title: Effect of repetitive yogic squats with specific hand position (Thoppukaranam) on selective attention and psychological states.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research on the effect of Thoppukaranam is limited despite it being practiced as a form of worship to the elephant-headed deity Lord Ganapati and punishment in schools.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Thoppukaranam on selective attention and psychological states in a sample of young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized self-as-control within subjects design was employed. Thirty undergraduate students (4 females and 26 males) from a residential Yoga University in Southern India were recruited for this study (group mean age ± standard deviation, 20.17 ± 2.92).
  
  
  METHODS
  The d2 test, State Anxiety Inventory-Short Form and State Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (SMAAS) were used to measure cognitive performance and psychological states. Assessments were made in three sessions: Baseline, control (squats), and experimental (Thoppukaranam) on 3 separate days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures analyses of variance between three sessions, that is, baseline, squat, and Thoppukaranam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in all measures of the d2 test of attention (TN, E, TN-E, E%, and concentration performance) and state mindfulness after Thoppukaranam. Further state anxiety reduced significantly after the experimental session.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate Thoppukaranam results in enhancement of cognitive functioning and psychological states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Kempegowda Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chandrasekeran
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Kempegowda Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sasidharan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.affiliation: Division of Yoga and Physical Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Kempegowda Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Tm
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
keywords: Mental Concentration; Thoppukaranam; selective attention; squats; state anxiety; state mindfulness