Study of immediate neurological and autonomic changes during kapalbhati pranayama in yoga practitioners

BACKGROUND: Kapalbhati is a fast pace respiratory exercise or pranayam, which is supposed to be practiced by yogis to clean their brain. Pranayamas are well known to improve heart rate variability (HRV) ultimately leading to better autonomic functions. Other studies have observed the immediate effect of kapalbhati on various neurological (brain and spine) and autonomic functions, but their results are varied and inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to find out the changes in HRV and brain waves during and after practice of kapalbhati as compared with the baseline values of different parameters. METHODS: Various parameters were measured at baseline, during and after kapalbhati pranayam with the help of Dinamika HRV-Advanced HRV Test System, Moscow, Russia. Statistical analysis was accomplished employing repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis and Holm’s multiple comparisons using the Version 28.0.0.0 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows (190) SPSS Inc., Chicago. RESULTS: We found that during and after kapalbhati, changes in HRV were significant in time and frequency domain showing parasympathetic withdrawal and insignificant changes in brain waves as compared with reference point values. CONCLUSION: Kapalbhati is initially energizing, cleansing, and heating. There occurs parasympathetic withdrawal and sympathetic activation during pranayama. There is an increase gamma wave activation post pranayama showing control of the default mode network.