Heart Rate Variability during Nostril-Regulated Yoga Breathing: A Randomized Crossover Study

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Yoga Studies
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Traditional yoga breathing, including Suryabhedan pranayama (SBP) and Chandrabhedan pranayama (CBP), involves alternating nostril use for inspiration and expiration.
• Previous research primarily focused on unilateral nostril breathing, neglecting the effects of traditional alternate nostril techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physiological effects of SBP and CBP on heart rate variability (HRV) and respiration rate.
• To compare the impact of SBP and CBP with breath awareness and quiet rest.

Main Methods:

• Forty-seven healthy males with prior yoga breathing experience participated in four sessions: SBP, CBP, breath awareness, and quiet rest.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) and breath rate were measured before, during, and after each practice session.

Main Results:

• Both SBP and CBP significantly increased low frequency (LF) power and standard deviation of NN intervals, indicating enhanced cardiac parasympathetic activity.
• Respiration rate significantly decreased during both SBP and CBP interventions.
• LF power showed an additional increase post-CBP.

Conclusions:

• The HRV changes suggest that both SBP and CBP similarly enhance cardiac parasympathetic activity.
• The comparable effects may be attributed to the involvement of both nostrils in these traditional yoga breathing practices.