Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
Resting-State Connectivity and Neuroimaging of Prefrontal Cortex Activity During a Block-Design Yoga Asana Practice Using fNIRS
Published on: June 24, 2025
Impact of Rajayoga Meditation on Anxiety, Serum Cortisol, and Hemodynamic Parameters in Patients Undergoing Modified
P Sreelakshmi1, Neha Maheshwari2, Neel Kamal Mishra2
1Department of Anaesthesiology, Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background:
Rajayoga meditation is form of meditation that is offered by Rajayoga Education and Research Foundation of Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. It is free of ritual and mantras and can be performed anywhere and anytime. The Rajayoga meditation practice can have beneficial effects on modulating anxiety and cortisol levels in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery.
Aims:
To evaluate the impact of Rajayoga meditation on preoperative and postoperative anxiety, hemodynamic parameters, and serum cortisol levels in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM).
Materials And Methods:
The study was randomized controlled trial carried out in a tertiary care center. Sixty female patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status II, aged 30-70 years, scheduled to undergo elective MRM under general anesthesia were included. The patients were randomized into two groups namely, Group R, Rajayoga group (n = 30) and Group C, Control group (n = 30) who did not receive any intervention. Anxiety was measured using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) before the start of Rajayoga training and on second postoperative day. Serum cortisol, hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure) and respiratory rate were also noted before initiating Rajayoga meditation and on second postoperative day.
Results:
In this study, it was observed that anxiety levels, serum cortisol, and hemodynamic parameters of the patients before the surgery were comparable between the two groups. However, on second postoperative day, patients who underwent Rajayoga meditation had significantly reduced anxiety, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and serum cortisol levels. These results suggest that Rajayoga meditation may be an effective nonpharmacological intervention for stress reduction and physiological stabilization in surgical patients.
Conclusion:
Rajayoga meditation significantly reduces anxiety, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and serum cortisol levels in patients undergoing MRM.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
01:25Stress 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...
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder