Yoga: An Approach to Holistic Health for Climacteric Symptoms - A Prospective Randomized Interventional Study

Menopause is a normal occurrence in the life of every woman. The term is derived from the Greek, which actually means 'cessation of periods'. Menopause occurs due to cessation of ovarian function.The word menopause and climacteric are used interchangeably. It also indicates a 'change of life' from one of reproduction, which is coming to an end. The age of menopause varies from 45 to 50 years. In some woman, the age of menopause may be 51 or 52 years. This community based study tested the effect of yoga on climacteric symptoms of menopausal women. This was a prospective randomized interventional study. The study was conducted in selected villages at Kattankulathur Block, Chennai, TamiInadu, India. Multistage sampling technique was used for the identification of menopausal women for the study. The total sample size was 260 menopausal women and they were randomly allotted to two groups: 130 of them to yoga group and 130 of them to control group. The yoga group has undergone yoga training programme which consists of Yogasanas, Pranayama (Breathing exercise) and Meditation. The yoga group has practiced yoga for 5 days in a week for 1 hr/day for 12 weeks by trained instructor. The assessments were made by five point Rating scale (to assess the physical and psychological symptoms) which is based on Standardized Menopause Rating scale(MRS)and Perceived Stress Scale (for level of stress of menopausal women). After 12 weeks of yoga practice, the physical symptoms of menopausal women were reduced to greater extent in yoga group than in control group at p>0.001 level of significance. There was significantly better improvement in the psychological symptoms of menopausal women in yoga group (p>0.001) than in control group. In the yoga group, there was a marked reduction of stress level after 12 weeks of intensive yoga practice (p>0.001) than in control group. The present study concluded that, yoga is an effective intervention in reducing the physical, psychological symptoms and level of stress of menopausal women. Yoga's approach to holistic health is powerful tool for helping the women experience the passage into menopause as a positive event, both physically and spiritually.