Statement of the Problem: An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of pranayama in reducing stress among parents of children undergoing cardiac surgery in a selected cardiac care hospital in Bangalore.

Methods: A true experimental pre-test-post-test control group design was adopted. The study included parents of children undergoing cardiac surgery in a selected cardiac care hospital in Bangalore, chosen using simple random sampling. A structured questionnaire was used to collect baseline data and assess stress levels. Pranayama was provided for 30 minutes daily. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Post-intervention stress levels showed a significant reduction in the experimental group, with 7% reporting mild stress, 78% moderate stress, and 12% severe stress. In the control group, 3% reported mild stress, 43% moderate stress, and 54% severe stress. The paired t-test in the experimental group was 13.542 (first day) and 3.131 (last day). The independent t-test for the last day post-test was 4.050 (p<0.05).