Immediate practice effect of vrikshasana on neurocognitive components: a pilot study

Background: Yoga is the most popular complementary health approach practiced by. It is an ancient mind and body practice with origins in Indian philosophy. Yoga combines physical postures, rhythmic breathing and meditation to offer the practitioners unique holistic mind-body knowledge. While the health benefits of physical exercise are well established, in recent years, the active attentional component of breathing and meditation practice has gathered interest among exercise neuroscientists. Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to observe the immediate practice effect of Vrikshasana on neurocognitive components. Methods: To perform the standing pose asana, Vrikshasana, the subject was taken total 3 minutes time. In these 3 minutes, the subject was taken 30 seconds for initial to final position of the asana, one minute holding of the asana, 30 seconds was taken for releasing and back to the initial position and another one minute was taken for relaxing or rest. The subject was performed10 repetitions of this Vrikshasana. Hence, total 30 minutes was training session of this study. To collect the data CNS Vital Sign software was used. Graphical representation was used to observe the immediate effect. Results: The present study showed that some variables were increased and some variables were decreased after 30 minutes Vrikshasana practice. Here neurocognition index, visual memory, complex attention, cognitive flexibility, executive function, social acuity and simple attentions were increased whereas; verbal memory, psychomotor speed, reaction time, processing speed and motor speed were decreased. Conclusion: On the basis of the result it may be concluded that selected neurocognitive components are increased after immediate practice of Vrikshasana.