Lab study, 2025
Does yogic pilates and breathing exercises help PMS symptoms?
Yes. Women doing yogic pilates and breathing exercises (pranayama) for 24 days had a clear improvement in core strength and a clear reduction in stress. There was no clear change in memory function or AMH hormone levels.
What they did
30 women with moderate to severe PMS (average age 23 years) who had depression and back pain participated in this study. They did yogic pilates and pranayama exercises and were tested on core strength, stress, memory, and a hormone called AMH on day 1 and day 24.
What they found
Core strength improved with a clear difference. Stress levels were reduced with a clear difference. Memory function showed no clear difference. AMH hormone levels showed no clear difference.
What it means for you
This small study suggests that yogic pilates and breathing exercises may help reduce stress and improve physical strength in women with PMS. But the study was only 30 women at one location in India, and it did not follow women long-term to see if benefits lasted.
30
women
23
average age in years
24
days of treatment
About the study
- Original title
- Synergy of Yogic Pilates and Pranayama to Combat Stress and Cognition in Premenstrual Syndrome for Sustainable Health: An Experimental Study
- Authors
- Abha Shirish Khisty, Zafar Azeem, Rucha Choudhari et al.
- Journal
- JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH
- Year
- 2025
- Study design
- Lab study
- Participants
- 30
- What was tested
- Yogic pilates and pranayama (breathing exercises) for 24 days
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.7860/jcdr/2026/77887.22420
Topics
Related studies
Systematic review, 2026
Can mindfulness, yoga or qigong help with PMS symptoms?
Survey study, 2026
Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health?
Cohort study, 2022
What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated?
Randomised trial, 2026
Is Pilates exercise more effective than stretching for reducing PMS symptoms?
Study, 2026
How can lifestyle changes help reduce premenstrual syndrome?
Survey study, 2023
How does PMS affect women's mental health and quality of life?