International Journal of Yoga最新文献

{"title":"Effect of Yoga on Immunity in Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic - A Pilot Study.","authors":"Shazia Hasan, Megha Agrawal, Jitendra Rohilla, Shubham Jhanwar, Anvita Singh, Manisha Bisht, Anissa Atif Mirza, Gyan Vardhan","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_229_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_229_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant mental and physical challenges for healthcare professionals (HCPs), leading to increased stress and potential immune dysregulation. Yoga practice, has been suggested to enhance immunity and alleviate stress. This pilot study aimed to assess the impact of yoga intervention on immune markers, stress levels, and quality of life among HCPs actively working during the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A single-center, open label randomized controlled pilot study was conducted at tertiary care centre, with 36 participants. Physicians were randomly assigned to either a yoga intervention group (<i>n</i>=18) or a control group (<i>n</i>=18). The intervention included guided online yoga sessions for 12 weeks. Immunological markers (IL-6, IL-12, CRP, INF-gamma, TNF-alpha) were measured using ELISA at baseline and post-intervention. Stress levels and quality of life were assessed using the WHO-BREF questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed Microsoft excel M365 software, employing <i>t</i>-tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant improvements were observed in immune markers, particularly a reduction in IL-12 (<i>p</i>=0.0165) and CRP (<i>p</i>=0.001), alongside a marked increase in INF-gamma (<i>p</i>=0.001) in the yoga group. BMI significantly improved (<i>p</i>=0.0194), though stress levels and most quality-of-life domains remained unchanged, except for social relationships (<i>p</i>=0.0279). Correlation analysis suggested a strong relationship between BMI reduction and immune modulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Yoga intervention demonstrated potential benefits in modulating immunological markers and improving BMI among physicians. While stress reduction was not significant, enhanced social relationships and immune function suggest yoga as a complementary approach for HCPs well-being during high-stress periods. Further large-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"185-194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436607/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Systematic Review Investigating the Nonparticipation Rate and Recruitment Challenges in Yoga Trials for Addictive Disorders.","authors":"Pinki Sevda, Priyanka Saha, Meeteileima Khumukcham, Parvender Singh Negi, Anju Dhawan, Siddharth Sarkar","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_25_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_25_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Yoga has been studied as an effective alternative therapy for substance use disorders, demonstrating its ability to reduce stress and addictive behaviors while improving self-control and self-esteem. However, not everyone may be willing or able to engage in yoga for various reasons. Furthermore, there is a lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the existing research on this topic. The objective is to explore the nonparticipation rate in yoga intervention randomized controlled trials related to addictive disorders, and to explore the reasons for nonparticipation in yoga trials related to addictive disorders. We searched Google Scholar, CENTRAL, and PubMed for peer-reviewed published RCTs that incorporated yoga interventions in any format of at least one session. Data were extracted using standard procedures, and the risk of bias was evaluated. Pooled analysis and sensitivity analysis were done. About 54% of potential participants were not included. The pooled effect size was 0.544 (95% confidence interval: 0.301-0.787), with an <i>I</i>² = 99.797. Key barriers included failure to meet inclusion criteria, such as medical conditions, mental health issues, and specific health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and heart disease. Participant refusals and lack of interest in randomization or the study itself were common reasons for nonparticipation. Scheduling conflicts were also frequently reported as a significant obstacle. Two broad categories for noninclusion were meeting exclusion criteria, and not interested/declined to participate. Understanding reasons for noninclusion can lead to more efficient and effective recruitment efforts in future trials and also possibly guide the design of future studies to minimize dropout rates and ensure a representative sample.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"139-147"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mapping Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Demands across Fast and Slow Surya Namaskar Sequences.","authors":"Sanjoy Majhi, Arnab Das, Hemant Bhargav, Swami Vidyapradananda","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_233_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_233_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Surya Namaskar (SN) is a popular yogic practice consisting of a sequence of 12 postures. The rationale of this sequence is, however, not fully known. Limited studies have investigated the posture-wise physiological changes across the SN sequence considering varying paces.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to quantify the posture-to-posture cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during fast SN (FSN) and slow SN (SSN) and describe the dynamics of change in physiological parameters across the sequence through a regression model.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this self-as-control comparative study, twenty healthy males (age: 25.44 ± 5.02 years) were selected and randomly assigned to perform FSN and SSN. Cardiometabolic parameters were continuously recorded using a Polar H10 heart rate monitor and metabolic gas analyzer.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Within-condition dynamics showed SSN elicited significantly lower heart rate (HR) (<i>P</i> < 0.01), oxygen consumption (VO₂) (<i>P</i> < 0.001), minute ventilation (VE) (<i>P</i> < 0.01), reduced Fat% utilization (<i>P</i> < 0.01), and a higher respiratory quotient (RQ) (<i>P</i> < 0.001) in most of the postures than FSN. HR was found stable with the changes in SN pace, whereas other cardiometabolic parameters exhibited greater variability. The regression model demonstrated that the change in postures plays a major role in modulating VO₂ and VE responses, whereas HR, RQ, and Fat% dynamics showed lesser sensitivity with posture change.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Posture-by-posture dynamics of acute cardiometabolic responses revealed distinct physiological rhythms, which could be a potential pointer to further investigations on the rationale of the sequence. Yoga practitioners and instructors can judiciously use the results to tailor SN sessions to achieve specific goals and preferences.