Work 63 (2019) 243–251 DOI:10.3233/WOR-192925 IOS Press 243 Effect of yoga on vigilance, self rated sleep and state anxiety in Border Security Force personnel in India Shirley Telles ∗ , Niranjan Kala, Ram Kumar Gupta, Sadhana Verma, Babita Vishwakarma, Savita Agnihotri, Kumar Gandharva and Acharya Balkrishna Patanjali Research Foundation, Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India Received 20 April 2018 Accepted 3 March 2019 Abstract. BACKGROUND: Military occupations require heightened vigilance with resultant sleep disturbances, increased anxiety and reduced vigilance. OBJECTIVE: To compare yoga with physical training to reduce insomnia, anxiety and increase vigilance in security personnel. METHODS: One hundred and twelve Border Security Force personnel (BSF group, males; mean age ± SD = 30.4 ± 7.4 years) were compared with 112 personnel of a private security firm (SIS group). The BSF group received yoga for nine days and the SIS group received physical training for the same period. Assessments were at baseline and after 9 days, with the digit vigilance test (DVT), Spielberger’s STAI-S, and a sleep rating questionnaire. RESULTS: (1) Between groups: (i) at baseline the BSF group had higher vigilance and more daytime naps compared to the SIS group and (ii) after nine days the SIS group had higher state anxiety compared to the BSF group (ANOVA, Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc comparisons; SPSS Version 24.0) (2) In post-pre intervention comparisons (i) the BSF group increased vigilance and decreased state anxiety after yoga, with improved sleep, while (ii) the SIS group showed increased vigilance after physical training. CONCLUSION: Yoga may improve sleep, reduce anxiety while increasing vigilance in occupations requiring vigilance. Keywords: Alertness, insomnia, armed forces, unease 1. Introduction Military occupations can be broadly categorized as combat or support roles. The relevance of this categorization is that a service member would expe- rience difficult levels of stress due to the nature of deployment [1]. Military service members live and ∗ Address for correspondence: Shirley Telles, Director, Patan- jali Research Foundation, Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar - 249405, Uttarakhand, India. Tel.: +91 9897963254; E-mail: shirleytelles@ gmail.com. work in a unique and challenging environment fac- ing physically and mentally demanding workloads, deployments and exposure to combat [2]. These stressors could contribute to impaired physical and psychological performance. After a simulated com- bat exercise, U.S. army officers showed impaired vigilance, reaction time, attention, memory, and reasoning [3]. Most military exercises require vigi- lance, which if prolonged could lead to physiological arousal and stress [4]. Increased vigilance has been associated with increased sympathetic nervous sys- tem activity [5]. 1051-9815/19/$35.00 © 2019 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved