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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 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]
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“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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“We found that the results were quite different when said aloud, which slowed breathing to about 6 breaths/min or a 10-sec rhythm [2].”
BackgroundResultSelf-citationFeasibility and Safety of Intradialysis Yoga and Education in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
Birdee, G. S., Rothman, R. L., Sohl, S. J., Wertenbaker, D., Wheeler, A. E., Bossart, C., Balasire, O., & Ikizler, T. A. (2015) · Journal of Renal Nutrition · doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2015.02.004 · Cited by 22
Nature meets nurture in religious and spiritual development
Granqvist, P., & Nkara, F. (2017) · British Journal of Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjdp.12170 · Cited by 22
“For example, a child observing parental praying may imitate praying behaviours, which may in turn be reinforced by praise and a decreased autonomic stress response (Bernardi et al., 2001).”
BackgroundMeditation as a Potential Therapy for Autism: A Review
Sequeira, S. M., & Ahmed, M. (2012) · Autism Research and Treatment · doi:10.1155/2012/835847 · Cited by 27
Littrell, J. L. (2012) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00297 · Cited by 22
Device-guided slow-breathing effects on end-tidal CO2and heart-rate variability
Anderson, D. E., McNeely, J. D., & Windham, B. G. (2009) · Psychology Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548500903322791 · Cited by 21
“antihypertensive intervention because of a synchronization of respiratory and cardiovascular rhythms that can occur under these conditions (Bernardi et al., 2001).”
BackgroundYoga – an ancient solution to a modern epidemic. Ready for prime time?
Bali, H. K. (2013) · Indian Heart Journal · doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2013.03.002 · Cited by 21
Prakash, E. S., Ravindra, P. N., Madanmohan, Anilkumar, R., & Balachander, J. (2005) · International Journal of Cardiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.05.075 · Cited by 21
Yoga for Children on the Autism Spectrum
Ehleringer, J. (2010) · International Journal of Yoga Therapy · doi:10.17761/ijyt.20.1.eu176u2721423510 · Cited by 21
Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure
Gladysheva, I. P., & Sullivan, R. D. (2022) · MDPI eBooks · doi:10.3390/books978-3-0365-4153-2 · Cited by 21
Applications of Yoga in Psychiatry: What We Know
Nyer, M., Nauphal, M., Roberg, R., & Streeter, C. C. (2018) · FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20170055 · Cited by 22
Exploring the Experience and Effects of Vocal Toning
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Larkey, L., Kim, S. W., James, D. L., Kishida, M., Vizcaíno, M., Huberty, J., & Krishnamurthi, N. (2020) · Integrative Cancer Therapies · doi:10.1177/1534735420949677 · Cited by 22
Taylor, A. G. (2014) · Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy · doi:10.4172/2157-7595.1000174 · Cited by 19
“Because of its effect on multiple mechanisms in autonomic pathways, yoga has positive effects on reports of stress [19] and heart rate variability, a stress indicator [22].”
BackgroundDifferences in the autonomic nervous system stress status of urban and rural school teachers
Mendoza-Castejón, D., Fraile-García, J., Diaz‐Manzano, M., García, J. P. F., & Clemente‐Suárez, V. J. (2020) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112925 · Cited by 20
A brief intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder in persons with a serious mental illness.
Nishith, P., Mueser, K. T., & Morse, G. A. (2015) · Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal · doi:10.1037/prj0000158 · Cited by 18
Yoga as a therapeutic tool in autism: A detailed review
Bhavanani, A. B., Artchoudane, S., Ramanathan, M., & Mariangela, A. (2019) · Yoga Mimamsa · doi:10.4103/ym.ym_3_19 · Cited by 18
“Programs for autistic children that include chanting “om” have been shown to synchronize respiratory signals, cardiovascular rhythms, and cerebral blood flow, entrain a particular brain activity or body rhythm, and create one-pointedness in the mind (Bernardi et al., 2001; Schmidt, Trainor & Santesso, 2003; Khalsa, Am…”
BackgroundContemporary spiritual meditation: Practices and outcomes.
Wachholtz, A., & Austin, E. T. (2012) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/14045-017 · Cited by 20
Burrai, F., Hasan, W., Luppi, M., & Micheluzzi, V. (2018) · Holistic Nursing Practice · doi:10.1097/hnp.0000000000000253 · Cited by 18
Gubi, P. M. (2007) · Counselling and Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/14733140701342544 · Cited by 18
Yoga and the Need of Its Integration in Modern Medicine
Santra, G. (2022) · Journal of the Association of Physicians of India · doi:10.5005/japi-11001-0142 · Cited by 17
Comparison of Mind Control Techniques: An Assessment of Reaction Times
Malhotra, V., Goel, N., Dhar, U., Garg, R., & Tripathi, Y. (2016) · Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science · doi:10.3329/bjms.v15i4.30718 · Cited by 17
Trivedi, G. Y., & Saboo, B. (2021) · Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2021.07.004 · Cited by 17
“Evidence indicates that regular use of such practice may lead to changes in resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia) and improved baroreceptor activity with positive autonomic effects similar to those observed with HRV biofeedback training and regular yoga practice [28,29].”
ResultPossible Influence of Spiritual and Religious Beliefs on Hypertension
Giaquinto, S., & Spiridigliozzi, C. (2007) · Clinical and Experimental Hypertension · doi:10.1080/10641960701615683 · Cited by 17
Pranayama: The power of breath
Singh, R. B., Wilczyńska-Kwiatek, A., Fedačko, J., Pella, D., & Meester, F. D. (2009) · International Journal on Disability and Human Development · doi:10.1515/ijdhd.2009.8.2.141 · Cited by 17
“vagal activity, resulting into increased nitric oxide release when the breathing rate is brought down to six per minute (18).”
BackgroundHotho, G., von Bonin, D., Krüerke, D., Wolf, U., & Cysarz, D. (2022) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.875583 · Cited by 19
“During meditative chanting of OM, a state of mental alertness is induced (Kumar et al., 2010), which is accompanied by physiological effects such as the coordination of blood pressure oscillations (Mayer waves), cerebral blood flow and heart rate variability, HRV (Bernardi et al., 2001).”
BackgroundInfluentialNashiro, K., Yoo, H. J., Min, J., Cho, C., Nasseri, P., Zhang, Y., Lehrer, P. M., Thayer, J. F., & Mather, M. (2022) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/s13415-022-01019-7 · Cited by 20
“During these meditative practices, breathing slows down and drives large heart rate oscillations at the breathing frequency (Bernardi et al., 2001; Lehrer et al., 1999; Peng et al., 2004).”
BackgroundRespiratory dysfunction in persistent somatic symptoms: A systematic review of observational studies
Niwa, S., Fila-Witecka, K., den Bergh, O. V., & Rymaszewska, J. (2024) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111607 · Cited by 16
Effects of light, electromagnetic fields and water on biological rhythms
Martel, J., Rouleau, N., Murugan, N. J., Chin, W., Ojcius, D. M., & Young, J. D. (2024) · Biomedical Journal · doi:10.1016/j.bj.2024.100824 · Cited by 16
“Reciting the Rosary prayer or a mantra induced synchronized cardiovascular rhythms in healthy volunteers [91].”
Metadata
- 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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