Yoga and COPD: gentle movement for strength, breath and calm
Yoga originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and aims to promote physical and mental health.1
Many people believe yoga is simply about stretching, but it’s actually a practice that builds balance in the body by developing both strength and flexibility. Studies also indicate that yoga can help manage or alleviate conditions such as anxiety, depression, back pain, and fatigue, while also improving muscle strength, stamina, and circulation.1
You don’t have to be flexible to do yoga
Yoga isn’t about extreme poses — it’s about moving your body in a way that feels good and supports your health. And you can start at any level.
Research shows that simple yoga breathing techniques, when used alongside your regular COPD treatments, can:2–4
Improve your oxygen levels
Help you feel less breathless
Improve your quality of life
Improve your exercise capacity
Yoga for strength and bone health
Living with COPD might mean you avoid activities that leave you breathless, and this is understandable. But over time, this can lead to weaker muscles and make everyday tasks harder. Long-term use of some treatments, like steroids, can also weaken your bones and increase your risk of fractures.5,6
The good news is that yoga offers a gentle and safe way to:1,7
Maintain or improve muscle strength
Improve your balance and reduce the risk of falls
Support bone density
Regular, safe movement is key to staying strong and independent, and yoga can be a great way to keep active at your own pace.
Yoga for breathing and COPD symptom control
Yoga includes a wide range of practices, including:1
Breathing exercises
Gentle poses
Relaxation
(And yes, sometimes chanting — but that’s optional!)
Even practising just the breathing and movement parts of yoga can make a real difference:
Two months of gentle yoga (breathing and poses) can increase oxygen levels in your blood.2
Doing one simple yoga breathing exercise a day for three months can improve your walking ability and reduce the effect of symptoms.3
Getting started with yoga when you have COPD
Before you begin, speak to your healthcare team to check yoga is suitable for you. Once you’re given the go-ahead, here are a few tips to start:
Look for a local beginner-friendly class
Start slowly, and don’t push yourself — it’s OK to rest
Focus on breathing and relaxation as much as the movements
Ask for simple exercises you can try at home
Ask the instructor if they have experience working with people who have COPD or other health conditions
Remember that the goal isn’t to be perfect — it’s to feel better, more balanced, and more in control of your body and breath.
Healthcare team could include a GP, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, dietitian, occupational therapist, counsellor and stop smoking advisor.
Abbreviations:
COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GP, general practitioner.
References:
- NHS Torbay and South Devon. Yoga. Available at https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/pain-service/reconnect2life/improving-health-and-fitness/yoga/. Accessed October 2025.
- Soni R, et al. Int J Yoga 2012; 5(2):123–127.
- Kaminsky DA, et al. J Altern Complement Med 2017; 23(9): 696–704.
- Sahasrabudhe SD, et al. BMJ Open Respiratory Research. 2021;8:e000966
- Asthma and Lung UK. Physical activity and your lungs. Available at https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/keeping-active/physical-activity. Accessed October 2025.
- Royal Osteoporosis Society. Steroids and bone health. Available at https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/osteoporosis/causes/steroids/. Accessed October 2025.
- NHS. Keep bones healthy over 65. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/bone-health/keep-your-bones-strong-over-65/. Accessed October 2025.