Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study |
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| Authors: | Luciano Bernardi Peter Sleight Gabriele Bandinelli Simone Cencetti Lamberto Fattorini Johanna Wdowczyc-Szulc Alfonso Lagi |
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| Institution: | aDipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy, bDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, cDipartimento di Medicina Interna, Unitá Ospedaliera S Maria Nuova, 50100 Florence, Italy, dDepartment of Cardiology, University of Gdansk, 80-211 Gdansk, Poland |
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| Abstract: | ObjectiveTo test whether rhythmic formulas such as the rosary and yoga mantras can synchronise and reinforce inherent cardiovascular rhythms and modify baroreflex sensitivity.DesignComparison of effects of recitation of the Ave Maria (in Latin) or of a mantra, during spontaneous and metronome controlled breathing, on breathing rate and on spontaneous oscillations in RR interval, and on blood pressure and cerebral circulation.SettingFlorence and Pavia, Italy.Participants23 healthy adults.ResultsBoth prayer and mantra caused striking, powerful, and synchronous increases in existing cardiovascular rhythms when recited six times a minute. Baroreflex sensitivity also increased significantly, from 9.5 (SD 4.6) to 11.5 (4.9) ms/mm Hg, P<0.05.ConclusionRhythm formulas that involve breathing at six breaths per minute induce favourable psychological and possibly physiological effects. What is already known on this topicReduced heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity are powerful and independent predictors of poor prognosis in heart diseaseSlow breathing enhances heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity by synchronising inherent cardiovascular rhythmsWhat this study addsRecitation of the rosary, and also of yoga mantras, slowed respiration to almost exactly 6/min, and enhanced heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivityThe rosary might be viewed as a health practice as well as a religious practice |
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