Effect of rosary prayer and yoga mantras on autonomic cardiovascular rhythms: comparative study
Open accessAbstract
Objective: To test whether rhythmic formulas such as the rosary and yoga mantras can synchronise and reinforce inherent cardiovascular rhythms and modify baroreflex sensitivity. Design: Comparison of effects of recitation of the Ave Maria (in Latin) or of a mantra, during spontaneous and metronome controlled breathing, on breathing rate and on spontaneous oscillations in RR interval, and on blood pressure and cerebral circulation. Setting: Florence and Pavia, Italy. Participants: 23 healthy adults. Main outcome measures: Breathing rate, regularity of breathing, baroreflex sensitivity, frequency of cardiovascular oscillations. Results: Both prayer and mantra caused striking, powerful, and synchronous increases in existing cardiovascular rhythms when recited six times a minute. Baroreflex sensitivity also increased significantly, from 9.5 (SD 4.6) to 11.5 (4.9) ms/mm Hg, P<0.05. Conclusion: Rhythm formulas that involve breathing at six breaths per minute induce favourable psychological and possibly physiological effects. What is already known on this topic: Reduced heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity are powerful and independent predictors of poor prognosis in heart disease Slow breathing enhances heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity by synchronising inherent cardiovascular rhythms What this study adds: Recitation of the rosary, and also of yoga mantras, slowed respiration to almost exactly 6/min, and enhanced heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity The rosary might be viewed as a health practice as well as a religious practice
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Of 16 cardiovascular function studies, 11 (69%) reported that R/S was significantly related to positive cardiovascular functions or outcomes or to lower levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.
“Of those, 11 studies (69%) reported that R/S was significantly related to positive cardiovascular functions or outcomes [367–374] or to lower levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein [375–377] and fibrinogen [378] that place individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease.”
From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [367]
The timing of repetition of the Ave Maria in rosary prayer and of yoga mantras cycles at ∼0.1 Hz and produces cardiorespiratory synchronization.
“For example, the timing of repetition of the Ave Maria in rosary prayer and of yoga mantras cycles at ∼0.1 Hz and produces cardiorespiratory synchronization (Bernardi et al., 2001).”
From Hypothesis: Pulmonary Afferent Activity Patterns During Slow, Deep Breathing Contribute to the Neural Induction of Physiological Relaxation (2019) · cites this paper as Bernardi et al., 2001
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- Authors
- Bernardi, L., Sleight, P., Bandinelli, G., Cencetti, S., Fattorini, L., Wdowczyc-Szulc, J., & Lagi, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Pavia (IT)
- John Radcliffe Hospital (GB)
- University of Gdańsk (PL)
- Corresponding author
- Bernardi, Luciano
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2001-12-22
- Volume
- 323
- Issue
- 7327
- Pages
- 1446-1449
- ISSN
- 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
- 0959-8138
- 1468-5833
- PMC
- PMC61046
- OpenAlex
- W2026434512
- Cited by
- 486
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 5.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Licence
- www.bmj.com/company/legal-information/terms-conditions/legal-information/tdm-licencepolicy (tdm)
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Keywords
- Ave Maria, slow-paced breathing, baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, blood pressure, cerebral circulation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Electrocardiography, Female, Humans, Male, Religion, Respiration, Yoga, Baroreflex
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