The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine
August 1, 2005
Richard P. Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg
470 citations
Yogic breathing, particularly Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), offers a low-cost, low-risk adjunct treatment for stress, anxiety, PTSD, depression, stress-related medical illnesses, substance abuse, and criminal offender rehabilitation. Evidence supports its use as a public health intervention to alleviate PTSD in mass disaster survivors. Yoga techniques improve well-being, mood, attention, mental focus, and stress tolerance. Proper daily practice of 30 minutes with a skilled teacher maximizes benefits, and health care providers should encourage patients to maintain their yoga practices.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
August 1, 2009
Richard P. Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg
278 citations
Yoga breathing (pranayama) is a core practice in Indo-Tibetan traditions that can quickly bring the mind to the present moment and reduce stress. This review examines how breath work influences longevity mechanisms, with effects that both overlap with and differ from meditation, while synergistically enhancing meditation's benefits. Clinical evidence supports yoga breathing for treating depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and victims of mass disasters. By inducing stress resilience, breath work offers a rapid and compassionate way to relieve many forms of suffering.
Journal of medical education and curricular development
January 1, 2023
Patricia L. Gerbarg, Yaidy L Cruz-Cordero, Vincent A Conte et al.
6 citations
A pilot study tested the feasibility of an online, live, interactive 12-hour Breath-Body-Mind Introductory Course (BBM-IC) for medical students. Twelve students completed the 3-day program; six attended weekly practice sessions and 6-week follow-up. Mean score comparisons showed significant improvements in tranquility and supradiaphragmatic reactivity, with near-significant gains in sleep quality and depression symptoms. The program may reduce stress and anxiety while improving mood, energy, and mental focus. Low enrollment reflected challenges in making time for self-care; the authors suggest integrating such training into the medical curriculum.
Psychology Travelogs
May 28, 2026
Richard Brown, Patricia L. Gerbarg
An innovative program called Breath-Body-Mind (BBM) is introduced to address the shortage of mental health professionals during war by providing an evidence-based, safe, and adaptable intervention. Combat-related stress and trauma are difficult to treat with conventional methods alone; BBM activates multiple healing pathways to mitigate autonomic dysregulation and neurophysiological dysfunction caused by extreme stress. It is easy to learn and has been effectively used worldwide during wars and mass disasters. BBM can be integrated into individual or group therapy, in-person or online, for civilians, military personnel, and medics, with potential benefits including improved battlefield survival, faster recovery from trauma, and better long-term reintegration into civilian life.