Abstract

A CLINICAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SHEETALI PRANAYAMA IN OCCUPATIONAL STRESS

Adithya T.* and Raviprasad Hegde

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Abstract

Stress is a non specific response of the body to any demand placed up on it. A healthy working environment is one in which there is not only an absence of harmful conditions that can cause injury and illness, but an abundance of health promoting ones.[1] When a person feels insufficient in dealing with demands and challenges faces in life, he or she will experience stress. Incidence of stress is increasing day by day due to the present lifestyles. Employees especially professionals are subjected to continuous physical and mental stress. Occupational stress occurs when there is discrepancy between demand of work place environment and individuals ability to carryout or complete the demand. It is expressed as dissatisfaction, fatigue, tension, headache, agitation, insomnia etc. The continuous exposure and improper management may lead to severe psychiatric or psycho somatic diseases. A survey on workers shown that 40% of them are extremely stressful with their job, 25% view it as number one stressor in their life. Research in the field of work and family has well established the spillover and cross over effects effecting co-workers spouse, children and the community at large. Pranayama is a yogic breathing technique which is known to improve the physical and mental well being. The benefits of Sheetali Pranayama in Gheranda samhita explains similar effects, in addition it also helps to cool down the body and mind.[2]

Keywords: Stress, Occupational stress, Sheetali Pranayama.