Yoga Breathing, Heart Rate Variability, and Functional Capacity in University Students

I Wayan Namun Pebriana; I Putu Kharismawan Aritama; Komang Githa Pradnyamitha Dewi

doi:10.24843/

Authors

I Wayan Namun Pebriana Master's Program in Sports Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia Author
I Putu Kharismawan Aritama Master's Program in Sports Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia Author
Komang Githa Pradnyamitha Dewi Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy Profession Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24843/

Keywords:

Breathing Exercises, Heart Rate Variability, Autonomic Nervous System, Exercise Tolerance, Students

Abstract

Background: University students experience academic and lifestyle demands that may affect autonomic regulation and cardiorespiratory health. Yoga breathing, or pranayama, may influence these physiological domains, but the available evidence remains heterogeneous.
Objective: To summarise evidence on yoga breathing interventions and outcomes related to heart rate variability (HRV) and functional capacity in university students and comparable young adults.
Methods: A preliminary review was conducted using records identified from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar on August 1, 2026. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, with disagreements resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. Six studies were included. Interventions comprised standalone pranayama and multicomponent yoga programmes. Findings were narratively synthesised because of substantial heterogeneity in interventions, study designs, and outcome measures. No formal risk of bias assessment was performed.
Results: Slow pranayama reduced heart rate from 76.60 ± 5.15 to 73.66 ± 3.90 beats/min (p < 0.001) in one controlled study. Other studies reported significant changes in selected HRV, cardiovascular, respiratory, six-minute walk, and maximal oxygen uptake outcomes. An acute crossover study reported increased SDNN and low-frequency power (p < 0.05), whereas a 12-week controlled programme reported improved VO2max. Effect estimates and confidence intervals were inconsistently reported.
Conclusion: Available evidence suggests that yoga breathing may be associated with changes in selected autonomic, cardiorespiratory, and functional outcomes. However, heterogeneity, the absence of formal risk of bias appraisal, and inconsistent reporting limit certainty regarding effectiveness.