ORIGINAL PAPER
Effects of selected kriyas and yogic practices on cardiopulmonary functions in asthmatic women
1
Department of Yoga, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Directorate of Sports, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-09-18
Acceptance date: 2026-03-02
Online publication date: 2026-11-10
Corresponding author
Thamaraiselvi Saravanakumar
Department of Yoga, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu-603203, India
Department of Yoga, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu-603203, India
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The present study aimed to determine the effects of selected kriyas and yogic practices on cardiopulmonary functions among female asthmatic patients aged 30–35 years.
Subjects and Methods:
The study recruited 77 participants randomly assigned to two groups: the kriya with yoga intervention group (KYIG) and the control group (CG). KYIG participated in 64 yoga sessions that included kriyas, pranayama, basic asanas and yoga nidra. These sessions were conducted on the college premises four days a week for 16 weeks. CG did not receive any practices. Cardiopulmonary functions were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. Statistical analyses were conducted using independent t-tests and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results:
The yoga group demonstrated statistically significant differences in the mean scores of cardiopulmonary functions, including heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR), and forced vital capacity (FVC), when compared to the control group. Notably, there was a significant decrease in BR [20.833 ± 3.761, 95% CI (–3.175, –1.815), p < 0.001] and in HR [80.267 ± 6.097, 95% CI (–2.418, –1.209), p < 0.001]. Additionally, there were significant increases in FVC [3.23 ± 0.263, 95% CI (3.308, 5.149), p < 0.001], all with a large effect size.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that a consistent 16-week yoga program significantly reduced HR and BR while enhancing FVC in patients with asthma.
The present study aimed to determine the effects of selected kriyas and yogic practices on cardiopulmonary functions among female asthmatic patients aged 30–35 years.
Subjects and Methods:
The study recruited 77 participants randomly assigned to two groups: the kriya with yoga intervention group (KYIG) and the control group (CG). KYIG participated in 64 yoga sessions that included kriyas, pranayama, basic asanas and yoga nidra. These sessions were conducted on the college premises four days a week for 16 weeks. CG did not receive any practices. Cardiopulmonary functions were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. Statistical analyses were conducted using independent t-tests and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results:
The yoga group demonstrated statistically significant differences in the mean scores of cardiopulmonary functions, including heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR), and forced vital capacity (FVC), when compared to the control group. Notably, there was a significant decrease in BR [20.833 ± 3.761, 95% CI (–3.175, –1.815), p < 0.001] and in HR [80.267 ± 6.097, 95% CI (–2.418, –1.209), p < 0.001]. Additionally, there were significant increases in FVC [3.23 ± 0.263, 95% CI (3.308, 5.149), p < 0.001], all with a large effect size.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that a consistent 16-week yoga program significantly reduced HR and BR while enhancing FVC in patients with asthma.
REFERENCES (44)
1.
Mao Z, Zhu X, Zheng P, Wang L, Zhang F, Chen L, Zhou L, Liu W, Liu H. Global, regional, and national burden of asthma from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021. Chin Med J Pulm Crit Care Med. 2025;3(1):50–9; doi: 10.1016/j.pccm.2025.02.005.
2.
Tantisira KG, Colvin R, Tonascia J, Strunk RC, Weiss ST, Fuhlbrigge AL; Childhood Asthma Management Program Research Group. Airway responsiveness in mild to moderate childhood asthma: sex influences on the natural history. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2008;178(4):325–31; doi: 10.1164/rccm.200708-1174OC.
3.
GINA. Global Initiative for Asthma. Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention (2025 Update). Available from: https://ginasthma.org/wp-conte... (accessed 02.11.2026).
4.
Agarwal R, Dhooria S, Aggarwal AN, Maturu VN, Sehgal IS, Muthu V, Prasad KT, Yenge LB, Singh N, Behera D, Jindal SK, Gupta D, Balamugesh T, Bhalla A, Chaudhry D, Chhabra SK, Chokhani R, Chopra V, Dadhwal DS, D’Souza G, Garg M, Gaur SN, Gopal B, Ghoshal AG, Guleria R, Gupta KB, Haldar I, Jain S, Jain NK, Jain VK, Janmeja AK, Kant S, Kashyap S, Khilnani GC, Kishan J, Kumar R, Koul PA, Mahashur A, Mandal AK, Malhotra S, Mohammed S, Mohapatra PR, Patel D, Prasad R, Ray P, Samaria JK, Singh PS, Sawhney H, Shafiq N, Sharma N, Sidhu UPS, Singla R, Suri JC, Talwar D, Varma S. Guidelines for diagnosis and management of bronchial asthma: joint ICS/NCCP (I) recommendations. Lung India. 2015;32(Suppl 1):3–42; doi: 10.4103/0970-2113.154517.
