Evaluating Daily Breathwork Versus Mindful Meditation on Running Performance, Respiratory Health, and Heart Rate Variability

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a specific breathwork program called Les Mills Breath on running performance, respiratory function, and heart rate variability in recreational runners. This study compares daily participation in a 20-minute breathwork program to a mindfulness control involving 20 minutes of guided meditation. The goal is to understand if breathwork can improve respiratory function, recovery indicated by heart rate variability, and self-selected running speeds at moderate and vigorous intensities more than mindfulness meditation. This research aims to contribute to the understanding of accessible respiratory training methods for athletes. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups a breathwork group practicing video-based breath-focused meditation including physiological sighs, cyclic breathing with breath holds, and resonant frequency breathing or a mindfulness meditation group practicing 20 minutes of video-based relaxation meditation. This intervention lasts for 4 weeks, with daily 20-minute sessions. Both groups engage in their assigned practice daily during this period. During the study, participants will be assessed at baseline and again after 4 weeks. Researchers will measure running speeds at moderate and vigorous intensities, as well as several respiratory function tests including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, peak expiratory flow rate, and maximum voluntary ventilation. Heart rate variability will also be monitored to assess recovery and parasympathetic nervous system activity. The total study participation lasts approximately 4 weeks with assessments before and after the intervention period.

The Effects of a Mindfulness Program on Running Performance, Respiratory Function, and Heart Rate Variability