The Effect of Hatha Yoga on Psychoemotional Characteristics in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Research background and hypothesis. There is a lack of evidence-based information about the effect of hatha
yoga on psychoemotional characteristics of healthy people in recent scientific papers. Most of the researchers use
self-reported methods to evaluate psychoemotional factors. We used objective method to find out what kind of
effect could be found on psychoemotional characteristics of yoga practitioners. Hypothesis: hatha yoga practice has
different effect on psychoemotional characteristics in beginners and advanced yoga practitioners.
Research aim was to evaluate the effect of hatha yoga on psychomotoric tone, extra-introversity, aggression,
emotional lability and anxiety in healthy subjects.
Research  methods.  40  healthy  persons  with  no  reported  diseases  participated  in  the  research.  Participants
were  divided  into  two  groups:  beginners  (practicing  yoga  for  not  more  than  one  year,  n  =  22)  and  advanced
(practicing yoga for at least two years, n = 18) yoga practitioners. Psychoemotional characteristics: inborn and
present psychomotoric tone, extra-introversity, aggression, emotional lability and anxiety were measured using the
Myokinetic Psyhodiagnosis of D. Emilio Mira (Simon, 1943) test. The research data was compared with standard
limits and between the beginners and advanced yoga practitioners groups.
Research results. Hatha yoga had general effect on psychoemotional status in the beginners and advanced yoga
practitioners. Psychomotoric tone increased and emotional lability decreased in both groups (p < 0.05). Psychomotoric
tone, extra-introversity and emotional lability were within the standard limits. Anxiety and aggression were lower in
both groups in 6-months period. Aggression and emotional lability in the beginners’ group was lower compared to
those in the advanced yoga group (p < 0.05).
Discussion and conclusions. Almost all psychoemotional characteristics were within the standard limits in both
groups of yoga practitioners. The bigger effect of hatha yoga was found in the yoga beginners’ group. The evidence-
based information in scientific literature about the effect of yoga on psychoemotional characteristics with objective
measures is still missing.

Keywords: hatha yoga, psychomotoric test, psychoemotional characteristics.