In present day, scenario stressful lifestyle, irregular eating habits and lack of exercise have led to emergence of cardio–vascular and respiratory diseases which were less common in older days when people had less stress and were physically more active as compared to present days.Pranayama , a stage of yoga practice, is an ancient science which makes use of voluntary regulation of breathing and calm the mind. We have tried to study the possible beneficial effects of breathing exercises so as to prevent respiratory morbidity in young adults. Keeping this in view, the present study is designed to evaluate the effects of short term practice of Pranayama and meditation on respiratory parameter(chest expansion, breath holding time, FVC, FEV1 PEFR and MVV).Sixty normal healthy subjects of first year MBBS course volunteered for this study was selected. They were aged between 17–20 years who did not have any previous training in Pranayama. Participants underwent two hours daily yoga program for 30 days under trained person . They were highly motivated to participatein this study program. All the selected physiological parameters were measured before and after performing yoga programme. There was significant increase in chest expansion, breath holding time, ,FVC, FEV1 PEFR and MVV after the practice of  pranayama compared to pre yoga practice.