Effects of Yogic Practices and Counseling on Hypertensive Women

This research proposal investigates the effects of yogic practices and psychological counseling on hypertensive middle-aged women. The study aims to explore how yoga and counseling influence psychological, physiological, and sociological variables, including blood pressure, stress levels, and social well-being. The introduction highlights the prevalence of hypertension in women, particularly in developing economies, and the potential benefits of yoga and psychological interventions. The literature review examines the principles of yogic practices and psychology, their impact on hormonal balance, relaxation, and social factors. It also explores the connection between decreased estrogen levels and hypertension in middle-aged women. The proposal further discusses how yoga and counseling can induce relaxation, improve mental well-being, and help women deal with changes in social realities. The research intends to provide insights into the effectiveness of these interventions in managing hypertension and improving the overall health of middle-aged women. This report is contributed by a student and available on Desklib, a platform offering AI-based study tools.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Title: Effects of Yogic Practices and Psychological Counselling on selected changes on
Psychological, Physiological, Sociological Variables among Hypertensions Middle aged
Women.
Name: CHITTARI GOUDUGULA VISHNU KUMAR
To
Institution: OPEN UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

Introduction
In the majority of developing and growing economies, hypertension in women is a
common cause of death. High blood pressure or hypertension is a relatively common
configurable cardiovascular disease whose occurrence leading to about 85.7 million people in
the United States with a statistics of 33.0 million women against 40.8 million men. (Ahmand
& Oparil, 2017). Yogic traditions and therapeutic concepts were reported with significant
effects among, medieval women with hypertension on the cognitive, physiological and
sociological variables (Bhende et al., 2011). Pakhare (2018) records hypertension declines
relative to the world estimates when compared to India; India is safer than the world average
of 29.20 for men and 24.80 for women. This perception has to do with the fact that yoga
originated in India, which contributes to daily yogic practice in a large part of the Indian
population (Nayak, 2016). Yoga can decrease stress and relax; it calls for strength,
deformation and relaxing of muscle groups and articulations to take various poses. At the end
of the day, these body components help yoga lovers to relax similarly in the manner of
massage. Research teams (Hu et al, 2015, p. 1) suggest that the possibility of high blood
pressure from psychological stress is major. There is evidence for future research on the
connection between psychosocial stress–primarily routine stress, such as that at work–and
increased BP. Moreover, some studies suggest that, the psychological stress interactions and
enhanced BP shifts change with gender. In identified improvements in psychological
physiological and sociological factors in hypertensive, medium-aged women, yogic activities
and psychological concepts have shown an important role.

Review of literature
Yogic Practices and Psychology Principles
Yogic activities and meditation go a long way towards strengthening the well-being of
individuals. Yogic activities consist of a variety of types of meditation, incorporating
strategies for breathing, physical postures, relaxation or medicine. In recent years, there has
been a transition to a type of exercise, focused on positions which encourage superior
management of the mind and body in an effort to improve well-being (Nichols, 2014).
Psychological concepts, on the other hand, fall into five types of psychical functioning:
perception and learning; determination; social and emotional; the meaning and the learning;
and evaluation. Psychology can be viewed as the study of mental life, both its phenomena,
and its circumstances (James, 1890, p. 1). The processes include what people call emotions,
impulses, opinions, reasoning and decisions.
Yoga psychology is known to be a constructive and prescriptive discipline; it explores
not only the nature of man and its creation, but also imposes moral principles and proposes
strategies for achieving these goals (Kumar, 2013). The idea of "Yoga psychology" can be
considered a positive science, as well as a regulatory science. Thus the common goals of
yoga psychology, are to cultivate consciousness and to become the master of your feelings. In
terms of aware, subconscious and unconscious phases, the metaphysical feature of mind as
defined by Freud in its yogic texts in general, was thousands years ago (Kumar, 2013). The
rigorous yoga practice enables people to own a body free of diseases and a powerful and
intellectual mind.

