Effects of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya, a Multicomponent Breath-Based Yogic Practice ( Pranayama), on Perceived Stress and General Well-Being

Christine Tara Peterson, Sarah M Bauer, Deepak Chopra, Paul J Mills, Raj K Maturi, Christine Tara Peterson, Sarah M Bauer, Deepak Chopra, Paul J Mills, Raj K Maturi

Abstract

Stress-induced disorders such as anxiety represent the leading causes of adult disability worldwide. Previous studies indicate that yoga and other contemplative practices such as pranayama, or controlled yogic breathing techniques, may be effective in the treatment of mood disorders and stress. In this study, 142 individuals (mean age = 43 years; SD = 13.90) participated in a 3-day retreat program during which they learned Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya, which is a yogic practice that includes both deep breathing and meditation techniques. Participants were instructed to practice the kriya each day for 21 minutes. After 6 weeks of daily practice, participants reported subjectively lower levels of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and higher levels of general well-being (General Well-Being Scale) compared to baseline. These results support the notion that Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya may represent a natural treatment for stress reduction.

Keywords: breathing; integrative health; kriya; meditation; pranayama; stress; well-being; yoga.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: CTP is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Diego partially funded by the Chopra Foundation. DC is a founder of the Chopra Foundation and Chopra Center and a co-owner of the Chopra Center. PM is the Scientific Director of the Chopra Foundation.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) scores at baseline and follow-up by meditation intensity group. PSS scores range from 10 to 50.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
General Well-Being Scale (GWBS) scores at baseline and follow-up by meditation intensity group. GWBS scores range from 10 to 50.

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