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. 2022 Jan-Apr;15(1):19-24.
doi: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_179_21. Epub 2022 Mar 21.

Cerebrovascular Dynamics Associated with Yoga Breathing and Breath Awareness

Ankur Kumar  1 , Niranjan Kala  1 , Shirley Telles  1
Affiliations

Cerebrovascular Dynamics Associated with Yoga Breathing and Breath Awareness

Ankur Kumar et al. Int J Yoga. 2022 Jan-Apr.

Abstract

Aims: Breath frequency can alter cerebral blood flow. The study aimed to determine bilateral middle cerebral arterial hemodynamics in high-frequency yoga breathing (HFYB) and slow frequency alternate nostril yoga breathing (ANYB) using transcranial Doppler sonography.

Methods: Healthy male volunteers were assessed in two separate trials before, during, and after HFYB (2.0 Hz for 1 min, n = 16) and ANYB (12 breaths per minute for 5 min, n = 22). HFYB and ANYB were separately compared to breath awareness (BAW) and to control sessions.

Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni adjusted post hoc tests.

Results: During HFYB there was a decrease in end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and mean flow velocity (MFV) (P < 0.01 for left and P < 0.05 for right middle cerebral arteries; MCA) with an increase in pulsatility index (PI) for the right MCA (P < 0.05). During ANYB, there was a bilateral decrease in peak systolic velocity (P < 0.05 for left and P < 0.01 for right MCA), EDV (P < 0.01) and MFV (P < 0.01 for left and P < 0.001 for right MCA) and an increase in PI (P < 0.01). During BAW of the two sessions there was a decrease in lateralized flow and end-diastolic velocities (P < 0.05) and an increase in PI (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Changes in peak flow velocities and pulsatility indices during and after HFYB, ANYB, and BAW suggest decreased cerebrovascular blood flow and increased flow resistance based on different mechanisms.

Keywords: Breath awareness; cerebrovascular hemodynamics; transcranial Doppler sonography; yoga breathing.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the study design
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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