Journal of Hypertension, 17, 49S–54S.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freidell, A. (1948). Autonomic attentive breathing in angina pectoris. Minnesota Medicine, 31, 875–881.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganong, W. F. (1999). Review of medical physiology. Connecticut: Prentice-Hall International Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kayser, R. (1895). Die exacte messung der luftdurchgangigkeit der nase. Archives of Laryngology and Rhinology, 3, 101–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, B., Zeigler, M. G., & Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S. (1986). Alternating lateralization of plasma catecholamines and nasal patency in humans. Life Sciences, 38, 1203–1214.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehrer, P. M., Vaschillo, E., & Vaschillo, B. (2000). Resonant frequency biofeedback training to increase cardiac variability: rationale and manual for training. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 25(3), 177–191.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malliani, A., Pagani, M., Lombardi, F., & Cerutti, S. (1991). Cardiovascular neural regulation explore in the frequency domain. Circulation, 84, 482–492.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niskanen, J. P., Tarvainen, M. P., Ranta-aho, P. O., & Karjalainen, P. A. (2004). Software for advanced HRV analysis. Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, 76, 73–81.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohki, M., Ogoshi, T., Yuasa, T., Kawano, K., & Kawano, M. (2005). Extended observation of the nasal cycle using a portable rhinoflowmeter. Journal of Otolaryngology, 34(5), 346–349.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohsuga, M., Shimono, F., & Genno, H. (2001). Assessment of phasic work stress using autonomic indices. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 40(3), 211–220.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldfield, R.C. (1971). The assessment and analysis of handedness: The Edinburgh Inventory. Neuropsychologia, 9, 97–114.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parati, G., Saul, J. P., Di Rieuzo, M., & Mancia, G. (1995). Spectral analysis of blood pressure and heart rate variability in evaluating cardiovasular regulation: A critical appraisal. Hypertension, 25, 1276–1286.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raghuraj, P., & Telles, S. (2003). Effect of yoga based and forced uni-nostril breathing on autonomic nervous system. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 96, 70–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Searleman, A., Hornung, D. E., Stein, E., & Brzuszkiewicz, L. (2005). Nostril dominance: Differences in nasal airflow and preferred handedness. Laterality, 10(2), 111–120.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S. (1991). Lateralized rhythms of the central and autonomic nervous systems. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 11, 225–551.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S., & Kennedy, B. (1993). The effects of uninostril breathing on the heart. International Journal of Neuroscience, 73, 47–60.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shannahoff-Khalsa, D.S., & Yates, F.E. (2000). Ultradian sleep rhythms of lateral EEG, autonomic, and cardiovascular activity are coupled in humans. International Journal of Neuroscience, 101(1–4), 21–43.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shields, S. A., MacDowell, K. A., Fairchild, S. B., & Campbell, M. L. (1987). Is meditation of sweating cholinergic, adrenergic or both? A comment on the literature. Psychophysiology, 24, 312–319.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, I., & Ripley, N. (1952). Variations in respiration during changes in emotions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 14, 476–490.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stoksted, P. (1953) Rhinometric measurements for determination of the nasal cycle. Acta Otolaryngologia (Stockholm), 109(Suppl), 159–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swami Muktibodhananda (1999). Swara yoga. Munger: Bihar School of Yoga.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati (1994). Prana pranayama pranavidya. Munger: Bihar School of Yoga.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swami Vivekananda (1973). Raja-yoga or conquering the internal nature (p. 280). Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taneja, I., Deepak, K. K., Poojary, G., Acharya, I. N., Pandey, R. M., & Sharma, M. P. (2004). Yogic versus conventional treatment in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized control study. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 29(1), 19–33.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology, North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. (1996). Heart rate variability standards of measurement, physiological interpretation and clinical use. Circulation, 93, 1043–1065.

    Google Scholar 

  • Telles, S., Nagarathna, R., & Nagendra, H. R. (1994). Breathing through a particular nostril can alter metabolism and autonomic activities. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 38(2), 133–137.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Telles, S., Nagarathna, R., & Nagendra, H. R. (1996). Physiological measures during right nostril breathing. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2(4), 479–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur, N. V., & Webster, J. G. (1985). Electrode studies for the long-term ambulatory ECG. Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing, 23, 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velikonja, D., Weiss, D. S., & Corning, W. C. (1993). The relationship of cortical activation to alternating autonomic activity. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 87(1), 38–45.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Visweswaraiah, N. K., & Telles, S. (2004). Randomized trial of yoga as a complementary therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis. Respirology, 9, 96–101.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werntz D. A., Bickford, R. G., Bloom, F. E., & Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. S. (1983). Alternating cerebral hemispheric activity and the lateralization of autonomic nervous function. Human Neurobiology, 2(1), 39–43.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yildirir, A., Kabakci, G., Akgul, E., Tokgozoglu, L., & Oto, A. (2002). Effects of menstrual cycle on cardiac autonomic innervation as assessed by heart rate variability. Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology, 7(1), 60–63.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zar, J. H. (1999). Biostatistical analysis. London: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bangalore, India

    P. Raghuraj & Shirley Telles

  2. Patanjali Yogpeeth, Bahadrabad, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, 249402, India

    Shirley Telles

Authors
  1. P. Raghuraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shirley Telles
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shirley Telles.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Raghuraj, P., Telles, S. Immediate Effect of Specific Nostril Manipulating Yoga Breathing Practices on Autonomic and Respiratory Variables. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 33, 65–75 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-008-9055-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-008-9055-0

Keywords

  • Right nostril yoga breathing
  • Left nostril yoga breathing
  • Alternate nostril yoga breathing
  • Unilateral nostril yoga breathing
  • Autonomic and respiratory variables