Key result
Bhramari humming maximizes HRV at longer respiration lengths compared to standard biofeedback breathing.
Why the study?
There is a gap in understanding variations in heart rate variability across different respiration lengths during simple Bhramari practice.
Do various respiration lengths (8, 10, 12, and 14 s) affect heart rate variability during simple Bhramari (humming) practice?
RCT (n=118)
simple permutation
No
Do various respiration lengths (8, 10, 12, and 14 s) affect heart rate variability during simple Bhramari (humming) practice?
During simple Bhramari (humming) practice, maximum heart rate variability is achieved at respiration lengths of 12 to 14 seconds, which is longer than the 10 seconds typically observed in standard HRV biofeedback.
Clinicians may trial 12-14 s cycles during Bhramari to maximize HRV; extends beyond fixed 10 s HRV biofeedback protocols.
Background: Heart rate varies during breathing and the heart rate variability (HRV) facilitates the autonomic homeostatic capacity. The maximum HRV was observed at around 10 s of prolonged respiration as per HRV biofeedback literature. However, there is a gap in understanding the variations in HRV by different respiration lengths during simple Bhramari practice. Objective: To assess the effect of various respiration lengths (8, 10, 12, and 14 s) on HRV during the simple Bhramari (humming) practice. Methodology: A total of 118 individuals (67 males, 51 females) signed up for the study based on convenience sampling at a wellness center. A randomized (simple permutation) within-subject crossover design with repeated measures was used to measure their HRV during the simple Bhramari practice. The results were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and paired samples t -test. Results: The results indicate that, unlike the 10 s of respiration during HRV biofeedback breathing, maximum HRV during humming happens between 12 and 14 s of long breathing. Conclusions: The unique findings of the study demonstrate the maximization of HRV between the respiration lengths of 12 and 14 s. Future work should explore expanding the research to a broader group of participants, including individuals with chronic conditions and other demographic variables and mantra chanting.
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Trivedi et al. (2023) reported an RCT. Simple Bhramari (humming) practice vs. Within-subject crossover across different respiration lengths was evaluated on Heart rate variability (HRV). Simple Bhramari (humming) practice maximized heart rate variability between respiration lengths of 12 and 14 seconds, differing from the 10 seconds typical of HRV biofeedback breathing.
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