Abstract:
Regular physical exercise is an important factor to improve health and well-being. The practice
of combined physical exercise has little evidenced as the best intervention of modulating
physiological and psychological variables. The main interest of the present study was to evaluate
the effect of moderate intensity aerobic exercises combined with yoga on cardiorespiratory
capacity and self-concept. The study design was experimental and simple survey without control
group or placebo. For this study 35 young (age: 19-22 years) healthy sedentary female
undergraduate subjects were selected using purposive sampling method. Out of the 35 subjects,
only twenty eight subjects were able to complete the study. The training program was given to the
Subjects with specified level of intensity for 8 weeks. The training exercises were such as walking,
swimming, bhastrika, kapalphati and bhramari. The cardiorespiratory capacity and self-concept
assessment tests were taken before and after the training. VO2max was assessed by Rockport
fitness walking test at Haramaya University 400meter stadium track. The Body Mass Index (BMI)
was calculated using the weight and height of the subjects (BMI = W/H², where W is weight in
kilograms and H2 is height in meters squared). Heart rate was taken using 15 second count at the
Carotid artery. The Self-concept was assessed by Revised Janis-Field self-concept inventory scale.
The data was analyzed by SPSS- version 20 software package. The comparison of means was
carried out by paired T-test. The level of significance was 0.05%.
The result of the present study showed significant (P≤0.05) improvement in VO2max (MD -3.64),
BMI (MD 1.22), RHR (MD 4.86), social-confidence (MD -16.72), physical ability (MD -4.18) and
global self-esteem (MD -2.97). The academic ability (MD -0.25) and physical appearance (MD -
0.65) were not shown significant change. The present study concluded that the combined practice
of moderate aerobic exercise with yoga provide the beneficial effect on improvement of
cardiorespiratory capacity and general self-concept.