My personal experience with my Teacher Dr Asana Andiappan’s teachings from
Thirumoolor Astanga Yoga Book written By Dr Asana Andiappan about yoga:
Hatha yoga is called ha-sun and Tha-moon meaning sun that reflects Yang or Male and moon
that stands for Yin or Female qualities. Thus, Hatha yoga
Sun stands for raw values, productive quality, confidence, terrifying qualities, highly
ambitious Left brain, which governs our right half of the body, for arithmetical, intellectual
and rational reason.
Moon is gentle, relaxed, peaceful spirit, the arts, imagination, spiritual thinking, meditation,
insight and also the right brain, which tracks our left half of the body.
Yogic poses and breathing results of both minds as they strike the right balance in calming
the nervous system of our body and positive and negative mental attributes, which allows to
become mindful of oneself, regulating the way one feels, helps managing one's emotional and
anxious behaviour. The breathing pattern, when we're unhappy or upset, is very sluggish and
erratic. Our breathing cycle is long and steady, during yoga breathing exercise, because it
requires maximum cardiovascular fitness and lung capacity, which can deliver oxygen to the
bloodstream and relax the mind and can also lead to the reduction of hypertension (high
Blood Pressure) and stress.
In addition, Yoga poses and breathing exercises are practiced in the early hours between 4
and 7am, when more plant are releasing oxygen, which allows the body to oxygenate and
enhances immunity through the removal of toxic substances and high concentrations of
carbon dioxide in the body. This also aims to cure auto-immune disorders and to improve
people's confidence. In accordance with Siddhar Boganathar's ancient yogic literature (with a

Chinese name, also Boyang), he removes contaminants from the body and promotes good
mental properties such as tranquility, peacefulness and greater concentration that lead to the
quality of function and high energy levels due to oxygenation.
The body contaminants are eliminated, and promotion of good mental health properties like
tranquility and calmness, and greater concentration, which lead to functional quality and high
energy levels due to oxygenations, were seen in accordance with Siddhar Boganathar's
ancient yogic literature (including Boyang, also named in Chinese).
The Effect of Yogic Practices and Psychology Principles on dealing with the effects of
decreased estrogen levels among Hypertensive, Middle-Aged Women.
Yogic practices and psychology principles have a connection with shifts in diet,
mental attitude, and the practice of different yoga techniques that elevate people’s
consciousness. Hypertension is a lifestyle ailment and middle-aged women are at the greatest
risk due to the various risk factors that have a connection with menopause. Abramson et al.
(2018) indicate that estrogen has a fairly well-established connection vascular protective
influence in premenopausal women. Estrogen has an effect on endothelial homeostasis due to
its action on cardiomyocyte, vascular, and brain receptors (Abramson et al., 2018). In this
regard, the rejuvenation of pancreatic cells following abdominal stretching during yoga
exercises may increase metabolism and utilization of glucose in liver, peripheral tissues, and
adipose tissues via the enzymatic process (Balaji, Varne, & Ali, 2012). More energetic
practices that are followed by relaxing ones result in profounder relaxation than calming
practices only.
Considering the above, yogic practices and psychological principles have a fairly
robust connection with physiological variables of hypertensive middle-aged women. For
example, transcendental meditation is a type of meditation that entails permitting the mind to

focus on a sequence of phrases (the mantra) that a meditation teacher gives (Balaji, Varne, &
Ali, 2012). If the attention of the student wanders the apprentice is permitted to wander until
his attention comes back to the mantra. Coupling this yogic technique with the more active
yogic practices that involve muscular relaxation leads to the improvement of blood
movement to muscles among middle aged women. This development might heighten insulin
receptor expression on muscles, which causes improved glucose consumption by muscles,
thus, decreasing blood sugar (Balaji, Varne, & Ali, 2012). Further, improvement in lipid
levels following yoga may result in improved lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase at the
cellular level; this impacts the metabolism of lipoprotein, and, by extension, upsurges adipose
tissues’ uptake of triglycerides. Yoga postures can also result in the improvement of
sensitivity in the pancreatic b-Cells of the glucose signal (Balaji, Varne, & Ali, 2012). Yoga
postures may trigger improvement in insulin sensitivity due to the increasing result of
performing the postures. Yoga postures can directly stimulate the pancreas, hence, refreshing
its ability to create insulin. Rejuvenation of pancreatic beta cells can be triggered by the yoga
exercises that stimulate blood movement in the area of the pancreas as well as yoga asana that
fuel the meridian of pancreas.
The Effect of Yogic Practices and Psychology Principles on inducing Relaxation among
Hypertensive, Middle-Aged Women.
When compared with exercises, yogic practices have the capacity to induce a state of
relaxation among hypertensive middle-aged women, which is critical to decreasing their
levels of blood pressure. The shift in the global economy has introduced women to the
corporate world, which means that women nowadays hold some of the most stressful official

