Effect of Bhramari Pranayama on the Acoustic and Aerodynamic Parameters of Voice in Normophonic Females

Acoustic Description of Bhramari Pranayama

The study's aim was (1) To describe the acoustic characteristics of Bhramari pranayama, and (2) to compare the acoustic features of nasal consonant /m/ and the sound of Bhramari pranayama produced by yoga trainers. Cross-sectional study design. Thirty-three adult male yoga trainers performed five repeats of nasal consonant /m/ and Bhramari pranayama. These samples were recorded into Computerized Speech Lab, Kay Pentax model 4500b using a microphone (SM48). Formant frequencies (f F1, f F2, f F3, & f F4), formant bandwidths (BF1, BF2, BF3, & BF4), anti-formant, alpha and beta ratio were analyzed. Nasal consonant /m/ had higher f F2 and anti-formant compared to Bhramari pranayama. Statistical significant differences were noted in f F2, BF3, and anti-formants. Bhramari pranayama revealed a low alpha ratio and a higher beta ratio than /m/. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Findings are discussed from acoustic and physiological perspectives. Bhramari pranayama was assumed to be produced with a larger pharyngeal cavity and narrower velar passage when compared to nasal consonant /m/. Verification at the level of the glottis and with aerodynamic parameters may ascertain the above propositions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-021-03054-1.

A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Bhramari Pranayama on Voice of Prospective Singers

INTRODUCTION

Bhramari Pranayama (BP) is a yogic breathing technique that involves producing a vibrating constant pitch sound emulating the buzzing of bumblebee. Since BP deals with breathing and humming in the sustained pitch, it is hypothesized that it can have implications for improving voice quality in individuals. However, there is a dearth of research available to support this assumption. Further, there are no published reports on the effect of BP on voice quality in prospective singers group.

AIM

Current study was taken up to explore the effect induced by BP in the voice characteristics/quality of prospective singers.

METHOD

The participants included 30 healthy prospective singers in the age range of 18-35 years who were attending music schools within the state of Karnataka, India. BP regimen was demonstrated to all individuals. The voice recordings of the participants were obtained on day 0 and day 30 of BP practice. Acoustic analysis was performed to obtain AVQI and its constituent parameters and voice parameters from the MDVP program.

RESULT

Among the AVQI and its constituent parameters, Cepstral peak prominence-smoothed, Slope LTAS, and Tilt LTAS showed significant differences before and after BP. MDVP showed a significant difference in tremor measures before and after the practice of BP.

DISCUSSION

Results of the present study indicated positive effects of BP on the voice characteristics of the prospective singers and it is reflected in objective acoustic outcome parameters of AVQI and MDVP. This supports the assumption that BP which involves yogic breathing will have beneficial effects on vocal physiology in turn leading to improved voice quality in these individuals. However, it is of future interest to validate these findings on larger samples and populations with different outcome measures. Also, future studies are warranted to verify the efficacy of BP in improving vocal quality and vocal efficiency of individuals with dysphonia.

Immediate effects of “Ujjayi Pranayama” on aerodynamic, acoustic and self perception parameters of voice in professional voice users

Background

Voice plays a major role in communication, and it reveals the speaker's physical and emotional health, personality, and identity. Professional voice users are dependent on their voice for their livelihood. A minimal change or deviation in their voice can interfere with their career. Since respiration is the source for voice production, good lung capacity and the inspiratory-expiratory ratio are very important in maintaining a good voice quality. Ujjayi Pranayama, an effective breathing technique is targeted in this study.

Objective

To investigate the immediate effects of Ujjayi pranayama on acoustic, aerodynamic and self-perception parameters of voice in professional voice users.

Method

Twenty normophonic female teachers performed this breathing technique taught by yoga professional. Parameters of aerodynamic, acoustic, and self-perception were analyzed at pre and post-practice.

Results

Significant differences in the acoustic variables including intensity and jitter were observed. Aerodynamic parameters have shown significant improvements in the variables including Maximum phonation Duration (MPD), Estimated Subglottal Pressure (ESGP), Laryngeal Conductance (LAC), Laryngeal Resistance (LAR) and Sound Pressure Level (SPL). Among the study participants, 80% have rated the Ujjayi pranayama as useful in prepping their voice for the vocal loading tasks.

Conclusion

In view of the better objective evidence and significant improvements in the study variables including the participant's self-perception, authors suggest that Ujjayi pranayama can also be used in voice rehabilitation as a vocal warm-up exercise.

Can Straw Phonation Be Considered As Vocal Warm Up Among Speech Language Pathologists?

OBJECTIVE

Straw phonation exercises have been proved to be effective in improving voice quality among persons with voice pathology. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of straw phonation as a warm-up exercise on maximum phonation duration, acoustic, and perceptual parameters of voice among Speech Language Pathologists.

STUDY DESIGN

The study adopted a pretest-posttest design.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Twenty-five females with the mean age range of 20.87 ± 1.15 years participated in the study and completed a series of straw phonation exercises for three cycles. Maximum phonation duration, acoustic, and self-perceptual measures were assessed before and after the straw phonation exercises. F0, jitter, shimmer, nose to harmonic ratio, intensity, F1, F2, F3, F4, Maximum phonation duration, and the post self-perceptual measures were analyzed.

RESULTS

The results indicated a significant improvement in the F0, intensity, F1, F2, F4, Maximum phonation duration, and self-perceptual measures.

CONCLUSION

Straw phonation exercises provides an easy and effective warm up technique to improve the voice quality among Speech Language Pathologists and can be considered before conducting therapy sessions.

Effects of yoga breathing practice on heart rate variability in healthy adolescents: a randomized controlled trial

Background

This study was conducted among healthy adolescents to assess the effects of a yoga breathing practice (Bhramari pranayama, Bhr.P) towards cardiac autonomic function using heart rate variability (HRV) parameters.

Methods

Of the 730 eligible subjects screened, 520 healthy adolescents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either yoga breathing group (n = 260) or control group (n = 260). The yoga breathing group practiced Bhr.P. five days a week for a duration of six months while the control group continued with their daily routine without any intervention. Outcome measures were time and frequency domain of HRV in both groups which were assessed before and after the intervention using Lead II ECG. Linear models were used in the analysis of short term HRV.

Results

After 6 months of yoga breathing, the time domain parameters of short term HRV showed significant (P < 0.05) improvement towards the parasympathetic domain. Frequency domain parameters also showed the same direction of changes. In contrast, control group subjects showed a trend towards a sympathetic domain.

Conclusion

The present study showed a positive shift in cardiac autonomic modulation towards parasympathetic predominance after 6 months of yoga breathing practice among apparently healthy adolescents.