Abstract
Mental toughness is a critical psychological attribute that enables athletes to maintain focus, confidence, emotional control, and resilience under competitive pressure. In contemporary competitive sports, psychological attributes such as mental toughness play a crucial role in determining athletic performance alongside physical and technical abilities. Mental toughness enables athletes to cope with stress, regulate emotions, maintain focus, and perform consistently under pressure. Female sportspersons, in particular, face unique psychological challenges related to competitive anxiety, social expectations, and emotional stress, highlighting the need for effective and holistic psychological conditioning strategies. The present study aimed to examine the role of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama in enhancing mental toughness among female sportspersons. A total of 60 female university-level sportspersons aged 18–30 years were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 30) and a control group (n = 30). The experimental group participated in a structured 8-week Nadi Shodhana Pranayama program, practiced five days per week for 30 minutes per session, under the supervision of certified yoga instructors. The control group continued with regular sports training without any pranayama intervention. Mental toughness was assessed using the Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ) before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and repeated measures ANCOVA.The results revealed a significant improvement in mental toughness in the experimental group, with mean SMTQ scores increasing from 61.3 ± 6.2 to 71.8 ± 7.0 (t = 8.92, p < 0.001). In contrast, the control group showed no statistically significant change. ANCOVA results confirmed a significant group effect on post-test mental toughness scores after controlling for pre-test values, indicating that the observed improvement was attributable to the pranayama intervention.The study concludes that integrating pranayama into athletic training programs can serve as a valuable psychological conditioning strategy for female sportspersons, promoting holistic development and improved competitive performance.
Key words: Nadi Shodhana Pranayama, Mental Toughness, Female Sportspersons, Breath Regulation, Sports Psychology.
Author’s Name:–Pundlik Bandu Burande, Dr. Tilak Raj Meena.