5.
Sinyor B, Perez LC. Pathophysiology of asthma. InStatPearls. 2023. StatPearls Publishing.
6.
Zhang Z-Q, Li J-Y, Fu C-Y, Li Y-L, Guo Q, Bao Y-W, Wu J, Liao J-C, Song Y-Q, Li D-X, Zhu X-H. Global, regional and national burden of asthma attributable to metabolic diseases from 1990 to 2021 and projected trends to 2040. BMC Pulm Med. 2025;25(1):546; doi: 10.1186/s12890-025-04022-z.
8.
Singh S, Salvi S, Mangal DK, Singh M, Awasthi S, Mahesh PA, Kabra SK, Mohammed S, Sukumaran TU, Ghoshal AG, Barne M, Sinha S, Kochar SK, Singh N, Singh U, Patel KK, Sharma AK, Girase B, Chauhan A, Sit N, Siddaiah JB, Singh V. Prevalence, time trends and treatment practices of asthma in India: the Global Asthma Network study. ERJ Open Res. 2022;8(2):00528–2021; doi: 10.1183/23120541.00528-2021.
9.
Salvi S. Letter from India. Respirology. 2018;23(11):1074–5; doi: 10.1111/resp.13369.
10.
Reddel HK, Bacharier LB, Bateman ED, Brightling CE, Brusselle GG, Buhl R, Cruz AA, Duijts L, Drazen JM, FitzGerald JM, Fleming LJ, Inoue H, Ko FW, Krishnan JA, Levy ML, Lin J, Mortimer K, Pitrez PM, Sheikh A, Yorgancioglu AA, Boulet L-P. Global Initiative for Asthma Strategy 2021: executive summary and rationale for key changes. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022;205(1):17–35; doi: 10.1164/rccm.202109-2205PP.
11.
Birdee GS, Legedza AT, Saper RB, Bertisch SM, Eisenberg DM, Phillips RS. Characteristics of yoga users: results of a national survey. J Gen Intern Med. 2008;23(10):1653–8; doi: 10.1007/s11606-008-0735-5.
12.
Yang Z-Y, Zhong H-B, Mao C, Yuan J-Q, Huang Y-F, Wu X-Y, Gao Y-M, Tang J-L. Yoga for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;4(4):CD010346; doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010346.pub2.
13.
Woodyard C. Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(2):49–54; doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.85485.
14.
Balakrishnan R, Nanjundaiah RM, Manjunath NK. Voluntarily induced vomiting – a yoga technique to enhance pulmonary functions in healthy humans. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2018;9(3):213–6; doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2017.07.001.
15.
Mohammad A, Thakur P, Kumar R, Kaur S, Saini RV, Saini AK. Biological markers for the effects of yoga as a complementary and alternative medicine. J Complement Integr Med. 2019;16(1):20180094; doi: 10.1515/jcim-2018-0094.
16.
Venkatesh HN, Ravish H, Silvia CW, Srinivas H. Molecular signature of the immune response to yoga therapy in stress-related chronic disease conditions: an insight. Int J Yoga. 2020;13(1):9–17; doi: 10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_82_18.
17.
Phantayuth D, Chuaychoo B, Supaporn S, Nana A, Ramyarangsi P, Ajjimaporn A. Effectiveness of a 12-week combining tai chi and yoga program on pulmonary function and functional fitness in COPD patients. Respir Med. 2024; 234:107842; doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2024.107842.
19.
Mishra S, Dash SC. An overview of Hatha Yogic practices in Hatha yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and Shiva Samhita. Res J Hum Soci Sci. 2017;8(3):354–66; doi: 10.5958/2321-5828.2017.00053.
20.
Kamariya S, Sreekanth SVM. An overview of the Gheranda Samhita: a classical treatise on Hatha Yoga. JAHM. 2025;13(4):99–110; doi: 10.70066/jahm.v13i4.1808.
21.
Manik RK. The effects of yogic practice (Kunjal Kriya) on bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity: an observational study. J Clin Otorhinolaryngol. 2023; 27:674–82.
22.
Walkikar SS, Harti S. The role of Kunjal Kriya in upper respiratory tract disorders wsr to bronchial asthma. Int J Ayurveda Pharma Res. 2023:11(2):87–92; doi: 10.47070/ijapr.v11i2.2686.
23.
Raghavendra P, Shetty P, Shetty S, Manjunath NK, Saoji AA. Effect of high-frequency yoga breathing on pulmonary functions in patients with asthma: a randomized clinical trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016;117(5):550–1; doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2016.08.009.
24.
