MIND-BODY TECHNIQUES: MEDITATION, YOGA, AND PRANAYAMA
Dr. Geetanjali Meena
IIP Series September 1, 2026 DOI: 10.58532/nbennurv6b3399c4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Meditation Yoga Pranayama |
| Topics | Breathwork Meditation |
| Key findings | Argues that meditation, yoga, and pranayama can support physical, mental, and emotional well-being through awareness, controlled breathing, posture, and focused attention, and proposes they be incorporated into preventive health and wellness programs to help people cope with stress and lifestyle-related challenges. The claimed benefits and mechanisms are presented as potential rather than established. |
Abstract
Mind-body techniques such as meditation, yoga, and pranayama have gained increasing recognition as holistic approaches for promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being. These practices integrate awareness, controlled breathing, physical postures, relaxation, and focused attention to support balance between the mind and body. Meditation may promote mental clarity, emotional regulation, and stress reduction, while yoga combines physical movement with mindful awareness to enhance flexibility, strength, relaxation, and overall well-being. Pranayama, through systematic regulation of breathing, may influence autonomic functions, respiratory patterns, and psychological states. Together, these techniques can be incorporated into preventive health and wellness programs and may support healthy coping mechanisms in individuals experiencing stress and lifestyle-related challenges. This chapter provides an overview of the principles, practices, potential benefits, mechanisms, and practical applications of meditation, yoga, and pranayama, highlighting their relevance in contemporary approaches to holistic health and mind-body wellness.
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 |