Research Results

Mental Well-being

Restores and Enhances Vibrant Mental Health:

  • Relieves depression in 67-73% of participants within one month (across over a dozen studies) [2, 4, 8-14]

  • Reduces anxiety in 71% individuals for whom medication and psychotherapy treatments had failed [1] 

  • Reduces impulsivity and addictive behaviors [15, 16]

  • Improved emotional regulation [14, 17]

  • Increases levels of optimism, well being and quality of life [4, 5, 12, 18, 19]


 

Enhanced Brain Functioning: 

  • Increased mental focus / heightened awareness [10, 11, 20]

     

Improved Quality of Sleep: 

  • 3x more time spent in deep restful stages of sleep. [21]


 

Physical Well-being
 

Enhanced Biochemical Status:

  • Reduced biochemical markers of stress: cortisol [2, 22], corticotrophin[2] blood lactate[23], ACTH[2], and plasma MDA[2][25]

  • 33% increase in the well-being hormone prolactin from the very 1st session.

  • Increased levels of antioxidant enzymes which protect us from many diseases and rapid aging [6, 23, 27]

     

Enhanced Immune Function:

  • Improved immune cell counts in apparently healthy individuals [16, 28] within as little as 3 weeks [29]

  • Improved immune cell counts in health compromised individuals seen in 12 weeks (Natural Killer Cells) [16]

  • Beneficial changes in our DNA which support an increased life span of white blood cells, our immunity cells. [27]


 

Enhanced Cardiovascular and Respiratory Function:

  • Reduced heart rate in both healthy and health compromised individuals [30] [6]

  • Reduced blood pressure in both healthy and health compromised individuals [25, 30]

  • Improved cholesterol and triglyceride (lipid) profile: [24] [6, 28] as early as 3 weeks, with no change in diet [31]

 

References of Research Studies on Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) / Sudarshan Kriya & Related Practices (SK&P) in Peer Reviewed Journals
 
1 . Katzman, M.A., et al., A multicomponent yoga-based, breath intervention program as an adjunctive treatment in patients suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder with or without comorbidities. International journal of yoga, 2012.5(1): p. 57. 
 
2. Vedamurthachar, A., et al., Antidepressant efficacy and hormonal effects of Sudarshana Kriya Yoga (SKY) in alcohol dependent individuals. Journal of affective disorders, 2006. 94(1): p. 249-253. 
 
3. Seppälä, E.M., et al., Breathing‐Based Meditation Decreases Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in US Military Veterans: A Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Study. Journal of traumatic stress, 2014. 27(4): p. 397-405. 
 
4. Kjellgren, A., et al., Wellness through a comprehensive yogic breathing program - a controlled pilot trial. BMC Complement Altern Med, 2007. 7: p. 43. 
 
5. Sureka, P., et al., Effect of Sudarshan Kriya on male prisoners with non psychotic psychiatric disorders: A randomized control trial. Asian journal of psychiatry, 2014. 12: p. 43-49.
 
6. Agte, V.V. and S.A. Chiplonkar, Sudarshan kriya yoga for Improving Antioxidant status and Reducing Anxiety in Adults. Alternative & Complementary Therapies, 2008. 14(2): p. 96-100.
 
7. Narnolia, P.K., et al., Effect of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga on Cardiovascular Parameters and Comorbid Anxiety in Patients of Hypertension.
 
8. Janakiramaiah, N., et al., Antidepressant efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in melancholia: a randomized comparison with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and imipramine. Journal of affective disorders, 2000. 57(1): p. 255-259.
 
9. Janakiramaiah, N., Gangadhar, B.N., Naga Venkatesha Murthy,, S. P.J., T.K., Subbakrishna, D.K., Meti, B.L., Raju, T.R.,, and A. Vedamurthachar, Therapeutic efficacy of Sudarshan
Kriya Yoga (SKY) in dysthymic disorder. NIMHANS J., 1998. 17: p. 21-28.
 
10. Naga Venkatesha Murthy, P., et al., Normalization of P300 amplitude following treatment in dysthymia. Biological Psychiatry, 1997. 42(8): p. 740-743.
 
11. Murthy, P.N.V., et al., P300 amplitude and antidepressant response to Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY). Journal of affective disorders, 1998. 50(1): p. 45-48.
 
