Influence of Yogic Breathwork on CSF Circulation (CSF)

Quantifying the Influence of Yogic Breathwork on Cerebrospinal Fluid Circulation

The purpose of this research study is to determine the influence of yoga breathing practices on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation, and to find out primarily if a regular practice of 8-week yoga breathing would enhance CSF circulation as well as if the intervention would improve participant's quality of life, quality of sleep, and reduce existing stress. Participants will be randomized into two arms for different breathing practices.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: CSF Circulation
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Breathing Group 1; Behavioral: Breathing Group 2

Detailed Description

The purpose of this research protocol is to determine the influence of an 8-week breathing intervention on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation among healthy participants using a non-invasive real-time phase-contrast magnetic imaging (RT-PCMRI) technique. This aim will be examined by studying the changes in each participant's pre- and post-intervention CSF flow dynamics using the non-invasive RT-PCMRI technique during two MRI scans (one before and one after the 8-week intervention).

The study protocol consists of 20 healthy participants (two groups; 10 in each group with different breathing practices) undergoing an 8-week intervention, and pre-and post-intervention outcome measures.

The two 8-week interventions will be guided by two separate certified experienced yoga teachers. Both interventions will consist of 60-minute weekly group on-site sessions (1day/week) with a 20-minute daily home sessions (in between on-site sessions; 6 days/week) using home-aid practice materials. Participants' respiration data will be objectively tracked using a wearable respiration tracker device.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Oregon
    • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239
      • Oregon Health & Science University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- 18-65 years of age, able to provide their consent to be in the study, available and able to participate in study activities, who can lie in supine, able to walk 15 feet, who have no prior/current mind-body practice inducing breath awareness or training such as yoga, meditation, Ta-Chi, Qi-Gong.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability to provide informed consent, MRI contraindications, need for muscle relaxants or anti-anxiety drugs in order to tolerate MRI, history of neurological disorders, head trauma with loss of consciousness, craniospinal disorders, spinal injury, sleep disorders, allergic or respiratory disorders, major or uncontrolled psychiatric illness or major depression, lung and heart problems, any condition requiring the use of medication that acts on the brain like stimulants, sedatives current substance abuse issues, pregnancy or nursing.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Breathing Group 1; Arm 1 will receive an 8-week intervention that consists of a set of breathing practices through 60-minute weekly group on-site sessions (1day/week) with a 20-minute daily home sessions (in between on-site sessions; 6 days/week).	Behavioral: Breathing Group 1; The 8-week breathwork intervention incorporates a set of breathing practices under the guidance of a certified yoga teacher.
Active Comparator: Breathing Group 2; Arm 2 will receive an 8-week intervention that consists of slow breathing practices through 60-minute weekly group on-site sessions (1day/week) with a 20-minute daily home sessions (in between on-site sessions; 6 days/week).	Behavioral: Breathing Group 2; The 8-week breathwork intervention incorporates a set of slow breathing practices under the guidance of a certified yoga teacher.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
CSF Flow Velocities	We have collected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow measurements during a set of breathing practices while subjects were inside the MRI scanner. MRI-based CSF flow was quantified at the level of Foramen Magnum. Data processing included the extraction of velocity waveforms of the CSF motion ( i.e, CSF velocity in cm/s) and subsequent analysis of CSF velocities across different breathing conditions. Positive CSF velocities indicate fluid motion in the cranial (upward) direction, whereas negative velocities represent fluid motion in the caudal (downward) direction. For the registry, descriptive statistics of CSF velocities (mean and standard deviation) are reported at pre- and post-intervention for participants completing both MRI visits with analyzable CSF data (Group 1 n=7, Group 2 n=7). No inferential statistical tests or change score analyses are included in the registry submission; all reported results are descriptive only.	Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (after 8 weeks).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure	Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured participants seated at rest at pre- and post-intervention visits.	Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (after 8 weeks).
Body Mass Index (BMI)	BMI was collected at pre- and post-intervention visits, and was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²).	Baseline (pre-intervention) and post-intervention (after 8 weeks).
Daily Home Practice Frequency	Average breathing practice frequency were measured using a wearable respiration tracker to objectively evaluate home practice throughout the intervention: frequency (days/week). Preliminary analysis estimated mean frequency (days/week) across participants. Onsite class sessions were excluded.	8 weeks (daily home practice over the course of 8-week intervention).
Daily Home Practice Duration	Average breathing practice duration were measured using a wearable respiration tracker to objectively evaluate home practice throughout the intervention: duration (in minute). Preliminary analysis estimated mean duration (minutes) across participants. Onsite class sessions were excluded.	8 weeks (daily home practice over the course of 8-week intervention).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Oregon Health and Science University
• Collaborators: National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Yildiz, Oregon Health and Science University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 10, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 25, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 30, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): February 28, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 29, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 15, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Yoga; Sleep; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Breathing; Respiration; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow; Cerebrospinal Fluid Circulation; Yogic Breathwork; RT-PCMRI; CSF Flow; Slow Breathing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Respiratory Insufficiency; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Respiratory Aspiration; Hypoventilation
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00019281; K99AT010158-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No