HEALTHY AGING THROUGH YOGA AND PRANAYAMA: A PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE APPROACH
IIP Series June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.58532/nbennurpal13 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Yoga Pranayama |
| Topics | Breathwork |
| Key findings | Proposes that Yoga and Pranayama can serve as safe, affordable, and sustainable preventive tools for holistic geriatric well-being. |
Abstract
The rapid growth of the elderly population has created a significant demand for preventive and holistic healthcare strategies that support healthy and independent living in later life. Aging is generally associated with gradual decline in physical efficiency, psychological resilience, respiratory function, cognitive performance, and social participation. In recent years, Yoga and Pranayama have gained considerable scientific and clinical recognition as effective complementary approaches for promoting healthy aging and improving overall quality of life among older adults. This chapter explores the preventive healthcare potential of Yoga and Pranayama in geriatric wellness. Yogic practices combine physical postures, controlled breathing techniques, meditation, and relaxation methods that collectively support physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Evidence from contemporary studies indicates that regular practice of Yoga enhances flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular efficiency, respiratory health, balance, and mobility in elderly individuals. Additionally, Pranayama and meditation practices help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and age-related cognitive decline. The chapter further explains the physiological mechanisms through which Yoga contributes to healthy aging, including autonomic nervous system regulation, improved circulation, hormonal balance, enhanced pulmonary function, and reduction of oxidative stress. The integration of Yoga and Pranayama into preventive healthcare programs may reduce disease burden, encourage active aging, and improve functional independence among senior citizens. Therefore, yogic practices can serve as safe, affordable, and sustainable tools for achieving holistic geriatric well-being.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coupling of respiration and attention via the locus coeruleus: Effects of meditation and pranayama | 2018 | Review with original findings | |
| High ventilation breathwork practices: An overview of their effects, mechanisms, and considerations for clinical applications. | 2023 | Review | |
| Breathwork in body psychotherapy: Towards a more unified theory and practice | 2011 | Review | |
| A Practitioner’s Guide to Breathwork in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 2020 | Review | |
| Bhramari Pranayama as an aid to meditation: A review of classical yoga texts | 2020 | Review |