Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

Calculating Heart Rate Variability from ECG Data from Youth with Cerebral Palsy During Active Video Game Sessions
Published on: June 5, 2019
Voluntary heart rate reduction following yoga using different strategies
Br Raghavendra1, S Telles, Nk Manjunath
1Department of Yoga and Biosciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, India.
Yoga practitioners can voluntarily lower their heart rate using various techniques. Breath regulation is an effective strategy for voluntary heart rate reduction, achieving significant pulse rate decreases.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Mind-Body Medicine
Background:
- Yoga training is known to facilitate voluntary heart rate reduction.
- Understanding the specific strategies and physiological changes is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the strategies employed by yoga practitioners for voluntary heart rate reduction.
- To examine the autonomic nervous system changes associated with this ability.
Main Methods:
- Fifty healthy volunteers (25 males, mean age 25.4 years) participated in two 12-minute trials.
- Trial I: Participants voluntarily reduced heart rate using any chosen strategy.
- Trial II: Participants used breath regulation exclusively to reduce heart rate.
Main Results:
- An average heart rate reduction of 19.6 beats per minute was observed in Trial I.
- An average decrease of 22.2 beats per minute was achieved in Trial II using breath regulation.
Conclusions:
- The specific strategy employed did not significantly alter the magnitude of heart rate reduction.
- Breath regulation is an effective method for voluntary heart rate control.
More Related Videos
10:45A Community-based Stress Management Program: Using Wearable Devices to Assess Whole Body Physiological Responses in Non-laboratory Settings
Published on: January 22, 2018
07:56Resting-State Connectivity and Neuroimaging of Prefrontal Cortex Activity During a Block-Design Yoga Asana Practice Using fNIRS
Published on: June 24, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
Increased pulse rate
Many factors can elevate the risk of developing tachycardia. These include advanced age, a family history of arrhythmias, and an...
Regulation of Heart Rates
The SNS increases heart rate through the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, which act on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart. This action increases the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart's...
Decreased pulse rate
There are specific risk factors that can elevate the likelihood of developing bradycardia. Advanced age is a significant factor, with bradycardia...
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the risk...