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"167-178"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436609/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding <i>Vāta-sāra</i> in <i>Sūrya-namaskāra</i> and a Novel Interpretation of <i>Kākī-mudrā</i>.","authors":"Prakash Chintamani Malshe","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_217_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_217_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Sūrya-namaskāra</i>, the widely practiced yogic sequence of 12 <i>āsanas</i>, is conventionally recognized for its musculoskeletal and cardiovascular benefits. This paper presents a conceptual hypothesis that the traditional sequence may encode an ancient internal practice known as <i>Vāta-sāra</i>, involving the deliberate ingestion of air into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Based on anatomical, physiological, and experiential observations, we reinterpret <i>Kākī-mudrā</i> as a technique that facilitates controlled air entry into the stomach. Preliminary demonstrations, including auscultation and radiographic imaging, suggest a measurable increase in gastric air volume following this maneuver, indicating its physiological plausibility. This conceptual framework explores potential mechanisms through which GI air might influence hormonal regulation - notably ghrelin suppression and glucagon-like peptide-1 stimulation - and proposes possible antimicrobial implications against pathogens such as <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> and <i>Entamoeba histolytica</i>. These observations are intended to stimulate further scientific inquiry rather than to serve as controlled experimental proof.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"209-212"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436603/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barriers to Yoga as an Add-On Treatment for Common Mental Health Disorders in India.","authors":"Aarti Jagannathan, Tejaswinee Mishra, Kankan Gulati, Chhaya Shantaram Kurhade, Shivarama Varambally, Judu Ilavarasu, Hemant Bhargav, Singh Deepeshwar, Raghavendra Rao Mohan, B N Gangadhar","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_245_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_245_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Yoga has increasingly been recognized as a beneficial adjunctive therapy for mental health disorders in India. However, participation barriers persist. This study examines the factors influencing participation in yoga as an add-on treatment for Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) in India.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>As the part of a larger open-label comparative study assessing in-person versus virtual yoga, 1147 patients with CMDs were screened at a tertiary care center in Southern India. Of these, 968 were eligible and 130 consented to participate (13.43%). Reasons for refusal were recorded and analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The overall refusal rate was 86.57%. The most common barriers were lack of time (30.78%), disinterest in yoga (21.12%), and distance to the yoga center (19.09%). Additional factors included ongoing psychotherapy (11.57%), preference for virtual sessions (10.26%), and unwillingness to randomization (7.04%). Participants who consented were significantly more educated and more females than males refused participation. The preference for virtual sessions reflected growing demand for accessible, technology-assisted interventions post-COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite increased awareness of yoga, participation remains low because of logistical barriers. These findings underscore the need to develop and validate virtual yoga programs tailored to patient convenience and contemporary healthcare delivery models.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"201-203"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436600/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Healthy Aging: A Natural Consequence of Adopting a Yoga-based Lifestyle.","authors":"Nandi Krishnamurthy Manjunath","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_174_26","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_174_26","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"117-119"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Adjuvant Yoga Therapy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Pediatric Population - A Scoping Review.","authors":"Monica Mahendru, Sriloy Mohanty, Dheeraj Dabas, Vivek Singh Malik, Meenu Singh","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_147_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_147_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), i.e., asthma, COPD, allergic rhinitis, and tuberculosis, account for approximately one-third of emergency hospitalizations. As a holistic therapy, yoga has the potential to improve both the physical and psychological well-being of individuals with CRD, and its popularity has expanded globally. However, studies assessing yoga's effects have yielded inconsistent results. The scoping review adhered to the PRISMA Extension for scoping reviews, PRISMA-ScR. A protocol was registered on OSF (10.17605/OSF.IO/Q6CKN). We conducted a systematic search on PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, covering studies from inception till december-2024. Inclusion criteria were a pediatric population with CRD, yoga as adjuvant therapy, and English language publications. Data were extracted systematically and categorized based on publication year, author, type of study, country, disease, and intervention. We included 552 database results with 2357 patients, published between 1985 and 2023. Most studies were primarily from India (<i>n</i> = 15), focused on asthma, along with two studies on cystic fibrosis and one each on pleural effusion and bronchiectasis. Study types included observational studies (<i>n</i> = 10), randomized controlled trials (<i>n</i> = 8), controlled trials (<i>n</i> = 1), quasi-experimental studies (<i>n</i> = 1), and pilot studies (<i>n</i> = 2). Yoga improved pulmonary function test scores in asthma, pleural effusion, and bronchiectasis, enhancing quality of life (QOL) and psychological well-being. However, no studies were found on COPD, pneumonia, and tuberculosis in the pediatric population. Quality evidence suggests that yoga improves asthma symptoms and QOL. However, variations in yoga modules limit generalizability. Future research should develop validated disease-specific modules, including unexplored facets like Yama, Niyama, yogic counseling, and diet. Mechanistic studies with long follow-up periods are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"128-138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436610/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Yoga Intervention on Pulmonary Functions in Young Nonhypoxemic Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients at a Tertiary Care Center.","authors":"Pratima Agrawal, Sudhanshu Kacker, Neha Saboo","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_173_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_173_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation characterize chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a progressive condition characterized by pulmonary and systemic inflammation, leading to numerous extrapulmonary consequences. