Rhythmic breathing helps the brain enter a state of deep silence

A team from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, together with the Sri Sri Research Center and the Fortis Clinic, found that regular rhythmic breathing significantly affects the electrical activity of the brain. In particular, the proportion of theta and delta waves increases, while alpha rhythms decrease. These changes are associated with a state of deep peace, which is described in yoga traditions as samadhi.

The experiment involved 43 Sudarshan Kriya Yoga practitioners with varying experience ranging from a year to almost two decades. For comparison, a control set of ten people was created who listened to relaxing music instead of breathing. Measurements were performed using electroencephalography before, during and after practice.

The recordings showed that during the breathing cycles and the subsequent yoga nidra, the brain entered a state close to sleep meditation, with pronounced activity of theta and delta waves. At the same time, the music in the control group did not cause such shifts.

According to the researchers, such techniques can become a support for people who do not have access to psychotherapy or medication. Rhythmic breathing, accessible to everyone, opens up the possibility of deep relaxation of the nervous system and can form the basis of new methods of correcting anxiety conditions.

However, the authors acknowledge that the work has limitations. The absence of a third control group and the dependence on a specific breathing method leave questions for future experiments. In addition, some of the data was excluded from the analysis due to technical interference.

Despite this, the conclusion is obvious: breathing is not just an automatic process, but a powerful tool that can change the way the brain works. Sudarshan Kriya Yoga demonstrates that several cycles of rhythmic breathing can be the key to a state of silence and harmony, which is so in demand in the modern world.