Effect of anapanasati meditation on anxiety verbal aggression and depression

Abstract

BACKGROUND newlineModern life, beset with tensions and anxiety, continues to crush people with an increasing number newlineof deaths and deteriorating quality of life. newlineDespite technological growth and enhanced material standards of living, the real quality of living newlinein terms of love, happiness and peace are nowhere in sight. newlineAs science and technology are progressing, on one hand, new types of diseases are erupting thus newlinepaving the way for deteriorating quality of life. The reason for all this is stress, which we observed newlinein the recent past, triggers Anxiety, Depression, Verbal Aggression, etc. The best way to fight newlinestress is Yoga. newlineYoga and spirituality contain secrets of the structure and laws of the entire universe. Through this newlinewisdom, Yoga offers a unique new way of life to modern man. Yoga which comprises of yogand#257;sanas, newlinebreathing techniques (prand#257;nand#257;yand#257;ma) and meditation is known for its applications in physical fitness newlineand a better quality of life. Yoga is also effective in decreasing anxiety, confusion, tension and newlinedepression (Deshpande, Nagendra and Raghuram 2008). Not only therapeutic values but also newlinepsychological, spiritual and philosophical values are accessible and achievable through Yogic newlinepractices. Many have immensely benefited from these practices. newlineMany scientific studies were done in the recent past to investigate the effect of Yoga and mindful newlinemeditation techniques on emotional states such as anxiety and depression. But we found that very newlinefew studies in the case of and#256;nand#257;pand#257;nasati Meditation, a mindful breathing technique has been done. newlineMindful meditation techniques such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) have shown newlinesignificant improvements in psychological wellbeing. Hence, we took up scientific studies on the newlineeffect of and#256;nand#257;pand#257;nasati Meditation also on improving the overall psychological well-being. We had designed the present study to test the effect of and#256;nand#257;pand#257;nasati Meditation on emotions such as newlineanxiety, anger and depression in adults. newlineAIM newlineThe study is aimed to investigate the effect of and#256;nand#257;pand#257;nasati