Research SquareJanuary 30, 2025Vinitha Ganesan, Kathryn Kaiser, Anjani Allada et al.
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Abstract Background: Patients with breast cancer experience distress, treatment-related discomfort, and fear of recurrence, from initial diagnosis through survivorship. Aims: This study aimed to assess the effects of breathwork interventions on the mental health and quality of life of breast cancer patients and survivors. Methods: We searched multiple databases for randomized controlled trials...
Background: Medical students often experience significant psychological stress, which can negatively impact their academic performance, cognitive functions, and overall well-being. Psychological/emotional stress can also affect hearing if severe or if it lasts long enough. Amongst stress reduction strategies, meditation techniques are found to be helpful. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed...
This review systematically assessed the evidence on the effectiveness and safety of prāṇāyāma, traditional yogic breathing techniques, for patients diagnosed with mental disorders. We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, and Central until April 2024. We calculated standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) data for...
Effective emotional regulation is essential for mental health and overall wellbeing. This article examines the neurophysiological mechanisms through which two accessible psychological practices—conscious breathing (slow breathing) and mindfulness—facilitate the attainment of inner calm. Through synthesis of the specialized literature, we demonstrate that these practices operate via a...
PLoS One2025Fern Eleanor Beauchamp, Emily Bispo, Iolanda Costa Galinha et al.
Breathwork has great potential for supporting connections to self, others, and nature, laying the foundations for individual, collective, and planetary wellbeing. While reviews have summarised the impacts of a wide range of breathwork techniques on outcomes relating to individual wellbeing, past work has neglected broader contexts. Here we present a protocol for a scoping review to identify and...
A branch of yoga called pranayama is very helpful to people in maintaining good physical and mental health. As prana is the definition of life or energy, practicing asana entails controlling the flow of prana through the body. All aspects of breathing, including inspiration, expiration, and retention, are regulated in part by pranayama. One of the yogic practices for healthy people is...
Research SquareDecember 13, 2024Richard Lawrence Blake
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Abstract Amidst the growing prevalence of anxiety disorders and the limitations of existing treatments, this research paper posits that we need to expand treatment options rather than simply to include more people in therapy or on medication. The popularity of breathwork has grown enormously but is still in the process of creating a robust body of evidence to validate its utility. This research...
Research SquareNovember 21, 2024Tiziano Canello, Alejandro Tlaie, Kamlesh Chalise et al.
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Abstract High ventilation breathwork is a breathing practice that involves deep, accelerated breathing over a prolonged duration (> 15 minutes). This basic practice underpins a wide range of traditions, from Pranayama to Holotropic and Conscious-Connected breathwork. Anecdotal reports suggest that it can benefit physical and mental health, often by evoking altered states of consciousness....
The MindGym, a novel immersive technology utilizing a reflective chamber environment, was developed to create standardized experiential content, including anxiolytic experiences. This study examined whether therapeutic experiences originally created in the MindGym could maintain their efficacy when delivered via 360-degree recordings through virtual reality (VR) headsets. A randomized...
September 4, 2024Jade Leigh Huish, Zoe Fisher, Amy Isham et al.
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Amidst global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the unfolding climate crisis, there's a pressing need for strategies that improve wellbeing. This study investigates the Wim Hof Method (WHM) as a potential tool for enhancing wellbeing and its influence on related aspects including nature connectedness and health attitudes, including vaccine uptake. We conducted a mixed-methods study...