Impact of Yoga on Selected Physical Fitness Variables among Women NCC Cadets

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of a structured yoga regimen on specific physical fitness metrics among female National Cadet Corps (NCC) members. The study prioritized assessing leg explosive power alongside overall flexibility. Forty female NCC cadets, within the age bracket of 18 to 22 years, were recruited from a collegiate setting to serve as subjects. The participant pool was randomly split into two distinct cohorts. An Experimental Group was formed with 20 subjects, while a Control Group comprised the remaining 20 individuals. Over 12 weeks, the Experimental Group engaged in a rigorous and systematic yoga training protocol. Conversely, the Control Group refrained from participating in any specialized training activities during this identical timeframe. To determine the efficacy of the intervention, leg explosive power and flexibility were designated as the primary criterion variables. The assessment of leg explosive power was conducted via the Sargent Vertical Jump Test. Meanwhile, the Sit and Reach Test served as the means to gauge flexibility levels. Upon completion of the training period, the gathered data underwent statistical scrutiny utilizing the t-ratio test. A significance threshold was established at 0.05. The analytical results brought to light a substantial enhancement within the Experimental Group. Improvements showed up clearly across both leg explosive power and flexibility metrics. In stark contrast, the Control Group turned in only marginal variations. These findings point out that consistent yoga practice can prop up the development of selected physical fitness attributes among female NCC cadets. Consequently, regular yoga instruction might stand out as a highly beneficial conditioning strategy for those involved in NCC operations. The evidence underscores that integrating such practices can flesh out the existing physical training modules for these cadets. Implementing these routines holds the potential to build up athletic capacity over time.