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THE SCIENCE BEHIND YOGA
Biological Understanding of Yoga and Meditation
Today, there is a paradigm shift around the concepts
of health, illness, and treatment options. We are living
in a time where medical physicians largely rely on technology
and drugs to treat illnesses and diseases. Yet in the
midst of the best health care system that western medicine
has to offer, millions of people are seeking alternative
health care (Barnes, 2004). In the recent past, efficacy
and therapeutic effects of yoga have been reported in
various medical journals using latest technology, suggesting
that yoga has scientific basis. Moreover, millions of
people are exploring and paying for such complementary
treatment primarily out of their own pocket, which again
emphasises and acknowledges the positive and healing
effect of yoga.
What causes diseases - the role of oxygen
Disease arises when there is an imbalance in the body
due to negative thoughts/energy. Oxygen is vital for
life and life is about the breaths. A person who maintains
the synchronization of breathing leads a healthy and
disease free life.
Scientist have concluded that the chemical basis of
energy production in the body is a chemical called ATP
(Adenosine Triphosphate). If the production of this
ATP is disrupted in some way or the other, the result
is lowered vitality, disease and premature ageing. Oxygen
is considered critical for the production of this ATP
and pranayam allows us to tap into this vital component.
The effects of yoga
In the last two decades research into meditation suggests
that meditation can improve the immune response, the
response of the sympathetic nervous system, modify cardiac
symptoms, reduce pain, reverse heart symptoms and slow
down the ageing process. These are some of the mechanisms
by which these effects arise.
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Response to hypoxia: Individuals
practising yoga have generalised reduction in chemoreflex
to hypoxia in laboratory conditions.
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Muscle relaxation: stretching of
muscles, which produce sensory stimulation thereby
helps in relaxing muscle tension and restoring optimal
muscle tone and posture. Localised relaxation of the
head and neck areas again are the areas of proprioceptive
stimulation, which not only improves respiration,
but also stabilises emotion.
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Brain blood flow: alteration of
blood flow (particularly by head posture when large
volume of blood surges the head and brain to provide
increased distribution of blood to relatively starved
part of the human body). By Pranayama, the elimination
of CO2 and increased O2 uptake creates a stage of
Kevela-Kumbhaka (apnoea-like condition), which helps
concentration capability and to voluntary control
over respiratory centre. This oxygenates areas in
the brain (frontal, temporal, parietal and anterior
cingulate gyrus) which have significant role in mental
balance and concentration.
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Blood pressure: voluntary controlled
abdominal breathing practices reduce the raised blood
pressure.
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Consciousness: breathing and relaxation
produces a sedative effect while deeper relaxation
can produce temporary loss of ego and ecstatic vibration
temporary phenomenological unity by merging the awareness
of environment and self in one through fixed attention.
This unity phase produces the stage of egoizing, which
forms a buffer against anxiety provoking stimuli.
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Yogic meditation influences the
reticular-activating system and cortex to produce
the most beneficial state of sub cortical alpha-regulated
activity as confirmed by various electroencephalograph
studies. This altered state of consciousness causes
TROPHOTROPIC activity that can be used with a high
degree of success in the treatment of psychosomatic
disorder.
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Emotions: meditation helps in relaxation
and uplifts a person spiritually. Meditation like
Kundalini yoga regulates the neurotransmitters, hormones
and enhances coherence between the two brain hemispheres.
Chanting mantras, meditation, rhythmic movements have
a positive effect on our emotions. The parasympathetic
system is activated which facilitates relaxation (Aftanas,2002;
Kjaer, 2002).
Brain waves and Yoga
We can record the waves of electrical activity in the
brain using the electroencephalogram (EEG).
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Alpha waves: these represent a
pleasant, calm, and positive resting state that appears
to act as a bridge to awareness of the deeper states
of consciousness. Along with the pleasant feelings,
training alpha waves provides enhanced performance
for athletes, golfers, singers, martial artists or
anyone who requires speed and accuracy with their
hands or body. Many meditation systems train Alpha
waves through visualisations (meditation) or mantra
repetitions (Tassi and Muzet, 2001; Young and Taylor,1998;
Tetsuya et al. 2004) (MORE).Text in red will come
here
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Beta waves: with its constant mind-chatter
has proven to be the most difficult area to master
for most meditators, particularly those raised in
our information overload age. Many people who try
meditation give up in frustration at this seemingly
impossible challenge.
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Delta waves: these can provide
a profound calming and deep meditation experience
and appears to be related to the capacity for empathy
and reaching out beyond one's self. Meditators who
have a conscious experience of Delta report that the
state is both profound and psychologically healing.
However, very few meditation systems have been successful
in training Delta in few dedicated people.(MORE)text
in red will come here
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Theta waves: these are at the brainwave
frequency that we are producing in dreaming sleep
and has been the goal of many meditation systems.
It is recognised as the storehouse of emotions and
the subconscious memories. Theta, as in our dreaming,
is very creative and intuitive. However, it also carries
the potential for terrifying images and emotions.
Based on the Neuro observations, one can develop an
approach to access Theta safely and use its wonderful
creativity.
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