DTMT Network
A Max Hospitals, Saket-Delhi and IIT-Delhi study has revealed that Heartfulness Yoga practices have a positive effect on heart rate variability, blood pressure and heart rate. Heartfulness includes a set of yoga practices.

The study was conducted by the National Resource Centre for Value Education in Engineering, IIT-Delhi, and Department of Non-Invasive Cardiology, Max Hospitals.

The study involved 30 volunteers (21 males and 9 females) who had been practicing Heartfulness methods regularly. The volunteers were in the age range of 19-70 years. All participants were subjected to a standard set of procedures while data were recorded on a computer.

The entire procedure was performed in three stages of 30 minutes each: Baseline stage, Cleaning stage, and Meditation stage.

Mr Kamlesh D Patel, the Heartfulness Guide, said, “This research is the first attempt to study Heartfulness practices and their effect on cardiovascular parameters. Several studies have shown the beneficial effects of Heartfulness Meditation on physical health, psychological health, emotional intelligence, and sleep.”

Mr Patel added that there was a gap in the literature on studies pertaining to the impact of the Heartfulness practices of Cleaning and Meditation on heart rate variability.

Heart rate and BP of the participants were recorded at the end of each stage. A holter monitor, attached with the help of electrodes to the subjects’ chests, continuously recorded the ECG and heart rate variability.

A trained non-invasive cardiology technician removed the electrodes and the participants filled a feedback questionnaire. The data was downloaded into a computer and analyzed.

Certain psychological parameters were also included in the study to assess overall well-being. Cantril’s Ladder scale, the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) and the Flourishing Scale were used to assess the overall happiness and well-being of participants.

A feedback questionnaire was used to assess peace, happiness, enjoyment and effort felt by the participants during the Cleaning and Meditation processes.