Effects of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) Breath Meditation on Heart Rate Variability, Sleep and Mental Health in Healthy Individuals : A Pilot and Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Effective interventions are needed to address increasing mental health challenges that affect wellbeing. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY), a breath-based meditation, has previously shown to improve mental health. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) in healthy individuals, to evaluate the feasibility of SKY intervention with an eight-week followup for studying its immediate and sustained effects on psychophysiological outcomes in real-world settings. 187 healthy individuals (>21 years old) were assessed for eligibility through telephone interviews and 45 consented individuals were randomized (2:1) to either receive three-day SKY intervention with eight-week followup or waitlist control group. The mean age was 40.9 years (SD = 11.3), and 35 (77.8%) were female. Adherence (≥ three-times/week) to 30-minute daily (75.9%) and (≥ six-times/week) 75-minute (89.7%) SKY practice were high. Compared to controls, SKY participants exhibited significantly higher resting heart rate variability (mean difference = 6.47 ([95% CI [0.95, 11.98]) at the end of three-days, and at eight-week followup (mean difference = 5.55 (90% CI [0.46, 10.64]) relative to baseline. At eight-week followup, SKY participants had significant improvements in resting heart rate, overall sleep score, anxiety and social connectedness compared to controls. These results demonstrate feasibility that consistent SKY practice can impact physiology. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05523414.