Aim: The aim of present study was to study the effect of Anapanasati meditation on cardiovascular and respiratory parameters among short term meditators (practicing meditation for less than 6 months), long term meditators (practicing meditation for 6months to 5 yrs) and nonmeditators.

Method: The study included 30 short term, 30 long term meditators & 30 non meditators. Systolic blood pressure & diastolic blood pressure were recorded using diamond sphygmomanometer, Heart rate was measured using 108 Cardiodart ECG mahine. Pulmonary function tests: FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF 25-75%, PEFR were measured using Helios 401 medspiror (spirolyser)- A. computerised spirometer. One way ANOVA was used for simultaneous multiple group comparison followed by Post-hoc Tukey’s test for group-wise comparisons.

Results & Conclusion: On analysis of results, it was found that there was statistically significant decrease in heart rate, systolic blood pressure & diastolic blood pressure in long term meditators when compared to short meditators and nonmeditators (p <0.001). There was also statistically significant decrease in heart rate in short term meditator when compared to nonmeditators (p <0.01). There was statistically significant increase in both actual and % predicted values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC in long term meditators and short term meditators compared to non meditators (p <0.001). There was also statistically significant increase in both values of FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC in long term meditators when compared to short term meditators (p <0.001). Long term meditators showed highly statistically significant increase in both actual and % predicted values of FEF25-75%, PEFR when compared to short term meditators and non meditators (p <0.001). Study concludes that meditation provides significant improvement on cardiovascular and respiratory parameters. Improvement continues further by increasing the duration of meditation.

Keywords: Meditation; Cardiovascular Parameters; Pulmonary Function Tests.