Study to Measure Relaxation From Different Types of Focused Breathing Exercises

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Mind-body practices, such as yoga, ta'i chi, mindfulness and biofeedback, commonly use slow breathing techniques to induce physiological and mental relaxation. Medical research suggests that slow breathing techniques induce physiological relaxation. This 6 week study will compare the effects of different types of breathing. The hypothesis is that different breathing techniques produce different physiological and mental changes.

Official Title
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Focused Breathing Study

Conditions
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Yoga, Breathing, Mind-body Practices, Meditation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Focused Breathing


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age 30 to 50 years English speaking Exclusion Criteria: Hypertension Heart disease: history of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, significant valvular disease, or congestive heart failure Diabetes Renal Disease Anxiety Disorder Depression Other psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia or bipolar disorder Attention-deficit-disorder or Attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder Musculoskeletal condition limiting capacity to perform yoga such as chronic lower back pain, chronic neck pain Asthma Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Obstructive Sleep Apnea Smoker Currently taking blood pressure medications, oral diabetic medication or insulin Current participation in a mind-body practice/program Current cancer other than non-melanoma skin cancer Regular swimmer Plays wind or brass musical instruments

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 30 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Focused breathing<br>Focused deep breathing techniques used to produce specific physiological and psychological states | Behavioral: Focused Breathing<br> <br> |
| Active Comparator: Focused breathing 2<br>Focused deep breathing techniques used to produce specific physiological and psychological states | Behavioral: Focused Breathing<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Magnitude of changes in heart rate response to upright position |  | 10 minutes at baseline, 2 weeks and 6 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Magnitude of changes in heart rate variability measured as ratio of low frequency to high frequency ratio components (Hz) |  | Baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks | 
| Magnitude of changes in catecholamines in response to upright position |  | 10 minutes at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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breathing, mind-body practices, yoga, meditation