Effect of Yoga and Meditation on Heart Rate Variability: A Comprehensive Review
A. Jeevani Selvabala, R.Madhu Keerthana, K. Ramalingam, J. Ananth, M.Krishna Kumar
International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science & Technology ( May 22, 2026 DOI: 10.15662/ijarcst.2026.0903013 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Randomized Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3,200 |
| Population | Participants from diverse populations in studies of yoga and meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Yoga and meditation consistently improve HRV indices, reflecting enhanced parasympathetic tone and reduced sympathetic dominance. RMSSD improvements ranged from 12% to 38%, with a pooled Cohen's d of 0.61. |
Abstract
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a robust, non-invasive biomarker of autonomic nervous system function and cardiovascular health. This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from randomized controlled trials, longitudinal cohort studies, and meta-analyses published between 2000 and 2024 to evaluate the effects of yoga and meditation on HRV indices in diverse populations. Our analysis encompasses 47 peer-reviewed studies involving over 3,200 participants. Findings consistently indicate that yoga and meditation improve HRV parameters, reflecting enhanced parasympathetic tone and reduced sympathetic dominance. RMSSD improvements ranged from 12% to 38% across studies. Pooled Cohen's d = 0.61 (medium-to-large effect). Implications for clinical practice, mental health, and mechanistic research are discussed. The expanded review additionally covers implementation strategies, rehabilitation relevance, future research priorities, and population-specific considerations that position HRV as a practical endpoint in integrative medicine
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 |