positions (Bhende et al., 2011). Managing familial affairs and a career or demanding business
environment exposes women to high levels of stress, which may result in significant
increases in the levels of blood pressure. Studies indicate that middle-aged women are in
relatively high danger of developing hypertension since they take up half of all adult
population that is diagnosed with the ailment (Pakhare, 2018). Abramson et al. (2018)
indicate that the rates of hypertension go high after menopause because the levels of estrogen
decline. Pakhare (2018, p. 2) adds that controlling blood pressure among the older women is
relatively difficult due to the unique types of hypertension that are linked to pregnancy, the
use of OCP, and menopause. In this regard, practicing yoga, through the yogic approach,
allows for the development of various changes in a person’s psychology (Pakhare, 2018). The
yogic approach focuses on developing an attitude of persistence, tenacious practice, and
overpowering hindrances within one’s character; crushing such challenges entails crushing
laziness, rage, delusion, and yearning for being dissimilar to or superior to others.
Accordingly, yogic practices can help the hypertensive, middle-aged women to lower
their levels of blood pressure. In comparison to activities like running, yogic practices like
asana result in decreased levels of blood pressure (Pakhare, 2018). Asana bears a fairly
different connotation when compared to exercises; this yogic practice places emphasis on
relaxation, which tackles the emotional aspects of the person that engages in this exercise.
Pakhare (2018, p. 2 - 3) indicates that asana have a correlation with more positive effects on
the emotional aspects of people; these practices calm down the sympathetic nervous system
as well as decreasing blood pressure. In contrast, exercises stimulate the sympathetic
activities, which increase blood pressure. These realities prove that yoga is effective in
controlling the psychological variables of hypertension. Bhende et al. (2011, p. 1) assert that
working women can effectively control hypertension by practicing yoga every day in the
morning and evening.

The Effect of Yogic Practices and Psychology Principles on helping Hypertensive,
Middle-Aged Women to deal with changes in social realities.
Factors such as geo locality, health behaviour, psychosocial stress and support, and
social demographics have a significant connection with hypertension among hypertensive
middle-aged women. Peltzer & Pengpid (2018, p. 3) indicate that the rate of hypertension
among women, when compared to men, tends to rise among women aged 40 and over. Also,
the prevalence of hypertension decreases for both sexes (stronger for females) by level of
education. Ideally, hypertension is a preventable ailment that has a strong connection with an
unhealthy lifestyle. Tyagi, Dhall, & Kapoor (2015, p. 1) indicate that in India, the rates of
hypertension went up 30 times among the urban populace over a 55-year period and
approximately 10 times among the rural population over a 36-year period. Factors such as
ageing and fatness were attributed to the physiological variability that led to the escalation of
blood pressure. Yogic practices and psychological principles are positioned to offer reliable
solutions to the issues associated with the development of hypertension among the
hypertensive, middle aged women. As Peltzer & Pengpid (2018, p. 3) indicate, the
hypertensive, middle aged women are more vulnerable to hypertension. Accordingly,
knowledge of how yogic practices and psychological principles can be used to decrease
symptoms such as blood sugar levels can go a long way to creating a state of homeostasis
within the bodies of this group of individuals.
Consciousness takes on a significant position in in yoga. Yoga works with vibrant and
sound meditation techniques for the realization of psychic awareness through the wakening of
kundalini (Kumar, 2013). Homeostasis is the fundamental principle aspect in yoga
psychology, and it posits that any kind of disproportion in the system — physical, mental, or
pranic — causes ailments and the solution is found in rebalancing the system. Herein

