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Current Research: Integrative Medicine
CAM Therapies 2017
September 18-19, 2017 Charlotte, USA
5
th
International Meeting on
Complementary and Alternative Medicine & Therapies
Psychophysiology of Yoga and its’ application in therapy
Raghavendra Bhat
Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, India
T
raditionally, Yoga has eight classical techniques called
astanga yoga
. Three of these eight techniques
are widely practiced world over, they are: Yoga postures [
asanas
], voluntarily regulated yoga breathing
[pranayama] and meditation [
dhyana
]. This presentation gives an overview of psycho-physiological studies
on yoga postures, regulated breathing and meditation. Yoga (postures) practice has shown to increase brain
GABA levels suggesting application of yoga in treating anxiety and depression. Yoga breathing is a collection of
specific breathing patterns. Breathing through left and right nostrils has distinct physiological effects. Breathing
through right nostril [
surya anauloma-viloma
] has shown to be physiologically arousing with increased oxygen
consumption, heart rate, respiratory rate and an increased in the low frequency component of heart rate variability
analysis. Whereas breathing through left nostril [
Chandra anulom-viloma
] is physiologically relaxing which is
evident through decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, increased galvanic skin resistance and decrease in oxygen
consumption. Interestingly, breathing through alternate nostrils [
anuloma-viloma
] had a balancing effect. All
forms of meditation induce relaxation responses. Our studies on meditation have shown increased alertness and
reduced arousal (sympathetic activity) following meditation. This is in line with traditional understanding of
meditation as a state of ‘alertful rest’. Further, concept of health and disease in modern medicine and Yoga texts
will be presented. According to yoga, man is in perfect health and homeostasis in his normal state. All diseases
are classified as (a) stress-related (adhija) and (b) not stress related, e.g., injuries (anadhija). Yoga has been
considered especially useful in the management of stress related disorders.
bhatyoga@gmail.com