Physiological effects of yogic practices and transcendental meditation in health and disease
Syed Sadat Ali, Balaji Pa, Smithar Varne
North American Journal of Medical Sciences 2012 DOI: 10.4103/1947-2714.101980 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Transcendental meditation Alternative medicine Physical therapy Disease Consciousness Spiritual health Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Pathology |
| Citations | 133 |
| Key findings | Yogic practices and transcendental meditation provide considerable health benefits, including improved cognition, respiration, reduced cardiovascular risk, body mass index, blood pressure, and diabetes, and positively influence immunity and joint disorders. |
Abstract
Yoga is an ancient Indian way of life, which includes changes in mental attitude, diet, and the practice of specific techniques such as yoga asanas (postures), breathing practices (pranayamas), and meditation to attain the highest level of consciousness. Since a decade, there has been a surge in the research on yoga, but we do find very few reviews regarding yogic practices and transcendental meditation (TM) in health and disease. Keeping this in view, a Medline search was done to review relevant articles in English literature on evaluation of physiological effects of yogic practices and TM. Data were constructed; issues were reviewed and found that there were considerable health benefits, including improved cognition, respiration, reduced cardiovascular risk, body mass index, blood pressure, and diabetes. Yoga also influenced immunity and ameliorated joint disorders.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 11
- Neurophysiological, cognitive-behavioral and neurochemical effects in practitioners of transcendental meditation - A literature review Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira May 1, 2019
- Advanced and long-term meditation and the autonomic nervous system: A review and synthesis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews June 1, 2025
- Yoga-A complementary and traditional medicine for human health. Journal of integrative medicine March 1, 2025
- To Move or Not to Move: Factors of Mind-Body Practice Engagement in a Population-Based Study. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine April 1, 2025
- Synchronization Through Yoga Improving Mental Well-Being at the Intersection of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Yoga April 16, 2026
and 6 more in the library
Cites 8
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation on Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects With Coronary Heart Disease Archives of Internal Medicine June 12, 2006
- Effect of short-term pranayama and meditation on cardiovascular functions in healthy individuals Heart Views 2011
- Quality of Life and Functional Health Status of Long-Term Meditators Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2012
- The underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation: larger hippocampal and frontal volumes of gray matter. Neuroimage April 1, 2009
and 3 more in the library