Positive Psychological Changes at High Altitude Shown by the Low Landers after the Yoga Intervention-Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY).

Immediate ascent to high altitude impairs cognitive performance and mood, leading to depression, anxiety, and reduced sleep quality, general health, and happiness. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), a cyclical breathing technique, has been shown to manage stress, depression, and anxiety, and improve sleep. This two-armed pre-post study examined psychological parameters and happiness in lowlanders at high altitude (Leh). The experimental group, with prior SKY meditation experience, completed a 4-day SKY-AMP protocol at high altitude; the control group had no yoga or meditation experience. The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire showed a significant increase in the SKY group (P ≤ .001) but no significant change in the control group.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Immediate assent to high altitude affects the cognitive performance and mood of an individual, which is followed by depression and anxiety. It also affects the sleep quality, general health, and happiness quotient of an individual. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a cyclical breathing technique, which has been proven successful in managing stress, depression, anxiety, and helps in the improvement of sleep quality. The current study was to understand the role of SKY meditation on psychological parameters, happiness quotient of low landers at high altitude (Leh). It is a two-armed pre-post study with experimental and control group both are lowlanders, and their psychological parameters are being assessed when they immediately assent to high altitude (Leh). There are two groups experimental group (SKY) was from AOL SKY-AMP and has prior SKY meditation experience. The control group does not have any yoga or meditation experience. SKY-AMP is a 4 days protocol done at high altitude by the SKY group. Both groups reach Leh through air mode transportation. Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) showed a significant result in the SKY group with P ≤ .001, whereas it is nonsignificant in the control group. We also observed anthropometric and physiological changes in the participants showing significant effects on weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure; with no significant effect in the control group. It is one of the first studies done with both two groups, where yoga and meditation are done at high altitude and then seen the changes in the groups at physical and psychological level. Yogic practices can be helpful in having positive psychological change in the lowlanders at high altitude.