Abstract
This study investigated the effects of one session of Yoga Nidra (relaxation technique) on the breathing patterns/respiratory effort in the thoracic and abdominal chest regions of boys with
disruptive behaviour using a Respiratory Inductive Plethysmography (RIP). The participants (n = 7) were aged 10–15 years and
attending NSW, Department of Education (DET) special schools for children with disruptive behaviour (DB). Results were compared
with three students (one female) aged 15 years without DB. The seven boys had previously participated in a 13-week yoga program. During this program participants were progressively taught the practice of Yoga Nidra. The comparison group did not participate in the yoga program but underwent the same procedure for collection of data as
the yoga group. Using Compumedics “ProFusion Polysomnography (PSG)” software and further analyses in “Polyman” European Data
Format + (EDF), data were analysed by identifying breathing as unstable or stable. Unstable breathing was identified as fluctuations
in rate/s of breathing effort, amplitude, cessation of breath, and thoracic or abdominal predominance. Results indicated that
boys with disruptive behaviour generally displayed unstable breathing patterns throughout the pre-recording period and showed
more stable breathing during Yoga Nidra compared with pre- or post-recording periods. There were also examples of reductions in thoracic dominance during Yoga Nidra. The comparison group’s breathing patterns throughout the three phases of the process were found to be stable.
disruptive behaviour using a Respiratory Inductive Plethysmography (RIP). The participants (n = 7) were aged 10–15 years and
attending NSW, Department of Education (DET) special schools for children with disruptive behaviour (DB). Results were compared
with three students (one female) aged 15 years without DB. The seven boys had previously participated in a 13-week yoga program. During this program participants were progressively taught the practice of Yoga Nidra. The comparison group did not participate in the yoga program but underwent the same procedure for collection of data as
the yoga group. Using Compumedics “ProFusion Polysomnography (PSG)” software and further analyses in “Polyman” European Data
Format + (EDF), data were analysed by identifying breathing as unstable or stable. Unstable breathing was identified as fluctuations
in rate/s of breathing effort, amplitude, cessation of breath, and thoracic or abdominal predominance. Results indicated that
boys with disruptive behaviour generally displayed unstable breathing patterns throughout the pre-recording period and showed
more stable breathing during Yoga Nidra compared with pre- or post-recording periods. There were also examples of reductions in thoracic dominance during Yoga Nidra. The comparison group’s breathing patterns throughout the three phases of the process were found to be stable.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-15
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-011-9519-3
- Authors
- P. S. Jensen, Discipline of Behaviour and Social Sciences in Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW 2141, Australia
- P. J. Stevens, Swan Research Institute, Mangrove Mountain, NSW 2250, Australia
- D. T. Kenny, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024