Objective: To investigate the effect of 12 weeks Modified “Dantien-Salee” Yoga training (MDS) on pulmonary function, functional fitness, and quality of life (QoL) in elderly Thai.

Material and Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted using a sample of twenty-four elderly subjects with no previous experience of yoga training. They were equally divided into a MDS group and control group. The MDS group were asked to attend a 70-minite session of MDS training three times a week over 12 weeks. The control group was asked to continue their normal daily routine over the same period. Pulmonary function tests, functional fitness assessments, and QoL by SF-36 assessments, were all measured at baseline and after the 12 weeks study period. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to evaluate differences between groups.

Results: There were no differences in spirometry and lung volumes over the intervention period. Both maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) showed tendency to improve in the MDS group but did not reach statistically significant level. Functional fitness and QoL improved significantly (p<0.05) over the 12 weeks period in MDS group.

Conclusion: MDS program led to improvement of functional fitness and enhance the QoL in the study group of elderly participants without significant change in pulmonary function parameters. The MDS program is safe and easy to practice. It should be considered as a mode for exercise prescription in the elderly.