The inability of an individual to identify, assess, and manage emotions and levels of stress has adverse individual and societal consequences. Previous studies have shown that yoga-based interventions can successfully treat stress, anxiety, and depression, and can enhance emotional control. The aim of the current study was to assess the effect of a specific, intensive, yoga-based intervention, Dynamic Suryanamaskar, on the levels of perceived stress and emotional intelligence in Indian male school students. One hundred and five students with a median age of 17.15 ± 1.42 years were assessed. Practice took place over 12 weeks (n = 70 workouts). The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaire and the emotional intelligence (EQ) questionnaire, developed for the Indian population, were used to measure stress and emotional levels at the start and end of the study. The Solomon four-group design was used to ensure statistical reliability. The post-study univariate analysis of covariance ANOVA between groups (p < 0.001) and the t-test for independent samples (p < 0.05) indicated that, for those using the Dynamic Suryanamaskar protocol, there was a significant reduction in stress levels and a significant (p < 0.01) increase in the levels of emotional intelligence. This study thus provides further evidence of the benefits of the practice of Dynamic Suryanamaskar.

Tracking changes in the body during fasting takes into account indicators of mental well-being and physiological parameters. The aim of the study was to measure psychological and physiological reactions, along with their mutual relations, caused by 8 days of water-only fasting. Fourteen men aged 35 to 60 participated in the study, divided into two groups, younger and elder. In addition to physiological parameters, psychological data were collected using four different tests. The obtained results confirmed reduction in body weight, systolic blood pressure, resting diastolic blood pressure and glucose level, and increase in resting heart rate, cortisol and β-hydroxybutyrate concentration. However, no significant psychological changes were observed under the influence of fasting intervention. A significant interaction effect occurred for the state anxiety variable determined before and after the fasting intervention for both groups. Moreover, negative correlations between physiological (cortisol) and psychological factors of subjectively assessed stress were revealed. The only effect on cognitive ability was seen when responding to simple tasks. The study confirmed the beneficial effect of 8 days of water-only fasting on physiological variables without affecting mental well-being. The relatively high level of well-being after fasting intervention was independent of the physiological indicators of stress.

Study aim : The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of 8 days of water-only fasting and physical exercise on somatic variables, lipid profile, insulin resistance and cardiovascular function in middle-aged men. Material and methods : Body weight, body composition, lipid profile, serum concentrations of insulin, glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB), heart rate (HR), blood pressure and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were determined in 16 apparently healthy men at rest and after aerobic exercise. This test procedure was also repeated after 8 days of water-only fasting. Results : Fasting intervention resulted in a reduction in body weight and fat mass (p < 0.001). The simultaneous effect of fasting and exercise resulted in significant changes in lipid profile, carbohydrate metabolism and cardiovascular function. Post hoc analyses showed that the reductions in insulin and glucose concentrations as well as the HOMA-IR index were caused by the fasting, and changes in the lipid profile and cardiovascular function were caused by the exercise test. Conclusion : The combined use of fasting and physical effort resulted in an optimal effect on health indicators of the surveyed men.

Ventilatory threshold is one of the ways to measure cardiovasculatory fitness of the body. Therefore, in the present study it was decided to demonstrate which physiological parameters most accurately express the second ventilatory threshold (VAT2) depending on the cardiovasculatory fitness of different groups of athletes and untrained men. The study involved the following athletes: race walkers (n=14), weightlifters (n=16), powerlifters (n=16), runners (n=14), professional soccer players (n=13), amateur soccer players (n=16), martial arts (n=12), and untrained men (n=15). Subjects’ VAT2 and maximal load (ML) were recorded and at these levels were determined the value of achievable maximal power (P), oxygen uptake (VO2), heart rate (HR), the ratio for oxygen uptake and heart rate (VO2/HR) and the rate-pressure produkt (RPP). It was shown that subjects were of similar age but different body mass (BM) and BMI. There were also differences between athlete groups at VAT2 and ML in relation to: P, VO2, VO2/HR (p<0.001) and RPP only at VAT2 (p<0.023). Reached HR values at VAT2 as well as at ML have not differed between the groups. There were also intergroup differences at VAT2 in terms of relative values: %VO2max (p<0.002), %Pmax(p<0.016), %VO2max/%HRmax (p<0.03). Relatively expressed %HRmax and %RPPmax reached at VAT2 did not differ between the two groups. Runners, professional soccer players and race walkers achieved the most favorable indicators of physical performance. It has been demonstrated that VAT2 besides P i %Pmax was best described by VO2, %VO2max and by VO2/HR and %VO2max/%HRmax, as well as by RPP. On the other hand HR and %HRmax, as well as %RPPmax are not useful in this regard. Furthermore it should be recognized that athletes in whose structure of the training occurred running of varying intensity achieved the highest physical fitness.