Oinam BB, Archana K, Sheetty AA, Singh J, Devi G, Prajwal HM, Swathi S, Yadav AR. Psychophysiological effects of Bhastrika and Kapalabhati: a narrative review. Indian J Integr Med. 2024;4(1):1–6.
25.
Yüce GE, Taşcı S. Effect of pranayama breathing technique on asthma control, pulmonary function, and quality of life: a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020;38:101081; doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.101081.
26.
Meera S, Rani MV, Sreedhar C, Robin DT. A review on the therapeutic effects of Neti Kriya with special reference to Jala Neti. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2020;11(2):185–9; doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2018.06.006.
27.
Dubey S, Malviya SJ, Pant H, Kushwaha EP. A review on yoga practice and its effects. In: Challenges and Opportunities in Nutrition, Environment and Agriculture. New Delhi: Rathore Academic Research Publication; 2022; pp. 188–97.
28.
Balaguru P, Selvakumar S, Divya R. Effect of pranayama training on vital capacity, respiratory pressures, and respiratory endurance of young healthy volunteers. Nat J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2022;12(2):173–83; doi: 10.5455/njppp.2022.12.07264202127082021.
29.
Santos S, Villafaina S, Parraca JA, Fernandes O, Melo F. The impact of yoga practice on health, strength, and respiratory capacity in Portuguese Airforce pilots: an applied psychophysiology and biofeedback approach. App Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2025;91–104: doi: 10.1007/s10484-025-09719-9.
30.
Durmic T, Lazovic B, Djelic M, Lazic JS, Zikic D, Zugic V, Dekleva M, Mazic S. Sport-specific influences on respiratory patterns in elite athletes. J Bras Pneumol. 2015;41(6):516–22; doi: 10.1590/S1806-37562015000000050.
31.
Sodhi C, Singh S, Dandona PK. A study of the effect of yoga training on pulmonary functions in patients with bronchial asthma. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;53(2):169–74.
32.
Singh S, Soni R, Singh KP, Tandon OP. Effect of yoga practices on pulmonary function tests including transfer factor of lung for carbon monoxide (TLCO) in asthma patients. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2012;56(1):63–8.
33.
Gunjiganvi M, Mathur P, Kumari M, Madan K, Kumar A, Sagar R, Sagar S, Gupta A, Mishra B, Mir AH, Meti M, Kumar S. Yoga – an alternative form of therapy in patients with blunt chest trauma: a randomized controlled trial. World J Surg. 2021;45(7):2015–26; doi: 10.1007/s00268-021-06057-9.
34.
Ahmed QR, Sau SK, Kar SK. An evaluation of pulmonary parameters in two groups of subjects during Yoga practice. Nepal Med Coll J. 2010;12(3):180–2.
35.
Agnihotri S, Kant S, Mishra SK, Singh R. Efficacy of yoga in mild to moderate persistent chronic bronchial asthma. Indian J Tradit Knowl. 2016;15(2):337–40.
36.
Karmur KA, Jani HA, Vala NH, Bhanderi PC. Effect of Yoga on pulmonary functiontests. Int J Res Med Sci. 2015;3(9):2357–61; doi: 10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20150631.
37.
Doijad VP, Surdi AD. Effect of short-term yoga practice on pulmonary function tests. Indian J Basic Appl Med Res. 2012;1(3):226–30.
38.
Patil YR, Sawant RS. Study of effect of bhastrika pranayama on pulmonary function. Int Res J Pharm 2012;3(3):204–7.
39.
Saxena T, Saxena M. The effect of various breathing exercises (pranayama) in patients with bronchial asthma of mild to moderate severity. Int J Yoga. 2009;2(1):22–5; doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.53838.
40.
Joshi R, Rathi M, Kulkarni N, Kathewadi F. Efficacy of Yogatherapyon lung functions and lung volumes in children – an experimental study. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther. 2021;15(2):1–7; doi: 10.37506/ijpot. v15i2.14499.
41.
Sengupta P. Health impacts of yoga and pranayama: a state-of-the-art review. Int J Prev Med. 2012;3(7):444.
42.
Sankar J, Das RR. Asthma – a disease of how we breathe: role of breathing exercises and Pranayam. Ind J Pediatr. 2018;85(10):905–10; doi: 10.1007/s12098-017-2519-6.
43.
Lewis MJ, Short AL, Lewis KE. Autonomic nervous system control of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in asthma. Respir Med. 2006;100(10):1688–705; doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2006.01.019.
44.
Clay CC, Lloyd LK, Walker JL, Sharp KR, Pankey RB. The metabolic cost of hatha yoga. J Strength Cond Res. 2005;19(3):604–10; doi: 10.1519/15144.1.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2544-4395 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
