Electrophysiological and anthropometric impact of a yearlong yogic regimen on youth: A multi-institutional cohort study

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of premature morbidity worldwide, with growing concern among younger populations due to sedentary lifestyle, academic stress, and poor health behaviors. Yoga, an ancient mind-body discipline, has gained global recognition as a complementary and preventive strategy, yet long-term evidence in young adults remains limited.

Objective: This study evaluated the electrophysiological and anthropometric impact of a yearlong yogic regimen among postgraduate students of yogic sciences across three Indian universities.

Methods: A prospective, multi-institutional cohort study was conducted among 102 postgraduate yoga students (45 males, 57 females; aged 21-30 years) enrolled at Central University of Kerala, Mangalore University, and Davangere University. Participants underwent a structured 12-month yoga intervention comprising pr???y?ma, mudr?, and bandha practices. Pre-and post-assessments included anthropometric variables (height, weight, BMI) and electrocardiographic parameters (HR, RR interval, QRS duration, QTc). Paired t-tests were used to evaluate changes, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results: Significant reductions were observed in resting heart rate and respiratory rate, alongside improvements in RR interval and QTc duration, indicating enhanced autonomic regulation. BMI showed modest but favorable reductions across both genders. The findings suggest that long-term yogic practices can modulate electrophysiological markers linked to cardiovascular health in otherwise healthy young adults.