PhD, Associate Professor O.B. Podolyaka¹
PhD A.E. Podolyaka^1
1Cherepovets State University, Cherepovets

Abstract 

The article explores ways to improve students’ adaptation to the study at the higher educational establishment. The goal of research is to identify the most effective methods of respiratory gymnastics that affect the adaptation of the first year students. The first part of research dealt with a theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature which allowed us to distinguish the main features and methods of respiratory gymnastics in order to improve the health condition of the students. The second part of the research dealt with pedagogical experiment. There were 4 groups of students studying at the Humanities and Education and Psychology Institutes selected to participate in this experiment. Certain group of students, controlling one, was engaged to follow the approved curriculum of the discipline "Physical Education and Sports". In the groups taking part in the experiment in addition to the approved program, respiratory gymnastics was additionally carried out: in the experimental group No. 1 - Respiratory Gymnastics by Strelnikova, experimental group No. 2 - Gymnastics Nishi Katsuzo techniques, experimental group No. 3 - Pranayama. The final part of this research dealt with the processing of the obtained data of the functional tests which were carried out, with p = 0.05 . Before and after the time the experiment was held, significant changes in the parameters of the head-up tilt table test controlling and experimental group No. 1 were revealed. According to the indicators of the timed expiratory capacity test, no differences were observed in the controlling group only. According to the indicators of the Ruffier test, differences were observed in experimental group No. 1 only. To assess the adaptation of students to the studies at the higher educational establishment, the average grade point score and the average number of absences due to illness were used. In the experimental group involved studying based on the method of Respiratory Gymnastics by A.N. Strelnikova, there were fewer absences due to illness and there was a general increase in the emotional mood for study. In the experimental group engaged in the studies based on methodology of Gymnastics Nishi Katsuzo techniques, the average grade point was the best among the groups. In the experimental group involved in the studies with the addition of Pranoyama methodology, observed complex positive changes among the students of the group. Students noted in self-monitoring diaries that classes help them to control their own emotions and, moreover, their actions become more peaceful. The application of all the mentioned methods introduced a positive effect, but the application of it should be adjusted to the individual needs of the students.

Keywords: adaptation, Pranayama, Nichi, Strelnikova, Diaphragm Breathing, Functional trial.

Introduction. Increasing number of the social-psychological and functional load influence student significantly which affects negatively their physical state and, moreover, it affects badly their mental health and opportunities for the adaptation. Conducting lessons on the subject “Physical Education and Sports” to the students are intended to improve the state of health of the students. It also develops all the professionally significant physical abilities, which lead to the increasing adaptation level of the students and body functionality [1, 2, 3].  

In our everyday life, anyone hardly ever thinks about right breathing. The fast inhalation and exhalation rhythm does not give the body enough oxygen as only the upper part of the lungs works. This affects negatively the circulatory and excitatory system functionality. It causes poor adaptation to learning, feeling unwell, and eventually may cause long-term illness [4]. The relevance of the research is aimed at studying the ways to improve the adaptation of the first-year students to educational activities at the higher educational establishment. It is very problematic due to the fact that of yesterday schoolchildren are being transited to the new forms of academic work. The more effectively students adapt to the university education in the beginning of their studies, the higher will be their psychological comfort, educational motivation, focus and nature of educational activities in senior courses [5, 6]. Therefore, it is especially important to study such part of university life as adaptation and development of ways and methods to improve the adaptation process to studying at university.

Objective of research was to identify the most effective methods of respiratory gymnastics that affect the adaptation of the first-year students. 

Tasks:

• To explore the scientific and methodological literature and choose respiratory  gymnastics techniques, developing the students’ adaptation;
•  Determine the influence of the methods of the chosen respiratory  gymnastics on the students’ adaptation to studying at the  higher educational establishment.

Methods and structure of research. During the research, a set of interrlated methods was used: theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature, pedagogical observations and experiment, methods of quantitative processing of the results.

At the first stage (August 2018), a theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature made it possible to identify the main features and methods of breathing exercises to improve the condition of students. It turned out that breathing is very related with the internal state, if we are calm, we are breathing one way, if not, another way, if we sleep, third way.

It means that breathing is an indicator of our internal state. And vice versa, it has long been believed that breathing control has a basic role in the regulation of the main body systems, and is also the key to health and longevity [7, 8, 9].

At the second stage (September 2018 - May 2019), 4 groups of students of the Humanitarian and Pedagogical Institutes were selected to conduct an educational experiment. The control group of students was engaged in the approved Physical Education and Sports curriculum. In the experimental groups breathing exercises were conducted during the classes in addition to the approved program: the experimental group №1 - Pranoyama, experimental group № 2 - Niches, experimental group № 3 - Strelnikova. Diaphragmatic breathing, which was prioritized at the beginning of the educational experiment is common for the selected breathing gymnastics [10, 11, 12].

Research results and discussion. Functional tests were conducted before and after the experiment with students of all groups (table 1).

Table 1. Functional changes in the cardiorespiratory system of students in the control group (CG) and experimental (EG) group

At the final stage, the data processing was conducted at p = 0.05. Before and after the experiment, significant changes in the parameters of the orthostatic sample in the control and experimental groups №1 were revealed. According to the indicators of the Genchi sample, no differences were observed only in the control group. According to the indicators of the Ruffier sample, differences were revealed only in experimental group №1.

To assess the students’ adaptation to university studies, the average grade point score and average number of absences due to illness were used. Students kept a self-monitoring diary, which indicated the state of health and the amount of time spent on exercise. To quantify the emotional attitude to studying, students were asked to put points in the diary: 5 - for “excellent” mood, 4 - “good”, 3 - “satisfactory” , 2- “bad”, 1 - “don’t want to study”. The emotional attitude to study was the best in the experimental group, where Strelnikova’s breathing exercises were additionally performed - 68.0%. In the groups where Nishi and Pranoyama breathing exercises were additionally performed, the attitude was approximately the same (65.88 and 66.0%, respectively). In the control group, the attitude was the smallest 62.0% (U_kp<u_эмп).

It turned out that there were more number of absences due to illness in the control group (32.0%), and in the groups where breathing exercises were additionally performed: Pranoyama - 21.0%, Niches - 29.41%, Strelnikova - 18.0% (U_kp<u_эмп).

After the experiment, the average score was calculated to assess the progress. In the control group the indicator was 72% points versus 74%, 76% and 73%  point in the Pranoyama, Niche and Strelnikova experimental groups (U_kp<u_эмп).

Conclusion. In the experimental group worked according to the methodology of A.N. Strelnikova, there were fewer absences due to illness and there was a general increase in the emotional attitude for studying. The average grade point was the best in the experimental group where the methodology of C. Niche was applied. Comprehensive positive changes were observed in the Pranoyama experimental group. Students noted in self-monitoring diaries that classes help them control emotions and their actions become more relaxed. The usage of all the studied methodologies gave a positive effect, but they should be adjusted to the individual needs of students.

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