New Delhi: Practising yoga may significantly increase a tobacco user’s chances of quitting while also helping reduce anxiety, depression and other psychological factors associated with addiction, according to a study conducted by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

The findings come from a systematic review and meta-analysis carried out by researchers from the Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research and the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS-Delhi. The study was published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research and was made available online on November 15, 2025.

Yoga linked to higher quit rates

The researchers found that tobacco users who practised yoga had about 50 per cent higher odds of achieving short-term abstinence compared with participants who received standard tobacco cessation interventions or other non-yoga approaches.

In their paper, the authors described yoga as a moderately effective intervention for tobacco cessation, with the pooled analysis indicating a meaningful improvement in quitting outcomes.

The review analysed evidence from seven randomised controlled trials involving 629 participants from India, the United States and Thailand. Of these, five studies were included in the final meta-analysis.

Different yoga practices were evaluated

To assess yoga’s role in tobacco cessation, the researchers examined a range of practices, including:

  • Hatha yoga
  • Vinyasa yoga
  • Iyengar yoga
  • Pranayama (yogic breathing exercises)

The pooled analysis showed that participants in yoga intervention groups were more likely to achieve seven-day point prevalence abstinence (7PPA), a commonly used measure in smoking cessation research.

The researchers said the review consolidates the best available evidence and highlights yoga’s promising potential as a supportive intervention for tobacco users attempting to quit.

Psychological benefits may reduce relapse

Beyond improving quit rates, the study found that yoga may help address psychological factors that often contribute to relapse.

Several studies included in the review reported improvements in:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Stress levels
  • Quality of life

The researchers noted that active yoga styles such as hatha, vinyasa and Iyengar yoga appeared to improve abstinence outcomes by reducing stress and depressive symptoms.

Meanwhile, pranayama was associated with reduced cravings and fewer negative emotions linked to tobacco withdrawal.

These psychological benefits may help users maintain abstinence during the challenging early stages of quitting.

Important evidence from India

A notable aspect of the review was the inclusion of an Indian randomised controlled trial involving both smokers and smokeless tobacco users.

The authors said this is significant because smokeless tobacco use is common in India and has received relatively limited attention in global tobacco cessation research.

The inclusion of Indian data strengthens the relevance of the findings for countries where tobacco use remains a major public health challenge.

Tobacco continues to cause millions of deaths

The study highlighted the enormous global burden of tobacco use, which is estimated to cause 8.7 million deaths every year worldwide.

Although many tobacco users express a strong desire to quit, relapse rates remain high, even among those receiving conventional cessation therapies such as counselling and pharmacological treatment.

The researchers suggested that yoga could serve as a complementary strategy alongside established cessation methods.

Experts call for larger long-term studies

Despite the encouraging findings, the authors cautioned that the current evidence base remains limited.

They called for larger, long-term studies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to better determine the effectiveness of yoga across diverse populations.

Standardising research methodologies and conducting longer follow-up studies would help clarify yoga’s role in preventing relapse and sustaining long-term abstinence.

Yoga as an accessible adjunct therapy

Dr Gautam Sharma, Professor of Cardiology and founder and head of the Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research at AIIMS-Delhi, described yoga as an effective mind-body intervention.

He said yoga can improve stress management, emotional balance and self-awareness, all of which are important in overcoming addictive behaviours such as tobacco use.

According to Dr Sharma, yoga should not replace established tobacco cessation therapies but can function as an accessible, affordable, culturally acceptable and effective adjunctive modality that supports both mental and physical health during the quitting process.

Conclusion

The AIIMS study suggests that yoga may offer meaningful support for people trying to quit tobacco by improving short-term abstinence rates and reducing psychological factors linked to addiction and relapse. While more robust long-term evidence is needed, the findings indicate that integrating yoga with conventional tobacco cessation programmes could provide a low-cost and widely accessible tool for improving quit outcomes.