Scientific Research on Yoga > Disease and Disorders > Respiratory Conditions

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Respiratory Conditions Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulumonary Disease

Video Spotlight: Asthma

Watch this video to learn more about the research conducted on asthma and yoga.

Our hope is for yoga schools and yoga teachers to utilize this impactful content in their teachings to promote and highlight yoga's evident multi-faceted ability to improve lives. Let us know how research on yoga is important or valuable to you on social media (@YogaAlliance) or by emailing us at research@yogaalliance.org. We honor and value your personal experiences and look forward to featuring your stories.

These citations were curated by Yoga Alliance's Director of Yoga Research, Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa.

Review Papers

Review Papers (What's this?)

An integrative review of yoga and mindfulness-based approaches for children and adolescents with asthma.
Lack S, Brown R, Kinser PA.
J Pediatr Nurs. 2020 Mar 23;52:76-81.
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Effects of Home-Based Breathing Exercises in Subjects With COPD.
Lu Y, Li P, Li N, Wang Z, Li J, Liu X, Wu W.
Respir Care. 2020 Mar;65(3):377-387.
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Exercise Training Modalities for People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Nolan CM, Rochester CL.
COPD. 2019 Dec;16(5-6):378-389.
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Mind-Body Exercise for Anxiety and Depression in COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Li Z, Liu S, Wang L, Smith L.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 18;17(1).
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Yoga and Tai Chi: a mind-body approach in managing respiratory symptoms in obstructive lung diseases.
Ratarasarn K, Kundu A.
Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2019 Dec 31.
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Mind-Body Exercise for Anxiety and Depression in COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Li Z, Liu S, Wang L, Smith L.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 18;17(1).
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The risks and benefits of yoga for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cramer H, Haller H, Klose P, Ward L, Chung VC, Lauche R.
Clin Rehabil. 2019 Dec;33(12):1847-1862.
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Efficacy of yoga, tai chi and qi gong on the main symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review.
Reychler G, Poncin W, Montigny S, Luts A, Caty G, Pieters T.
Respir Med Res. 2019 May;75:13-25.
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Role of Breathing Exercises and Yoga/Pranayama in Childhood Asthma: A Systematic Review.
Das RR, Sankar J, Kabra SK.
Curr Pediatr Rev. 2019;15(3):175-183.
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Asthma - A Disease of How We Breathe: Role of Breathing Exercises and Pranayam.
Sankar J, Das RR.
Indian J Pediatr. 2018 Oct;85(10):905-910.
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Effectiveness of meditative movement on COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Wu LL, Lin ZK, Weng HD, Qi QF, Lu J, Liu KX.
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2018 Apr 17;13:1239-1250.
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Efficacy of yoga training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Li C, Liu Y, Ji Y, Xie L, Hou Z.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 Feb;30:33-37.
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Effects of Yoga in Patients with Asthma.
Saguil A.
Am Fam Physician. 2017 Aug 1;96(3):159-160.
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Yoga for asthma.
Yang ZY, Zhong HB, Mao C, Yuan JQ, Huang YF, Wu XY, Gao YM, Tang JL.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Apr 27;4:CD010346.
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Yoga in the Management of Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Desveaux L, Lee A, Goldstein R, Brooks D.
Med Care. 2015 Jul;53(7):653-61.
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Effects of controlled breathing exercises and respiratory muscle training in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results from evaluating the quality of evidence in systematic reviews.
Borge CR, Hagen KB, Mengshoel AM, Omenaas E, Moum T, Wahl AK.
BMC Pulm Med. 2014 Nov 21;14:184.
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Effects of yoga training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Liu XC, Pan L, Hu Q, Dong WP, Yan JH, Dong L.
J Thorac Dis. 2014 Jun;6(6):795-802.
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Yoga for asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cramer H, Posadzki P, Dobos G, Langhorst J.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Jun;112(6):503-510.e5.
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Meditative movement for respiratory function: a systematic review.
Lorenc AB, Wang Y, Madge SL, Hu X, Mian AM, Robinson N.
Respir Care. 2014 Mar;59(3):427-40.
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Breathing exercises for dysfunctional breathing/hyperventilation syndrome in adults.
Jones M, Harvey A, Marston L, O'Connell NE.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;(5):CD009041.
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Nasal saline irrigations for the symptoms of acute and chronic rhinosinusitis.
Achilles N, Mösges R.
Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2013 Apr;13(2):229-35.
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Breathing Exercises and/or Retraining Techniques in the Treatment of Asthma: Comparative Effectiveness [Internet].
O’Connor E, Patnode CD, Burda BU, Buckley DI, Whitlock EP.
Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2012 Sep.
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Breathing exercises for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Holland AE, Hill CJ, Jones AY, McDonald CF.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Oct 17;10:CD008250.
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Notable Publications

Notable Publications (What's this?)

