Effect of short term yoga practice on ventilatory function tests.

METHODS: Twenty five normal male volunteers undergoing a ten week yoga course were assessed by ventilatory function tests. RESULTS: The observations recorded at the end of ten weeks of the course showed improved ventilatory functions in the form of lowered respiratory rate, increased forced vital capacity, FEV1, maximum breathing capacity and breath holding time, while tidal volume and %FEV1, did not reveal any significant change.