emerges the place of yogic psychotherapies like yajna, prarthana, svadhyaya, spiritual
counselling, mantra sadhana, pranayama, sankirtana, and vrata anushthana (Kumar, 2013).
Modern medications can manage hypertension to some degree, but in the long run their side
effects may outweigh their insides; yoga presents an alternative healthcare technique that
betters blood pressure control. Woodyard (2011) asserts that yoga heightens blood flow and
degrees of red blood cells and haemoglobin that gives way to more oxygen to spread to the
body cells, boosting their utility. Suri, Saini, & Gupta (2016, p. 318) add that there is
substantial evidence regarding the centrality of nutrition for wellbeing, and researchers
propose that dietary dynamics are so essential that the wellbeing of countries may be
associated with them. Pakhare (2018) asserts that India reports reduced levels of hypertension
when associated with global estimates; India is healthier than the universal average of
29.20% in males and 24.80% in females. These figures have a link with the fact that Yoga
originated in India, and so a noteworthy percentage of the populace participates in regular
yogic practices (Nayak, 2016); yoga is effective in lessening stress levels and relaxing.
METHODOLOGY
The methodology used in this research involved the selection of subjects, selection of
variables, criterion measures, reliability of data, Instrument reliability, competency tester,
orientation of subjects, administration of the test and statistical procedure for analysing the
data have been described.
SELECTON OF THE SUBJECTS

For the purpose of study 45 middle aged hypertension Women were randomly will be
selected from Hong Kong city as subjects, between the age group of 35 to 50 years. All the
subjects will be assigned to two experimental groups and one control group each group
consisting 15 subjects. Group I and II were treated as experimental group and named, will be
conducted Both in Anahata Yoga studio and Andiappan Yoga Community Programs
https://www.yogacommunity.org/ which already conducting various yoga programs in
various Hospitals and various educational institution.
Experimental Group I -Yogic Practices.
Experimental Group II - Psychological Counselling.
Group III - Control group.
SELECTION OF THE VARIABLES
The researcher reviewed the available scientific literature pertaining to the Yogic practices
and Psychological Counselling on selected Physiological, Psychological variables.
In the present study following variables were selected.
INDEPENDENT VARIABLES
 Yogic practices
 Psychological counselling
DEPENDENT VARIABLES
 Control Group
PHYSIOLOGICAL VARIABLES
 Blood Pressure
 Pulse rate

 BMI
PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES
 Stress
 Self confidence
 Depression
SOCIOLOGICAL VARIABLES
 Home Environment
 Job Nature
 Area Locality
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
The study will be formulated as a true random group design from the research design.
For the purpose of the study the subjects of Forty-Five middle aged Hypertensive Women
between the age group of 35 to 50 years were selected. The random group design will be used
as experimental design for this study. The subjects were selected randomly divided in to three
groups namely experimental group I, experimental group II and one control group. All the
groups were tested on selected variables before the training. After the pre-test scores recorded
the experimental groups went training as follows.
Experimental Group I - Training on Yogic Practices.
Experimental Group II –Psychological counselling
Control Group III - as a control group with no training.
Both the experimental groups will be given training for about six weeks. ie from
Monday to Friday (five days a week). The post tests were also recorded on the physiological,
psychological and Sociological variables after the period of training.

And both pre-and post-tests mean values were compared for analysis using statistical
technique of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
PILOT STUDY
The pilot study will be conducted with 15 middle aged diabetic men before the actual
training started to assess the initial capacity of the subjects in order to fix the load on both the
experimental groups and difficulties were noted and rectified. Based on the response of the
subjects in the pilot study and the calculated intra class correlation of the pilot study found
that they were within the each of the individual`s capacity and showed that there was
significant changes in physiologically in blood pressure, pulse rate and BMI psychologically
stress self-confidence and depression and. This enabled the investigator to adapt suitable
training schedule for the study.
CRITERION MEASURES
By glancing the literature and in consultation with professionals and experts the following
criterion measures were selected for measuring the variables in this study is presented in the
table 1
TABLE 1
CRITERIAN MEASURES AND TEST INSTRUMENTS USED
VARIABLES CRITERIAN
MEASURES
INSTRUMENT USED
Blood pressure mmHg Electronic Sphygmomanometer
Pulse rate Beats per
minute
Electronic Sphygmomanometer
BMI Kg/m2 BMI calculator, Electronic Weighing Machine

