Effects of selected meditative asanas on kinaesthetic perception and speed of movement

Study aim: To assess the effects of selected meditative asanas on kinesthetic perception and movement speed. Material and methods: Thirty randomly selected male students aged 18 - 24 years volunteered to participate in the study. They were randomly assigned into two groups: A (medidative) and B (control). The Nelson's movement speed and reaction test and horizontal space test (to assess the kinaesthetic ability to determine specific positions along the horizontal line) were applied. The subjects from Group A were subjected to 8-week training of meditative asanas which included Padmasana, Siddhasana, Sukhasana, Vajrasana and Ushtrasana. Results: The kinaesthetic perception and movement speed significantly (p<0.001) improved (by nearly 10%) in Group A compared with the control one. Conclusions: Training asanas may be recommended to improve concentration-based performance.