Rhythmic Yoga Breathing Enhances Brain Activity and Promotes Deep Relaxation

Recent research conducted by scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, in partnership with the Sri Sri Institute of Advanced Research and Fortis Escort Heart Institute, reveals that rhythmic breathing exercises in Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) induce measurable changes in brain activity associated with profound relaxation. The study highlights that practicing SKY elevates theta and delta brain wave activity while decreasing alpha power, suggesting a shift into a deeply relaxed state.

As mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression continue to rise globally, accessible and cost-effective self-management techniques such as SKY are gaining attention for their therapeutic potential. Past studies have demonstrated that yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques can improve mood, reduce fatigue, and enhance emotional regulation, partly by inducing structural and functional brain changes within neural networks responsible for attention and emotion.

Breathing exercises, in particular, influence the autonomic nervous system by balancing sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, fostering relaxation responses. In this study titled "Unlocking deep relaxation: the power of rhythmic breathing on brain rhythms" published in npj Mental Health Research, researchers employed EEG technology to explore how brain oscillations vary during different phases of SKY.

Forty-three experienced SKY practitioners from the Art of Living Foundation's Bengaluru center participated, with practice durations ranging from one to 18 years, and an average age of 25. A control group of ten individuals listened to relaxing music instead of performing SKY. EEG recordings from multiple brain regions taken before, during, and after the practice revealed significant neural signatures: reductions in alpha power during yoga-nidra and post-resting phases, and increases in theta and delta amplitudes during kriya and yoga-nidra, indicating deep relaxation.

The control group showed no comparable changes, suggesting these effects are specifically linked to the rhythmic breathing technique. The findings suggest that SKY induces a brain state characterized by increased theta-delta rhythms and decreased alpha activity, correlating with the yogic state of samadhi—a state of deep meditative absorption.

Given the global need for scalable mental health solutions, SKY presents a promising non-pharmacological approach to support emotional well-being and could serve as a foundation for neurofeedback that targets anxiety and stress. However, some methodological limitations, such as data loss in certain EEG channels and the lack of a strict control for auditory effects, should be addressed in future research. Additionally, conflicts of interest should be transparently reported, considering the connection of the study's organizers to the SKY methodology.

Overall, this research underscores the potential of rhythmic breathing practices to modulate brain activity profoundly, opening new avenues for mental health therapies and self-care strategies.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-rhythmic-yoga-brain-linked-deep.html