EFFECT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND YOGIC PRACTICES ON MUSCULAR STRENGTH SELF-CONCEPT AND BLOOD PRESSURE

The purpose of the present study was to find the effect of physical exercise and yogic practice on self-confidence and blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic). For this purpose, forty five middle aged working women of Faridabad town, New Delhi in the age group of 35 – 40 years were selected. They were divided into three equal groups (n = 15), each group consisted of fifteen subjects, in which group – I underwent physical exercise, group – II underwent yogic practice and group – III acted as control group who did not participate in any special training. The training period for this study was six days in a week for twelve weeks. Prior to and after the training period the subjects were tested for self-confidence and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic). Self-confidence was assessed by using Agnihotri self-confidence inventory (ASCI) and blood pressure was assessed by using sphygmomanometer respectively. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to find out the significant difference if any, among the experimental groups and control group on selected criterion variables separately. Since there were three groups involved in this study the Scheffẻ S test was used as pos-hoc test. It was concluded from the result of the study that the physical exercise and yoga practice has positively altered the criterion variables, such as, self-confidence and blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic).