IMPACT OF YAMA AND NIYAMA ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOSPIRITUAL FACTORS IN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

BACKGROUND Yama and niyama are the universal precepts of ethical codes for uplifting body, mind and soul for mankind. Yamās are those principles of wrong behavior, which we should shun. Niyamās are those principles of right behavior, which we should be embraced. These universal truths are found not only in the science of the eightfold path of yoga but also in the teachings of all great religions. All of these are part of universal absolute, those divine laws which have been set before mankind to gain harmony, peace and happiness. However, the yoga ethics enunciated in yama and niyama are not well known and are rarely presented to students of yoga. AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of yama-niyama in physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being in young adults. METHODS Participants All subjects were recruited from Yogoda Satsanga Mahavidyalaya College in Ranchi, India. Design This is a randomised control trial. A total of 150 participants were randomly assigned to the yama niyama, yoga, and control group. This study was implemented for three months of intervention and one month follow-up. Demographic information sheets were distributed to find out the age, educational attainment, health status and past yoga experience in the three groups before intervention. Daily record sheets were distributed to yama-niyama and yoga group which offer a unique means to understand their practice experiences. The outcomes of physical, psychological and spiritual factors were assessed by Bio-Well instrument and Vedic Personality Inventory questionnaire. The inclusion criteria were: understanding English language, age between 18-26 years, and having no experience of the practice of yoga earlier. The exclusion criteria were: having physical and mental disabilities, missing fingers (required for Bio-Well recordings), and having any self-reported chronic diseases. Assessments Physiological Factors Energy Field Health Status Energy Reserve Energy and Entropy level of emotion-related organs (liver, heart, lung, spleen, kidney) Psychospiritual Factors Emotional Pressure Alignment of seven cakrās Three guṇās—sattva, rajas and tamas Intervention This study was implemented for 3 months, 6 days per week, 45 minutes in each session. For the yama niyama group intervention included yama-niyama lectures, japa writing, introspection, and counseling. The yoga group intervention included yama-niyama lectures, introspection, āsanā, prāṇāyāma, and counseling. The control group followed one of their college classes of 45 minutes during intervention time. Results Results in yama-niyama group showed the energy level of all variables were of significant difference after the intervention compared to control group. The yoga group also showed significant difference in the energy level after the intervention compared to control group. There were no significant differences in the entropy level between the groups, except liver entropy was significantly lower at follow-up in both yama-niyama and yoga group compared to control group. Physical factors were of no significant difference between yama-niyama group and yoga group. The outcomes of psychospiritual factors showed significant differences after intervention in yama-niyama group compared to yoga and control group. However, there was no significant difference in pyschospiritual factors after intervention in the yoga group compared to control group. Further, yama-niyama group showed a significant increase in sattva (p<0.001) and cakrās were significantly better aligned (p<0.001), whereas rajas (p<0.001), tamas (p<0.001) and stress level (p<0.001) showed a significant decrease after intervention compared to baseline. In the follow-up, sattva (p<0.001) showed a significant increase, whereas rajas (p<0.001), tamas (p<0.001) and stress level (p<0.001) showed a significant decrease in yama-niyama group. Conclusions The current study provides preliminary evidence that either yama-niyama or yoga intervention promotes physical well-being whereas yama-niyama intervention promotes psychospiritual development also in young adults.