Effects of yoga on exercise capacity in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a nonrandomized controlled study.
Li X, Xu W, Zhang L, Zu Y, Li Y, Yang Y, Xiang Y, Xiang Y, Chen L, Liu W, Chen L, Xu KF.
Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2020 Mar 16;15(1):72.
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Yoga and Tai Chi: a mind-body approach in managing respiratory symptoms in obstructive lung diseases.
Ratarasarn K, Kundu A.
Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2020 Mar;26(2):186-192.
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Effect of pranayama breathing technique on asthma control, pulmonary function, and quality of life: A single-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
Erdoğan Yüce G, Taşcı S.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2020 Feb;38:101081.
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Effect of yoga on FEV1, 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) and quality of life in patients with COPD group B.
Yudhawati R, Rasjid Hs M.
Adv Respir Med. 2019;87(5):261-268.
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The effect of yoga on respiratory functions, symptom control and life quality of asthma patients: A randomized controlled study.
Bahçecioğlu Turan G, Tan M.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 Oct 28:101070.
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Yoga Education Program for Reducing Drug Dependency and Promoting Better Asthma Control for Chronic Asthmatic Children: A Multicity Experiment.
Pandya S.
Glob Pediatr Health. 2019 Mar 19;6:2333794X19837455.
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Effectiveness of Adjuvant Yoga Therapy in Diabetic Lung: A Randomized Control Trial.
Balaji R, Ramanathan M, Bhavanani AB, Ranganadin P, Balachandran K.
Int J Yoga. 2019 May-Aug;12(2):96-102.
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Experiences of hatha yogic exercises among patients with obstructive pulmonary diseases: A qualitative study.
Papp ME, Henriques M, Biguet G, Wändell PE, Nygren-Bonnier M.
J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2018 Oct;22(4):896-903.
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Effect of Yoga Breathing (Pranayama) on Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.
Kaminsky DA, Guntupalli KK, Lippmann J, Burns SM, Brock MA, Skelly J, DeSarno M, Pecott-Grimm H, Mohsin A, LaRock-McMahon C, Warren P, Whitney MC, Hanania NA.
J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Sep;23(9):696-704.
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Evaluation of the Feasibility of a Home-Based TeleYoga Intervention in Participants with Both Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Heart Failure.
Donesky D, Selman L, McDermott K, Citron T, Howie-Esquivel J.
J Altern Complement Med. 2017 Sep;23(9):713-721.
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Effects of yogic exercises on functional capacity, lung function and quality of life in participants with obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled study.
Papp ME, Wändell PE, Lindfors P, Nygren-Bonnier M.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2017 Jun;53(3):447-461.
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A modified breathing exercise program for asthma is easy to perform and effective.
Karam M, Kaur BP, Baptist AP.
J Asthma. 2017 Mar;54(2):217-222.
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Assessment of significance of Yoga on quality of life in asthma patients: A randomized controlled study.
Agnihotri S, Kant S, Mishra SK, Verma A.
Ayu. 2017 Jan-Jun;38(1-2):28-32.
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Effect of high-frequency yoga breathing on pulmonary functions in patients with asthma: A randomized clinical trial.
Raghavendra P, Shetty P, Shetty S, Manjunath NK, Saoji AA.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2016 Nov;117(5):550-551.
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Pranayam for Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Results From a Randomized, Controlled Trial.
Gupta A, Gupta R, Sood S, Arkham M.
Integr Med (Encinitas). 2014 Feb;13(1):26-31.
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The efficacy of a comprehensive lifestyle modification programme based on yoga in the management of bronchial asthma: a randomized controlled trial.
Vempati R, Bijlani RL, Deepak KK.
BMC Pulm Med. 2009 Jul 30;9:37.
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A study of the effect of yoga training on pulmonary functions in patients with bronchial asthma.
Sodhi C, Singh S, Dandona PK.
Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009 Apr-Jun;53(2):169-74.
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Efficacy and tolerability of yoga breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study.
Pomidori L, Campigotto F, Amatya TM, Bernardi L, Cogo A.
J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2009 Mar-Apr;29(2):133-7.
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Yoga therapy decreases dyspnea-related distress and improves functional performance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study.
Donesky-Cuenco D, Nguyen HQ, Paul S, Carrieri-Kohlman V.
J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Mar;15(3):225-34.
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Yoga for bronchial asthma: a controlled study.
Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR.
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985 Oct 19;291(6502):1077-9.
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