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of yoga on pulmonary function in young, nonhypoxemic, stable patients with COPD at a tertiary care center.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An intervention study was conducted in the Department of Physiology and Medicine at RUHS CMS and its associated hospitals, Jaipur. A total of 120 subjects were recruited. The cases (Group A) were selected according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification. GOLD stage 1 and 2 patients were confirmed by spirometry. All included COPD patients were referred for intervention through asanas and pranayama at a yoga center under the supervision of a certified yoga instructor, for a 45-min session, 6 days a week, and over 3 months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Intragroup comparison from baseline and after 3 months intervention in study group showed a significant improvement with weight (<i>P</i> < 0.05), body mass index (BMI) (<i>P</i> < 0.05), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (<i>P</i> < 0.05), forced vital capacity (FVC) (<i>P</i> < 0.05), ratio of FEV1/FVC (<i>P</i> < 0.05), slow vital capacity (<i>P</i> < 0.05), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) (<i>P</i> < 0.05) as compared to control.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Yoga intervention is a beneficial nonpharmacological therapy for young, stable COPD patients, as it improves pulmonary function parameters and reduces BMI through weight loss. Yoga improves blood circulation and enhances tissue perfusion, which in turn increases respiratory muscle strength and helps open blocked airways in patients with COPD. CTRI No: CTRI/2024/07/0698.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"160-166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436604/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Belief on Yoga and its Association with Practice among Nursing Officers of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi.","authors":"Suprakash Mandal, Puneet Misra, Pritam Halder, Gautam Sharma, Man Singh Jat, Rajesh Sagar, Shashi Kant, S N Dwivedi, Ramakrishnan Lakshmy, Kiran Goswami","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_88_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_88_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Yoga is beneficial for mental, physical stress and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Due to long and hectic working hours, nursing officers experience stress and NCDs. Awareness of yoga helps adopt yoga practice and healthy lifestyle. Our objective was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and beliefs regarding yoga and examine their association with its practice among nursing officers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data of an intervention study on in-service nursing officers employed at workplace for at least 1 year. Those who were under treatment for any psychiatric disorder and any condition preventing practice yoga were excluded. After taking informed written consent, a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Data were extracted in Microsoft Excel and analyzed by statistical software STATA V12.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 105 participants completed the questionnaire, 78% were female, and the mean age was 33 years. Majority (79.0%) of them were aware of yoga as a way of healthy life and beneficial practice. A proportion of ever practiced participants were 53.3% and currently practicing were 12.4%. The level of knowledge, attitude, and belief score was positively correlated among themselves. The belief score had a significant association with current practice of yoga (odds ratio of 1.9, 95% confidence interval: 1.4-2.7, <i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Knowledge, attitude, and belief were higher among most of the participants though the level of practice was low. The score of knowledge, attitude, and belief was higher among those who had a history of either current or past practice. Belief score was significantly associated with current yoga practice. A larger study is recommended at workplace setting with further exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"179-184"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Yoga as an Adjunctive Intervention for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Joseph A Roche, Sandeep K Subramanian, Vasanthan Rajagopalan, Matthew Chase, Mohan Ganesan","doi":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_64_25","DOIUrl":"10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_64_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This scoping review aimed to explore and summarize the published evidence on yoga as an adjunctive intervention to standard rehabilitative care for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A comprehensive literature search was conducted across five databases - PubMed/MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest Health and Medicine Collection, Web of Science Core Collection, and CINAHL - using the terms \"Duchenne muscular dystrophy\" (or DMD) and \"yoga.\" Studies were included if they (1) were published between January 2000 and December 2024; (2) involved participants with DMD; (3) examined yoga as an intervention; (4) were peer-reviewed; and (5) were published in English. We used a standardized data extraction form to capture study characteristics, including authorship, publication year, sample size, participant demographics, intervention details, outcome measures, and main results. We assessed study quality with the Modified Downs and Black Checklist (MDBC). Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Five were rated as having fair quality (MDBC score: 15-17/28), and one was rated as having poor quality (MDBC score: 3/28). Yoga interventions incorporated <i>asanas</i> (postures), <i>dhyana</i> (meditation), and <i>pranayama</i> (breathing practices). Outcome measures varied widely, encompassing mobility, self-care, comfort, heart rate variability, respiratory function, quality of life, and functional performance. Modest improvements were noted in pulmonary function and self-reported well-being; however, evidence remains limited and inconsistent. Current literature provides preliminary support for yoga as a complementary therapy in DMD rehabilitation. More rigorous, large-scale trials are needed to establish their efficacy and clinical relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":14436,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Yoga","volume":"19 2","pages":"120-127"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13436612/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}