Background: Heat stress is a common problem, particularly in a tropical country like India. Ancient Hatha Yogic texts suggest that practice of Shitali and Sitkari pranayama (SSP) to give relief from thirst sensation and the feeling of coolness in the body. This motivates us to ask the following research question: Can a common person get benefit through these pranayamas in a hot and humid climate?
Objectives: To study the role of yoga breathing maneuvers i.e. Shitali and Sitkari pranayama practice (SSP) in the heat stress management.
Methods: During one hour heat exposure (HEx) at 40±2°C, humidity 78±2%, and WBGT 37.5±0.3°C, 20 healthy, young, yoga practitioners did SSP and again without SSP after 3 Weeks. Their bodyweight (Bw), skin temperature (Tsk), heart rate (HR), oral temperature (Tor) and thirst sensation were periodically monitored.
Results: The sweat loss, without SSP (320±105.63 gm) was found to be significantly higher (p
Key words: Shitali pranayama, Sitkari pranayama, heat stress, sweat loss, thirst sensation.
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