Yoga vs. Jogging: Which Helps Smokers Resist Cravings Better?
Changes in inhibitory control, craving and affect after yoga vs. aerobic exercise among smokers with nicotine dependence
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Yoga reduced cigarette craving while aerobic exercise did not, despite both improving mood equally.
Most research assumes physical exertion reduces cravings—this shows a low-intensity, mindfulness-based activity outperforms moderate cardio in this specific context.
Practical Takeaways
If you're trying to quit smoking, try a 30-minute yoga session when cravings hit—especially if you're stressed or anxious.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Yoga reduced cigarette craving while aerobic exercise did not, despite both improving mood equally.
Most research assumes physical exertion reduces cravings—this shows a low-intensity, mindfulness-based activity outperforms moderate cardio in this specific context.
Practical Takeaways
If you're trying to quit smoking, try a 30-minute yoga session when cravings hit—especially if you're stressed or anxious.
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Year
2022
Authors
Hyungsoo Kim, Jingu Kim, M. Woo, Teri Kim
Related Content
Claims (6)
People who do yoga tend to react quicker and remember things better than people who do activities like running or cycling.
If you're a smoker trying to quit, both a 30-minute yoga session and a 30-minute brisk walk can help lift your mood equally well—neither one is better than the other.
For people who smoke and are addicted to nicotine, doing gentle yoga helps reduce their urge to smoke and changes how their brain works when trying to control impulses, but working out harder doesn’t help reduce cravings—even though it gets the heart pumping more. This suggests that more intense exercise isn’t always better for quitting cigarettes.
If you're a smoker trying to quit, doing yoga for 30 minutes might help reduce your urge to smoke more than going for a brisk walk or jog—even though both activities make you feel less down or stressed.
After just 30 minutes of yoga, adult smokers who are trying to quit show less brain activity when trying to stop themselves from reacting — even though they stop just as well as after a workout. This might mean their brains are working more efficiently.