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Notes on Anatomy & Physiology for Yoga Education
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Notes on Anatomy & Physiology for Yoga Education compiled and edited by Dr Ananda with assistance of Ramya Pillutla and Sri G Dayanidy at CYTER
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A wide range of studies have reported HRV analyses of immediate, short and long term effects of Yoga and its different techniques. A Pubmed, Medline and Google Scholar search with regard to HRV and the terms Yoga / Pranayama / relaxation / meditation revealed 33 eligible studies published in indexed, peer reviewed journals. Of these, 21 were on acute / immediate effects of different techniques (Asana, Pranayama and Meditation) while 11 reported the effects of training programmes ranging from 2 days to 4 months. The subject population of most studies was primarily normal, healthy volunteers of either/ both gender in 29 of them while 4 dealt with HRV studies in pregnant women, smokers on a cessation programme, patients of unipolar depression and post traumatic stress syndrome. While the majority gives evidence of enhanced parasympathetic activity and decreased sympathetic activity with improved SVB; a few strike a discordant note. Individual techniques are seen to have different effects as evidenced in acute studies on forced uninostril breathing and Kapalabhati / high frequency Yogic breathing. The tools of HRV analysis are highly sensitive to various factors such as the frequency of breathing, vocalization, mental activities and physical posture and hence have limitations with regard to Yoga studies. Innovative thoughts and novel methods need to be developed and applied if we are to understand the intrinsic effects of this ancient art and science that is as relevant today as it was millennia ago. (This review paper was prepared for the Souvenir of the CME–cum- Workshop on “Heart rate variability: a diagnostic and research tool.” Organised by the Department of Physiology, MGMCRI, Puducherry on 12.06.2012.) Published as a full paper in Yoga Mimamsa 2012; 44 (3): 188-199.
Background:
Previous studies indicate that yoga may be an effective treatment for chronic or recurrent low back pain.
Objective:
To compare the effectiveness of yoga and usual care for chronic or recurrent low back pain.
Design:
Parallel-group, randomized, controlled trial using computer-generated randomization conducted from April 2007 to March 2010. Outcomes were assessed by postal questionnaire. (International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Register: ISRCTN 81079604)
Setting:
13 non-National Health Service premises in the United Kingdom.
Patients:
313 adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain.
Intervention:
Yoga (n = 156) or usual care (n = 157). All participants received a back pain education booklet. The intervention group was offered a 12-class, gradually progressing yoga program delivered by 12 teachers over 3 months.
Measurements:
Scores on the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) at 3 (primary outcome), 6, and 12 (secondary outcomes) months; pain, pain self-efficacy, and general health measures at 3, 6, and 12 months (secondary outcomes).
Results:
93 (60%) patients offered yoga attended at least 3 of the first 6 sessions and at least 3 other sessions. The yoga group had better back function at 3, 6, and 12 months than the usual care group. The adjusted mean RMDQ score was 2.17 points (95% CI, 1.03 to 3.31 points) lower in the yoga group at 3 months, 1.48 points (CI, 0.33 to 2.62 points) lower at 6 months, and 1.57 points (CI, 0.42 to 2.71 points) lower at 12 months. The yoga and usual care groups had similar back pain and general health scores at 3, 6, and 12 months, and the yoga group had higher pain self-efficacy scores at 3 and 6 months but not at 12 months. Two of the 157 usual care participants and 12 of the 156 yoga participants reported adverse events, mostly increased pain.
Limitation:
There were missing data for the primary outcome (yoga group, n = 21; usual care group, n = 18) and differential missing data (more in the yoga group) for secondary outcomes.
Conclusion:
Offering a 12-week yoga program to adults with chronic or recurrent low back pain led to greater improvements in back function than did usual care.
Primary funding source:
Arthritis Research UK.
Yoga as a mode of therapy (Yoga Chikitsa) has become extremely popular and a great number of studies and systematic reviews offer scientific evidence of its potential in treating a wide range of psychosomatic conditions. Yoga understands health and well-being as a dynamic continuum of human nature and not merely a ‘state’ to be reached and maintained. Yoga helps the individual to establish sukha sthanam which may be defined as a dynamic sense of physical mental and spiritual well-being. .
This book is primarily an anthology of articles on Yoga and Yoga Therapy penned by Dr Ananda and others close to him that have appeared in various Yoga Journals worldwide in recent years. The aim of this collection is to stimulate and motivate Yoga enthusiasts and medical professionals alike to make an effort towards understanding the great depth and wide scope of Yoga chikitsa the application of Yoga as an integrative mode of therapy.
The need of the hour is for a symbiotic relationship between Yoga and modern science. To satisfy this need living human bridges combining the best of both worlds need to be cultivated. It is important that more dedicated scientists take up Yoga and that more Yogis study science so that we can build a bridge between these two great evolutionary aspects of our civilization. This book reiterates the concept that Yoga is all about becoming "one" with an integrated state of being and that the modern tendency of Yogopathy in contrast is more about "doing" than "being".
For more details- http://www.theyogatutor.com/icyer-books
In the modern world Yoga is almost universally pursued as a discipline for fitness and health and has proven to be highly effective as such. The majority of people pursuing Yoga today do so with a sincere expectation of some health related benefits to improve their life and function. Yoga is not merely a physical or psychological therapy though it surely contains a therapeutic element. It is a tradition of psycho-spiritual growth leading to inner peace and freedom. Yoga's comprehensive methodology includes many techniques that serve the popular goals of enhancing or restoring fitness and health. It is a unique psycho-spiritual discipline that also contains a therapeutic component which offers an unusual comprehensive and practical perspective for modern medical care. This book takes a look at a few representative Yoga practices that can benefit those suffering from various health related conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders like hypertension, respiratory disorders like asthma, metabolic disorders, musculoskeletal disorders like low back and neck pain and digestive disorders. It also provides a few Yoga practices for the general health of women and in particular the important period of every woman's life, that of pregnancy.
