Respiratory Conditions
Yoga is a powerful practice with growing scientific support.
These resources help yoga teachers, schools, and advocates understand the latest research and integrate evidence-based insights into their work.
- Review Papers provide a broad understanding via existing studies of yoga’s impact in this area.
- Notable Publications highlight key research shaping our understanding of yoga’s role in health, well-being, and society.
We invite you to share how yoga research informs your teaching and practice. Connect with us on social media (@YogaAlliance).
Review Papers
Review Papers
Citations for review, summary, and scientific/clinical hypothesis papers that summarize and analyze the yoga research in this specific area; these are the best resource for becoming familiar with the literature.
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ abstract ]
Exercise Training Modalities for People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Nolan CM, Rochester CL.
COPD. 2019 Dec;16(5-6):378-389.
[ abstract ]
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).
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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).
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
Effects of Yoga in Patients with Asthma.
Saguil A.
Am Fam Physician. 2017 Aug 1;96(3):159-160.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
Breathing exercises for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Holland AE, Hill CJ, Jones AY, McDonald CF.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Oct 17;10:CD008250.
[ full text ]
Notable Publications
Notable Publications
Citations of individual study publications that are notable from a historical, scientific, mechanistic, clinical, sociological, epidemiological, philosophical, and/or policy aspect.
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ full text ]
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.
[ abstract ]
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.
[ full text ]
Yoga for bronchial asthma: a controlled study.
Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR.
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1985 Oct 19;291(6502):1077-9.
[ full text ]