Fast vs. Slow Pranayama for Breathing, Heart, Balance, and Well-Being in Students

NCT07320742 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: E-10840098-202.3.02-4030
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 74
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of slow and rapid pranayama techniques on respiratory, cardiovascular, balance, and psychosocial parameters in healthy adults aged 18-35 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do slow and rapid pranayama techniques produce different improvements in lung volumes and peak cough flow? Does slow pranayama lead to greater improvements in oxygen saturation and cardiovascular parameters, while rapid pranayama provides greater gains in balance and respiratory flow values? Researchers will compare a slow pranayama group (n = 39) and a rapid pranayama group (n = 39) to determine how breathing speed influences physiological and psychosocial outcomes. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to one of two groups (slow or rapid pranayama). Practice their assigned pranayama techniques for 25-30 minutes, 4 days per week for 12 weeks (one supervised, three home-based sessions). Undergo pre- and post-intervention assessments including spirometry (FVC, FEV₁, FEF25%-75%, PEF), oxygen saturation, peak cough flow, blood pressure, heart rate, balance tests (single-leg stance, Y-Balance Test), and validated questionnaires for perceived stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleep quality. This study aims to clarify how controlled breathing speed influences respiratory efficiency, cardiovascular regulation, postural stability, and mental well-being in young adults, contributing to evidence-based recommendations for integrating pranayama into stress-management and preventive rehabilitation programs.

Conditions

No Condition

Keywords

pranayama; pulmonary function test; breathing exercise; oxygen saturation; Stress, Psychological; postural balance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Forced Expiratory Flow at 25-75% of FVC (FEF25-75)

  FEF25-75 is the average flow rate during the middle half of the FVC maneuver. It is often considered a sensitive indicator of small airway function. Measurements will be carried out using the COSMED PONY FX (Italy) device, ensuring compliance with ATS/ERS standards. The values will be recorded in liters per second (L/s).

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• FEV1/FVC Ratio

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• Peak Cough Flow (PCF)

  From enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks.

Study Arms (2)

Slow Pranayama Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Slow Pranayama

Fast Pranayama Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Fast Pranayama

Interventions

Slow Pranayama BEHAVIORAL

Participants will practice pranayama in a quiet room, comfortably seated (sukhasana), maintained at a comfortable temperature (24 ± 2°C). Sessions typically take place as follows: Participants in the Slow Pranayama Group will practice the Anuloma Viloma, Savitri, and Ujjayi breathing techniques. Slow pranayama breathing will be practiced for two minutes, with one-minute rests between each breathing technique, for a total of three cycles. Each cycle will last approximately nine minutes. Participants in both groups will rest in savasana for 10 minutes at the end of the session. No drugs or devices are used. The intervention is a controlled breathing exercise technique.

Slow Pranayama Group

Fast Pranayama BEHAVIORAL

Participants will practice pranayama in a quiet room, comfortably seated (sukhasana), maintained at a comfortable temperature (24 ± 2°C). Sessions will typically be conducted as follows: Participants in the Fast Pranayama Group will practice Kapalabhati, Bhastrika, and Agnisar breathing. Each breathing technique will be practiced for one minute, followed by a one-minute rest. This will be practiced for a total of four cycles. Each cycle will last approximately six minutes. No drugs or devices are used. The intervention is a controlled breathing exercise technique.

Fast Pranayama Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Between age 18-35

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects who have practiced yoga techniques in the last year.
• Subjects with a history of previous or current organic disease.
• Subjects who cannot practice pranayama due to physical abnormalities.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul Medipol University Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul Medipol University

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34810, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 8, 2025
• First Posted: January 6, 2026
• Study Start: August 16, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 21, 2025
• Study Completion: January 5, 2026
• Last Updated: April 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

TU (1)