Aim: Jalandhar bandha is one of the three important Bandhas which are essentially required to be performed during Kumbhaka in Pranayama. Excessive pressure is developed in the lungs during Kumbhaka which elevates the blood pressure. Hence it is interesting to know the effect of Jalandhar Bandh on the Blood Pressure.

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This paper aims towards the effect of Jalandhar Bandh practiced properly during the Kumbhaka, on Blood Pressure (Systolic & Diastolic).

Background:
It is observed that the blood pressure increases during the practice of Kumbhaka as there is excessive pressure developed in the lungs during the Kumbhaka. It is also warned strictly in all Yogic Texts to perform all the three Bandhas during Kumbhaka. The position and the description of the Jalandhar Bandha indicates that there is some relation in between increased blood pressure and Jalandhar Bandha. Jalandhar Bandha creates the pressure on the Carotial Sinus which in turn reduces the Blood Pressure. Hence the hypothesis is " Performing the Jalandhar Bandha in the proper way helps to reduce the Blood Pressure."

Materials and Method:

Subjects: Subjects (21 nos.)were chosen from the Yoga Praveen Class which was being conducted at our center. These subjects were practicing all types of Pranayamas twice every day with all three Bandhas.

Introduction: The detailed explanation regarding the Jalandhar Bandha is given in Hatha Pradeepika as follows

Kanthamakunchya Hadaye Sthapyechhibukm Drudham |
Bandho Jalandharakhyoym Jaramrutyuvinashakah

This indicates that there are two actions in this Bandha

Bending the neck and fixing the chin in the jugular notch.
Contracting the muscles of the neck from all sides.

The Design:
The subjects were asked to sit in Padmasana for one minute and B.P. was measured. They were asked to practice one round of Purak and Kumbhaka with bending the neck and fixing the chin in the jugular notch only. They were asked not to use the proper technique of Jalandhar Bandha i.e. to contract the muscles of the neck. The BP was measured in this position. (Table No.1) Similarly the BP was measured during Kumbhaka but with proper Jalandhar Bandha i.e. by contracting the muscles of the neck from all sides and then bending the neck little forward. (Table No.2).

Results:
The extract from the Table No. 1. is as follows
The Jalandhar Bandha is performed with only bending the neck & fixing the chin in the jugular notch.

(The figures indicate the no. of subjects)

It is observed that the Systolic BP is decreased in 6 subjects, increased in 10 subjects and there was no change in 5 subjects. The Diastolic BP was decreased in 7 subjects, increased in 7 subjects and there was no change in 7 subjects.

The extract from the Table No.2 is as follows

The Jalandhar Bandha is performed by contracting all muscles of the neck from all sides.

(These figures indicate the no. of subjects)

It is observed that after the proper Jalandhar Bandha the Systolic BP is decreased in 12 Subjects, increased in 3 subjects and there was no change in 6 subjects. The Diastolic BP was decreased in 16 subjects, increased in 2 subjects and there was no change in 3 subjects.

Results statistically significant:

We will consider

H0 : No change in Blood pressure

H1 : Blood Pressure Decreased

Considering the Table No.1 and Systolic Blood Pressure

• Calculated 't' value is 0.32
• Standard 't' value 1.725 at 5% level from the Standard Tables
• This indicates that 't' cal(0.32)< 't' std(1.725)
• Hence accept the H0 i.e. there is no change in BP in this case.

Considering the Table No. 1 and Diastolic Blood Pressure

• Calculated 't' value is 0.416
• Standard 't' value is 1.725 at 5% level from the Standard Tables
• This indicates that 't' cal (0.416)< 't' std(1.725)
• Hence accept the H0 i.e. there is no change in BP in this case.

Considering the Table No.2 and Systolic Blood Pressure

• Calculated 't' value is 1.97
• Standard 't' value 1.725 at 5% level from the Standard Tables
• This indicates that 't' cal(1.97) > 't' std(1.725)
• Hence reject the H0 and accept the H1 i.e. the Blood Pressure decreased in this case.

Considering the Table No. 2 and Diastolic Blood Pressure

• Calculated 't' value is 2.826
• Standard 't' value is 2.528 at 1% level from the Standard Tables
• This indicates that 't' cal(2.826) > 't' std(2.528)
• Hence reject the H0 and accept the H1 i.e. the Blood Pressure decreased in this case.

It is statistically proved that there is no change in BP during Pranayama with only fixing the chin in the jugular notch but BP is considerably reduced during the proper Jalandhar Bandha, i.e. contracting all the muscles of the neck and bending the neck little forward.

Discussions:

While practicing the Pranayama i.e. Kumbhaka, if the Jalandhar Bandha is not performed properly by contracting the neck muscles the blood pressure will rise the BP and it may lead to permanent Hyper Tension.

Hence it is essential to perform the Jalandhar Bandha properly to keep the BP on the lower side during the practice of Pranayama with Kumbhaka.

Acknowledgment:

The author is thankful to Miss. Subhashini Batchu & Miss Suvarna Karnik for helping in data collection. The author is also thankful to Mrs. Jayashree Bhalerao in helping in statistical calculations.

Keywords: Jalandhar Bandha, Proper Kumbhak, Reduction of BP

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Table No 1

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Table No 2