12. Descilo, T., et al., Effects of a yoga breath intervention alone and in combination with an exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of the 2004 South-East Asia tsunami. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 2010. 121(4): p. 289-300.
 
13. Martin, A., Multi-component yoga breath program for Vietnam veteran post traumatic stress disorder: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Traumatic Stress Disorders & Treatment, 2013.
 
14. Kharya, C., et al., Effect of controlled breathing exercises on the psychological status and the cardiac autonomic tone: Sudarshan Kriya and Prana-Yoga. 2014.
 
15. Ghahremani, D.G., et al., Effects of the Youth Empowerment Seminar on impulsive behavior in adolescents.Journal of Adolescent Health, 2013.
 
16. Kochupillai, V., et al., Effect of rhythmic breathing (Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam) on immune functions and tobacco addiction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2005. 1056(1): p. 242-252.
 
17. Gootjes, L., I.H. Franken, and J.W. Van Strien, Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Yogic Meditative Practitioners.Journal of Psychophysiology, 2011. 25(2): p. 87-94.
 
18. Jyotsna, V.P., et al., Comprehensive yogic breathing program improves quality of life in patients with diabetes.Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism, 2012. 16(3): p. 423.
 
19. Warner, A. and K. Hall, Psychological and Spiritual Well-being of Women with Breast Cancer Participating in the Art of Living Program, in Psychology of Cancer, N.L. Hicks and R.E. Warren, Editors. 2012, Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
 
20. Bhatia, M., et al., Electrophysiologic evaluation of Sudarshan Kriya: an EEG, BAER, P300 study. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology, 2003. 47(2): p. 157-163.
 
21. Sulekha, S., et al., Evaluation of sleep architecture in practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya yoga and Vipassana meditation*. Sleep and Biological Rhythms, 2006. 4(3): p. 207-214.
 
22. Kumar, N., et al., Randomized controlled trial in advance stage breast cancer patients for the effectiveness on stress marker and pain through Sudarshan Kriya and Pranayam. Indian journal of palliative care, 2013. 19(3): p. 180.
 
23. Sharma, H., et al., Sudarshan Kriya practitioners exhibit better antioxidant status and lower blood lactate levels.Biological Psychology, 2003. 63(3): p. 281-291.
 
24. Agte, V.V. and K. Tarwadi, Sudarshan kriya yoga for treating type 2 diabetes: a preliminary study. Alternative & Complementary Therapies, 2004. 10(4): p. 220-222.
 
25. Agte, V.V., M.U. Jahagirdar, and K.V. Tarwadi, The effects of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga on some physiological and biochemical parameters in mild hypertensive patients. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol, 2011. 55(2): p. 183-187.
 
26. Janakiramaiah, N., et al., Therapeutic efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in dysthymic disorder. Nimhans Journal, 1998. 16(1): p. 21-28.
 
27. Sharma, H., et al., Gene expression profiling in practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya. Journal of psychosomatic research, 2008. 64(2): p. 213-218.
 
28. Subramanian, S., et al., Role of sudarshan kriya and pranayam on lipid profile and blood cell parameters during exam stress: A randomized controlled trial. International journal of yoga, 2012. 5(1): p. 21.
 
29. Subramanian, S., et al., Role of sudarshan kriya and pranayam on lipid profile and blood cell parameters during exam stress: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Yoga, 2012. 5(1): p. 21-7.
 
30. Somwanshi S. D., H.S.M., Adgaonkar B. D., Kolpe D. V., Effect of Sudarshankriya Yoga on Cardiorespiratory Parameters. International Journal of Recent Trends in Science And Technology, 2013. 8(1).
 
31. Agte, V.V.T., Kirtan, Sudarshan Kriya Yoga for Treating Type 2 Diabetes: A Preliminary Study. Alternative & Complementary Therapies, 2004. 10(4). 
 
32. Somwanshi, S., et al., Effect of Sudarshankriya Yoga on Cardiorespiratory Parameters. Int J Recent Trends in Science and Technology, 2013. 8(1): p. 62-66.
 

 

Research References

The central technique on the program, Sudarshan Kriya™ (SKY), is a powerful rhythmic breathing technique that effortlessly takes you into a state of deep meditation.

 

Over 60 independent studies conducted on four continents and published in peer review journals, have demonstrated a comprehensive range of benefits from SKY practice.