A detailed study of the art and science of Yoga in the form of question and answers. A very useful guide for all levels of Yoga teachers and students and especially useful in preparation for theory examinations at Yogasana competitions and academic Yoga studies.
Objectives. To systematically review and meta-analyze the effectiveness of yoga for menopausal symptoms. Methods. Medline, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO were screened through April 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if they assessed the effect of yoga on major menopausal symptoms, namely, (1) psychological symptoms, (2) somatic symptoms, (3) vasomotor symptoms, and/or (4) urogenital symptoms. For each outcome, standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Two authors independently assessed risk of bias using the risk of bias tool recommended by the Cochrane Back Review Group.
Results. Five RCTs with 582 participants were included in the qualitative review, and 4 RCTs with 545 participants were included in the meta-analysis. There was moderate evidence for short-term effects on psychological symptoms (SMD = −0.37; 95% CI −0.67 to −0.07; P = 0.02). No evidence was found for total menopausal symptoms, somatic symptoms, vasomotor symptoms, or urogenital symptoms. Yoga was not associated with serious adverse events. Conclusion. This systematic review found moderate evidence for short-term effectiveness of yoga for psychological symptoms in menopausal women. While more rigorous research is needed to underpin these results, yoga can be preliminarily recommended as an additional intervention for women who suffer from psychological complaints associated with menopause.
Background
This study aimed to systematically review the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and to conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of yoga on physical and psychosocial outcomes in cancer patients and survivors.
Methods
A systematic literature search in ten databases was conducted in November 2011. Studies were included if they had an RCT design, focused on cancer patients or survivors, included physical postures in the yoga program, compared yoga with a non-exercise or waitlist control group, and evaluated physical and/or psychosocial outcomes. Two researchers independently rated the quality of the included RCTs, and high quality was defined as >50% of the total possible score. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) were calculated for outcomes studied in more than three studies among patients with breast cancer using means and standard deviations of post-test scores of the intervention and control groups.
Results
Sixteen publications of 13 RCTs met the inclusion criteria, of which one included patients with lymphomas and the others focused on patients with breast cancer. The median quality score was 67% (range: 22–89%). The included studies evaluated 23 physical and 20 psychosocial outcomes. Of the outcomes studied in more than three studies among patients with breast cancer, we found large reductions in distress, anxiety, and depression (d = −0.69 to −0.75), moderate reductions in fatigue (d = −0.51), moderate increases in general quality of life, emotional function and social function (d = 0.33 to 0.49), and a small increase in functional well-being (d = 0.31). Effects on physical function and sleep were small and not significant.
Conclusion
Yoga appeared to be a feasible intervention and beneficial effects on several physical and psychosocial symptoms were reported. In patients with breast cancer, effect size on functional well-being was small, and they were moderate to large for psychosocial outcomes.
Background: Sahaj yoga is a form of meditative process that has been found to have beneficial effects in the management of depressive disorders. It has also been shown to improve alpha rhythm in healthy practitioners along with many other purported health benefits. Methods: The study was carried out on 30 patients suffering from major depression diagnosed on the basis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV criteria) and 30 healthy subjects who were screened for any sub-psychiatric illness by General Health Questionnaire (G.H.Q.). Patients and healthy subjects were then randomly divided into study and their respective control groups as follows: Group 1 (n=15): Patients who practiced Sahaj yoga meditation in addition to the conventional antidepressant medication. Group 2 (n=15): Patients received only antidepressant medication. Group 3 (n=15): Healthy subjects, who practiced Sahaj yoga. Group 4: (n=15) Healthy subjects who did not practice Sahaj yoga meditation. Group 1 and Group 3 subjects practiced Sahaj yoga meditation under the supervision of trained Sahaj Yogi for a period of 8 weeks. All the subjects were assessed for Alpha activity in EEG at 0 week (Pre-Test) and 8 weeks (Post-test) and results were statistically analyzed. Results: After 8 weeks, there was no statistically significant change in alpha activity (Pre vs. Post) in both groups (Group 1 and Group 2) of depressive patients. In healthy subjects, significant increase in alpha activity (p<0.001) was observed in Group 3 subjects only. Conclusion: Present study demonstrates beneficial effects of Sahaj yoga meditation on alpha activity in only healthy subjects with no acute beneficial effects being observed on these parameters in patients of major depression.
Effect of rhythmic breathing (sudarshan kriya and pranayam) on immune functions and tobacco addiction. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1056:242-52. Stress affects different systems in the body, including the immune system and the endocrine system, and thereby affects the whole physiology. Stress is also linked to the habit of tobacco consumption and substance abuse, which in turn leads to disease states. Previous research has suggested that Sudarshan Kriya (SK) and Pranayama (P), rhythmic breathing processes derived from yoga, reduce stress and improve immune functions. In this study, the possible affect of SK&P on natural killer (NK) cells, a critical cell type in the immune system which helps fight pathogens and cancer, was assessed in cancer patients who completed their standard therapy. SK&P practice correlated with increases in NK cell numbers, but not in the number of other immune cells. Furthermore, SK&P helped to reduce tobacco use in 21% of the individuals at 6 months of practice. Larger and randomized studies are needed, but these findings suggest that SK&P may help boost the immune system in cancer patients.