Integrated yogic practices and breath-holding capacity among male undergraduate students: a twelve-week randomised controlled study
Arun Pratap Rajak, Yatendra Kumar Singh, Kamta Prasad Sahu
International Journal of Yogic Human Movement and Sports Sciences September 1, 2026 DOI: 10.22271/yogic.2026.v11.i9a.1999 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 150 |
| Population | Male undergraduate students aged 18–22 years from Rustamji Institute of Technology, Tekanpur, Gwalior |
| Interventions | Surya Namaskar asanas deep relaxation Bhramari pranayama Soham meditation |
| Duration | 12-week intervention |
| Key findings | Twelve weeks of integrated yogic practice increased breath-holding capacity in male undergraduates, from a mean of 39.74 seconds to 47.69 seconds, while the control group remained stable; after controlling for baseline, the yoga group held their breath 7.61 seconds longer (95% CI 6.86 to 8.36). |
Abstract
Background: Voluntary breath-holding depends on lung volume, chemical drive to breathe, respiratory muscle function and the ability to endure respiratory discomfort, and these are the very functions that yogic practices aim to train.
Aim: This study evaluated whether twelve weeks of integrated yogic practice alters breath-holding capacity (BHC) in male undergraduates.
Methods: One hundred and seventy male students aged 18–22 years from Rustamji Institute of Technology, Tekanpur, Gwalior, were randomly assigned by lottery to a yoga or a control condition. The yoga condition comprised one-hour sessions, five days weekly, of loosening practices, Surya Namaskar, asanas, deep relaxation, Bhastrika and Bhramari pranayama, Soham meditation and yogic counselling; the control condition involved no change to usual routine. BHC was timed in seconds before and after the programme. Complete data of 150 students (75 per arm) were examined using paired t-tests and ANCOVA.
Results: Mean BHC in the yoga arm rose from 39.74 ± 5.36 s to 47.69 ± 5.90 s (p < .001), whereas the control arm remained stable (39.72 ± 4.25 s to 40.06 ± 4.45 s; p = .189). Controlling for baseline, the yoga arm held its breath 7.61 s longer (95% CI 6.86 to 8.36; F(1,147)=395.99, p < .001, partial η2=.73).
Conclusion: Regular integrated yogic practice produced a substantial gain in breath-holding capacity among male undergraduates.