2. Background
• Now a day due to hectic way of life individual is not able to reenergize his body. Because of
this person are afflicted with numerous psycho-somatic disorder, such as insomnia, sleepless
night, anxiety, stress.
• Regular practice of Shavasana has been found effective and most suitable in treatment of
hypertension and insomnia.
• Its removes psychological tensions, reduces anxiety, and brings about tranquility.Relaxes the
whole psycho-physiological system by calm down sympathetic nervous system.
• It overcomes physical as well as mental fatigue or exertion. It is directly related to the
awareness and release of tension working at the level of consciousness.
3. Objective- To analyze various psycho- physiological effect of Shavasana.
Methodology - literature search was done using different Data base such as google scholar,
PubMed, and yogic textbook etc. were searched using these keywords ( Shavasana (Title) or
psycho (Title) AND physiological (Title) . Language preferred the “full text” or the “abstract”
available to 1984-2016 was English. The search identified total 7 article were examined more
closely for eligibility.
4. Impact of shavasana in psychological health
Relaxes the whole psycho-
physiological system.
It overcomes physical as well
as mental fatigue or exertion.
It is directly related to the
awareness and release of
tension working at the level of
consciousness.
It provides most natural horizontal
and comfortable position of the
body that contributes to physical as
well as mental relaxation.
5. Research has been done by (Janowiak JJ et.al.,1994) with aimed the efficacy of meditation and relaxation in promoting
self-actualization and changes in self-reported stress among 62 college students.
Two groups were given mantra meditation and a yogic relaxation technique referred to as Shavasana. Pre- and posttest
measures were taken on the Personal Orientation Inventory and the Behavioral Relaxation Scale.
Both groups showed significant increases in scores on self-actualization; however, no differences were found between
groups.
Meditation training was associated with larger gains in scores on measures of systematic relaxed behavior than of the
relaxation training.
6. Horizontal and relaxed position facilitates efficient and easy
blood circulation, BP, and heart rate are reduced and
maintained at a minimal level as there is no need to circulate
blood with force.
Impact of Shavasana in circulatory system
7. Research has been done (Sundar S et. al.,1984 ) with aimed Role of yoga in management of essential hypertension.
Twenty-five patients of essential hypertension were studied.
Of these, 20 patients were not given any antihypertensive drug treatment (Group A); other 5 had to be put on
antihypertensive drugs before including them in the study (Group B). These patients were demonstrated "Shavasana"
and trained to perform it correctly. Shavasana therapy was continued for six months.
There was a statistically significant fall in both mean systolic and diastolic pressure of both groups. Further, there was a
significant reduction in doses of antihypertensive drugs, being given to patients of group B. In 65% patients of group A,
blood pressure could be controlled with Shavasana only and no drug was needed in them at all.
8. A research has been done by (Bera TK et. al.,1998) with aimed Recovery from stress in two different postures and
in Shavasana--a yogic relaxation posture for this recovery from induced physiological stress in Shavasana (a yogic
relaxation posture) and two other postures (resting in chair and resting supine posture) was compared.
Twenty-one males and 6 females (age 21-30 yrs) were allowed to take rest in one of the above postures
immediately after completing the scheduled treadmill running.
The recovery was assessed in terms of Heart Rate (HR) and Blood pressure (BP). HR and BP were measured
before and every two minutes after the treadmill running till, they returned to the initial level.
The results revealed that the effects of stress was reversed in significantly (P < 0.01) shorter time in Shavasana,
compared to the resting posture in chair and a supine posture.
9. Systems of the body are not required to
work against gravity.
As a result, metabolic rate is also
reduced, breathing becomes slower,
slightly deeper, rhythmic and mostly
abdominal in nature.
Impact of Shavasana in breathing
10. Research has been done by (Sarang PS et. al.,2006) with objective Oxygen consumption and respiration during and
after two yoga relaxation techniques. The oxygen consumption, breath rate and breath volume of 50 male volunteers
were assessed before, during, and after sessions of Cyclic Meditation and sessions of supine rest in the corpse posture
(Shavasana, SH).
The sessions were one day apart, and the order was alternated. The oxygen consumption, breath rate and breath volume
increased during the "stimulating" practices of CM, returned to the baseline during the "calming" practices, and the
oxygen consumption decreased by 19.3 percent below baseline values after CM.
During the SH session the oxygen consumption, breath rate and breath volume reduced; however, the decrease in
oxygen consumption after SH was less than after CM (i.e., 4.8 percent).
The results support the idea that a combination of yoga postures with supine rest (in CM) reduces the oxygen
consumption more than resting supine alone does.
11. During abdominal breathing in Shavasana, the
diaphragm moves slowly which has got a soothing
effect on the higher brain centers. One immediately
feel relaxed.
Impact of Shavasana in brain
12. Abdominal breathing in Shavasana gives rhythmic & gentle
massage to the abdominal organs, removing their congestion.
The abdominal muscles toned up and the blood circulation in the
pelvic and abdominal region is increased.
Impact of Shavasana in Body Temperature
13. Result- In this hectic lifestyle there was an increased possibility of Stress, Anxiety, Insomnia, and
other Mental disorders. Previous studies have found that Shavasanas is beneficial in relieving Stress,
Anxiety and Hypertension. Thus, Shavasana can provide Therapeutic and Drugless module for
reduction of psycho-somatic disorders.
14. Conclusion – Based on previous studies, it can be concluded that regular practice of Shavasana can
reduce anxiety, stress, and improve sleep quality, as well as improve physical and psychological
health.
15. References
Janowiak JJ, Hackman R. Meditation and college students' self-actualization and rated stress. Psychol Rep.
1994 Oct;75(2):1007-10. doi: 10.2466/pr0.1994.75.2.1007. PMID: 7862775.
Bagga OP, Gandhi A. A comparative study of the effect of Transcendental Meditation (T.M.) and Shavasana
practice on cardiovascular system. Indian Heart J. 1983 Jan-Feb;35(1):39-45. PMID: 6343229.
Pal GK, Ganesh V, Karthik S, Nanda N, Pal P. The effects of short-term relaxation therapy on indices of
heart rate variability and blood pressure in young adults. Am J Health Promot. 2014 Sep-Oct;29(1):23-8.
doi: 10.4278/ajhp.130131-QUAN-52. Epub 2013 Nov 7. PMID: 24200249.
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16. Sarang PS, Telles S. Oxygen consumption and respiration during and after two yoga relaxation
techniques. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2006 Jun;31(2):143-53. doi: 10.1007/s10484-006-9012-8.
PMID: 16838123.
Sundar S, Agrawal SK, Singh VP, Bhattacharya SK, Udupa KN, Vaish SK. Role of yoga in management
of essential hypertension. Acta Cardiol. 1984;39(3):203-8. PMID: 6331698
Bera TK, Gore MM, Oak JP. Recovery from stress in two different postures and in Shavasana--a yogic
relaxation posture. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1998 Oct;42(4):473-8. PMID: 10874346.
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