Table 4. Intervention and comparator characteristics of included studies.

ANB: alternate nostril breathing, BBM-IC: breath-body-mind – introductory course, NS: not specified

Study (author, year)	Intervention type	Session details	Total duration	Instructor/supervision	Comparator group
Gerbarg et al. (2023) [18]	BBM-IC	4h/day × 3 days + 45 min/week × 6 wks	9 weeks	Certified BBM teachers	None (single-arm)
Muthe et al. (2025) [19]	Structured yoga and meditation (incl. pranayama)	60 min/day, 5 days/week	6 weeks	Structured program (details NS)	Non-participant cohort (n = 90)
Smitha (2016) [20]	ANB	30 min/day, 5 days/week	3 months	Supervised practice	None (single-arm)
Manzoor et al. (2025) [21]	Structured yogic breathing (Nadi Shodhana, Kapalabhati, Bhastrika, Sheetal)	~30 min/session, 5 days/week	5 weeks	Qualified instructors, weekly supervision	Physical activity (matched duration/frequency)
Nagendrappa et al. (2025) [22]	Alternate nostril breathing (Nadi-Shodhana Pranayama)	15-20 min/day, 5 days/week	3 months	Likely instructor-guided initially	None (single-arm)
Sudhir et al. (2015) [23]	Alternate nostril breathing (Nadi Shodhana Pranayama)	20 min/day, daily	3 months	Supervised practice	None (single-arm)
Dhanvijay et al. (2018) [24]	Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama (ANB)	15 min daily, daily	12 weeks	Certified yoga trainer	None (single-arm)