Impact of Regular Yoga and Meditation on Immune Cell Populations: A Small-Sample, Single-Arm, Pre-Post Interventional Pilot Study
Cureus April 21, 2026 Luis Francisco Castillo-Torres, Selene Velázquez-Moreno, Carla Edith Tovar-Leyva et al.
In this pilot study, five healthy adults who regularly practiced yoga and meditation attended a 15-day meditation retreat. Blood samples taken before and after the retreat showed increases in immune cell populations, including CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD19+ B cells, and CD14+ monocytes, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05). The authors suggest a potential link between short-term yoga and meditation practice and enhanced immune response, but they note that larger controlled studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions.