Practising yoga may significantly improve tobacco quit rates and mental well-being, AIIMS study

New Delhi: For millions of Indians trying to quit tobacco, the toughest battle often begins after making the decision to stop. Nicotine cravings, anxiety, depression and stress frequently push users back into old habits. Now, a major study by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, offers encouraging evidence that an age-old practice may significantly improve the odds of success.

According to the research, incorporating yoga into tobacco cessation programmes can increase the likelihood of quitting by nearly 50 per cent while simultaneously improving mental well-being – highlighting yoga as a promising complementary therapy rather than just a wellness trend.

New research suggests yoga does more than improve flexibility

The systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by researchers from the Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research and the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, with the paper first made available online in November 2025.

After analysing data from multiple clinical studies, the researchers concluded that people who practised yoga had around 50 per cent higher odds of achieving short-term tobacco abstinence compared to those receiving standard tobacco cessation interventions or non-yoga approaches.

Importantly, the researchers emphasised that yoga should be viewed as an adjunct to established tobacco cessation strategies—not a replacement for evidence-based treatments such as behavioural counselling, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or prescription medications where appropriate.

Why yoga may help people quit tobacco

Quitting tobacco is not merely about overcoming physical nicotine dependence. The psychological challenges – including stress, mood swings, anxiety and depression are among the leading reasons people relapse.

The AIIMS review found that yoga appeared to improve several of these psychological factors. Participants practising yoga reported reductions in anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress levels and tobacco cravings, all of which are closely linked to successful quitting and lower relapse risk.

Researchers believe yoga’s combination of physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation may help regulate stress responses, improve emotional regulation and reduce the negative emotions that often accompany nicotine withdrawal.

Which types of yoga showed benefits

The review examined different styles of yoga used across clinical studies.

According to the researchers:

• Active yoga practices such as Hatha, Vinyasa and Iyengar yoga were associated with improved tobacco abstinence.
• Pranayama (controlled breathing exercises) was particularly effective in reducing cravings and negative emotions linked to withdrawal.
• Several interventions also reported improvements in overall quality of life and psychological well-being.

However, the researchers also noted that the available studies varied in duration, intervention methods and participant populations, indicating the need for larger and longer-term clinical trials.

Why the findings matter for India

India is home to one of the world’s largest populations of tobacco users, with both smoking and smokeless tobacco contributing substantially to cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory illnesses and premature deaths.

Healthcare experts have long stressed that quitting tobacco requires a combination of behavioural support, medical treatment where needed and sustained motivation. The AIIMS findings indicate that yoga may strengthen this multi-pronged approach by helping users better manage withdrawal-related stress and emotional distress, potentially improving long-term adherence to quit attempts.

The AIIMS study adds to a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that yoga offers benefits extending beyond physical fitness. By improving mental resilience, reducing stress and helping people cope with nicotine cravings, yoga may meaningfully improve the chances of successfully quitting tobacco.