Stress Marks Stress questionnaire constructed by Dr.Latha
Satish (1997) consisting of 52 questions.
Self confidence Marks Self-confidence questionnaire developed by
Rekha Agnihotri (1987) consisting of 52
questions.
Depression Marks Goldberg Depression Questionnaire designed by
Ivan Goldberg (1993) consisting of 18 questions.
Home
Environment
Marks Free Yoga & Psychology counselling workshop
for individual participant.
Job Nature Marks Free Yoga & Psychology counselling workshop
for individual participant.
Locality Marks Free Yoga & Psychology counselling workshop
for the participants in different localities.
RELIABILITY OF DATA
The reliability of data will be ensured by using standard instruments and by establishing test
competency and reliability of the test. The investigator took all the measurements with From
the individual subjects from Anahata Yoga studio and Free Yoga Psychology workshop at
Andiappan Yoga Community Programs https://www.yogacommunity.org/
with regards to physiological Test.
RELIABILITY OF INSTRUMENT

Standardized equipment’s were used for the testing procedures. The equipment were
used for this study Electronic Sphygmomanometer to measure the blood pressure, measure
pulse rate, BMI calculator used to measure the BMI by weighting machine, Standardized
questionnaires used to assess the stress, self-confidence depression for this study. The entire
instrument used for this study were in good condition and workable. The calibrations were
tested and found to be accurate enough to serve the purpose of this study.
SUBJECT RELIABILITY
The test and retest also conducted to the same subjects under similar condition by the
same tester.
ORIENTATION OF THE SUBJECTS
Prior to the administration of the test, a detailed discussion was carried out with the
subjects about the purpose of the study, training procedures and techniques, its benefits and
limitations by the researcher. Before the scientific test administration, procedure was
explained in detail and proper understanding; co-operation was obtained for reliability of the
data.
TRAINING PRAGRAMME
The subjects will be selected at random and were divided into three groups and the
experimental group I was trained Yogic practices and experimental group II will be followed
Psychological individual Counselling will be conducted through a Yoga Psychology
counselling workshop will be conducted at Anahata Yoga Studio
https://www.anahatayoga.com.hk/ and Free Yoga Psychology workshop at Andiappan Yoga

Community Programs https://www.yogacommunity.org/ for duration of two hours from
Monday to Friday (5 days a week) for 6 weeks. And the control group was not given any
training.
Yogic training programmes for selected groups are presented in the
table 2 given below
TABLE 2
TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR SELECTED GROUPS
GROUPS PROGRAMMES
Experimental Group I-Yogic
Practices
 Loosening Warming Exercises,
 Asana (Postures), Pranayama
(Breathing exercise)
 Meditation.
 Yoga Nidra Yoga sleeping Meditation
Experimental Group II-
Psychological counselling
 Problems Finding or identification
 Path finding for problems
 Addressing their Realities both work
and home
 Solutions for Correcting
Control Group No practice
Flow Chart Method
Effects of Yogic Practices and Psychology
Counselling on selected changes on
Psychological, Physiological, and Sociological
Variables among Hypertensions Middle-aged
Women.
Middle aged
Hypertension
Women
Total of
Subjects 45

Results and Conclusion
Yogic practices and psychology Counselling have noteworthy influences on selected shifts in
psychological, physiological, and sociological variables among hypertensive, middle-aged
women. In comparison to exercises, yogic practices and breathing excises are more likely to
induce a state of relaxation among hypertensive middle-aged women, and this is critical to
Psychological
counselling
Group– 15
Subjects
Yogic Practices
Group – 15
Subjects
Control Group
– 15 Subjects
PRE-TEST
Physiological Variables
 Blood Pressure
 Pulse Rate
 BMI
PRE-TEST
Psychological Variables
 Stress
 Self Confidence
 Depression
POST TEST
Physiological Variables
 Blood Pressure
 Pulse Rate
 BMI
Experimental
Group I
6 Weeks of
Yogic Practices
Experimental
Psychological counselling
Group II 6
Weeks of Followed
Control Group
No Training for 6
Weeks
POST TEST
Sociological Variables
 Work performance
 Home environment
 Locality
POST TEST
Psychological Variables
 Stress
 Self Confidence
 Depression
PRE-TEST
Sociological Variables
 Home
 Work
 Locality

decreasing their levels of blood pressure. Middle-aged women are in danger of developing
symptoms associated with hypertension due to factors such as decreased estrogen levels,
factors associated with Menopause, pregnancy, stress associated with balancing family and
work roles, and the use of medication such as OCP. Yogic practices and psychology
Counselling offer the most practical solutions since they induce a state of relaxation,
decreased use of medication that present various side effects, and increasing blood flow
within the body. These practices result in the development of a healthier hypertensive,
middle-aged woman, as discussed above.
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