Impact of Yoga on Hematological and Physiological Parameters in Tribal Female College Students

Abstract

Background: Out of 243 million adolescents living in India, 9% belong to the Scheduled Tribes (ST) residing in underserved rural areas. Despite known disparities, limited research has examined the health and nutritional status of tribal adolescent girls. Although previous studies have shown the beneficial effects of yoga on physiological functions in general populations, there is a lack of evidence regarding its impact on haematological health in tribal college-going females. Methodology: Sixty tribal female college students aged 18–23 years were recruited and randomly assigned to a yoga group (n = 30; mean age ± SD = 19.07 ± 1.11) and a control group (n = 30; mean age ± SD = 19.37 ± 1.18). The yoga group participated in a 1-hour yoga session a day for 12 weeks, while the control group continued their routine. Outcome measures included haematological and physiological parameters. Results: Statistical analysis revealed significant improvements in the yoga group compared to the control group in haemoglobin (Hb) (p = 0.001), platelet count (p = 0.009), Red Blood Cells (RBC) count (p = 0.001), white blood cells (WBC) count (p = 0.003), Body Mass Index (BMI) (p = 0.002), and breath-holding time (BHT) (p = 0.003). Changes in blood pressure (BP) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: A three-month structured yoga program was effective in improving haematological profiles, BMI, and respiratory endurance in tribal female college students, suggesting the potential of yoga as a cost-effective health promotion strategy in underserved populations.