Pune: Effect of common yoga protocol of the Government of India on brain functions in healthy adults is being assessed in an ongoing research project at Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (DYPMC) Pimpri, Pune. Today (26th August) a batch of faculty from the Dr D Y Patil Institute of Technology (DIT) who volunteered to participate in this research started their yoga sessions stated a press release.

The common yoga protocol is a scientifically developed set of yoga postures, breathing exercises and meditation practices developed by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), Ministry of Ayush. This protocol is provided by the Indian Government to all countries since the inception of the International Day of Yoga (June 22) in 2015. This ongoing randomized controlled trial at DYPMC is the first attempt to study the effect of common yoga protocol by way of objective parameters.  

The method of the study at Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital is to include 138 healthy adults and provide them with in person training to practice the common yoga protocol under expert supervision for 45 days. The study participants undergo psychological tests for assessment of selected brain functions before and after the 45-day practice, while some participants are chosen for a fMRI of the brain to assess neural network connectivity. The study was initiated in October 2023 and has so far enrolled 101 participants including from various backgrounds as nursing, dentistry, administration and security.

The yoga sessions for consenting faculty from the Dr D Y Patil Institute of Technology (DIT) started enthusiastically today. The Principal of DIT Dr Lait Kumar Wadhwa inaugurated the session encouraging the participants to practice yoga regularly. Dr Chandrakant Shende , Chief Librarian at DIT coordinates the yoga study. Present were Dr Sarika Chaturvedi ,Scientist and Principal Investigator of the study from DYPMC along with Yoga teacher Mr Venkat Rachalwar. Dr J S Bhawalkar, Dean DYPMC sent his best wishes to the yoga study and committed all required support from the hospital for this initiative. Co investigators of the study Prof Shalesh Rohatgi and Dr Prajwal Rao from the Department of Neurology at DYPMC are excited to collaborate on this first of it’s kind fMRI based assessment of yoga intervention.

The study is supported by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India.