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Front Page >> Potpourri > Story
Step 2: In the <body>, place the 
Breath — The Mind-Body Medicine
By Pushpa K Abujam
The "Art of Living Foundation" founded by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar, is a non-profit educational and humanitarian organization committed to creating peace from the very ground level of the individual and fostering human values within the global community. It is also an international organization in special consultative status with Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nation (UN). The foundation has spread its activities and service in over 180 countries. Its main focus is to serve society by strengthening the individual. There are numerous programs imparted by Art of Living (AOI). This programs helps eliminate stress, create a sense of self belonging, restore human values and encourage people from all backgrounds, religious and cultural traditions to come together in celebration and service.

One of the most basic program is the Part-I or the basic course where any individual above the age of 20 is eligible to participate. This course helps one to awaken to a new reality and experience the stillness of the self. A very unique and profound breathing technique "Sudarshan Kriya", some simple asanas ‘Pranayamas’ and deep knowledge about self and consciousness, is imparted as the most important tools. ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ is a rhythmic breathing process involving long and short periods of inhale-cycles. Following this process, one feels as though every cell in his body’s fully oxygenated and flooded with new life. Negative emotions stored as toxins in the body are flushed out. Tensions, frustrations and anger get released. Anxiety, depression and lethargy are slowly washed away, replaced by an improved sense of liveliness, concentration and complete relaxation. ‘Pranayamas’ is an ancient wisdom. It regulates our ‘Prana’- subtle life force energy, the very essence of our life. Its regular practice activates and harmonizes many biological rhythm involving brain rhythm, heartbeat, enzyme rhythm, and mental and emotional rhythm.

But scientifically, "What actually happens during Sudarshan Kriya (SK), and Pranayamas (P)?"

The first symposium on ‘SK’ and ‘P’ consciousness was held at "Medical of Oncology Department", "Institute of Rotatory Cancer Hospital", "All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi. Scientifically it was suggested that the connection between body and the mind implying that emotional state and thought process effect brain, endocrine system and also immune system. A new discipline has emerged based on these concepts called "Psychoneuroimmunology" or mind-body medicine. A thorough research at AIIMS showed the following effects of result:

Effect of stress on thoughts, emotions and body:

Stress or perception of stress leads to anxiety, restlessness, irritability or aggressive behavior or a state of panic, even addiction to tobacco, alcohol/drugs. Negative emotions surface in many forms. Efficiency goes down and memory weakens. Pulse increases, heart pounds and one starts perspiring-hands cold and clammy.

This is caused by the release of several hormones, chemicals and cytokines from our endocrine glands and immune cells, which are activated in response to the perception of stress.

Effects of SK and P on electrophysiology of brain:

Various tools like EEG and evoked potentials (BAER, P300, and middle latency potentials) have been used to study the effect of relaxing techniques on the mind. EEG reflects the coherent state of the brain during which cognitive and sensory inputs are being processed. It helps in studying changes during meditation and its long term effects.

The effect of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ was studied on EEG parameters. This study included two groups - Group-I included regular practitioners and Group-II included healthy matched controls; EEG was recorded in lying down relaxed position with closed eyes. There was significant increase in beta activity in midline and left front occipital regions in Group-I suggesting an alert state. During ‘SK’ increased alpha activity (indicating a state of relaxation) along with persistence of beta activity was noted. Thus, it would appear that with regular practice of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ mind becomes alert and relaxed, and ability to concentrate improves.

Effects of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ on psychological disorders and depression:

Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder. The Yoga research group at, Nimhans, Bangalore has conducted clinical trials of ‘SK’ yoga in depression. Results indicate that ‘SK’ yoga has significant antidepressant effects, which compare favorable with ‘imipramine’ - an established anti-depressant medication. The rapid breathing and repeated sequences of cyclical breathing provide an opportunity for repeated exposure to the emotional and physical recollections of trauma in a safe and supportive setting enabling the traumatic response to be gradually extinguished and at the same time giving the patient a sense of control and mastery.

Effects of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ on oxidative stress:

Psychological stress has been shown to increase oxidative stress. Evidence suggest that ‘Oxidative stress’ or free radicals induce DNA damage and contribute to pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and other chronic diseases associated with aging such as cancer, cataract and rheumatoid arthritis, stress reduction, therefore, will reduce the level of Oxidative Stress and its effect on cells, since ‘SK’ and ‘P’ are effective stress management techniques.

Effects of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ on lactate levels:

During anxiety and tension there is a rise in the level of lactate in blood. Blood levels of lactate have been shown to be decreased during meditation.

Effects of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ on immunity:

Dr. Satyan N. Das, Associate Professor of Bio-technology, AIIMS and his team demonstrated changes in immune parameters, thus establishing the correlations between brain and immune system. Natural Killer (NK) cells (surveillance cells of immune system that directly destroy tumor cells and injected cells) were significantly higher among practitioner of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ as compared to controls.

Effects of ‘SK’ and ‘P’ on patients with cancer:

Stress can be related to cancer in many ways, thereby, the concept of physiooncology. Treatment of cancer with ‘Chemotherapy’ or ‘Radiotherapy’ has various side-effects. Studies show that there is compelling evidence for the role of cells. Such ‘NK’ cells in resisting progression and metastatic spread of tumors once they have developed. Inclusion of ‘SK’ or ‘P’ in the treatment program may improve the acceptance of diagnosis and decrease the symptoms related to cancer and the side-effects of therapy, thereby leading to improvement in compliance.

Hypothesis about effects of ‘SK’ and ‘P’:

According to Dr. Richard Brown, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University, New York, feeling of calmness following ‘Ujayi’ Pranayam may be due to the Para-sympathetic dominance through vagal stimulation. ‘Bhastrika’ seems to be excitatory with activation of parieto-temporo-occipital cortial area. The subjective experience is one of excitation during the breathing, followed by emotional calmness along with alertness. The ‘Om’ chanting that follows probably balances and enhances the sympathetic and parasympathetic vagal outflow which might be responsible for improved heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity. "Sudarshan Kriya" according to him, might activate thalamus and hypothalamus via vagal input. In addition, it might rebalance relationship between the areas of brain such as right and left cerebral hemisphere, anterior and posterior and top and bottom.

Conclusion

The introduction of ‘Sudarshan Kriya’ and ‘Pranayamas’ though very recent has proved to be effective in maintaining one’s mental and physical health. It brings about physiological and psychological improvement thereby enhancing our sense of health, increased energy, reduced stress, develops a strong heart and removes fear and anxiety. One needs to have a stress-free life to ensure a healthy settled state of mind, the quality and success in life being determined by the state of the mind. The time has come for every individual to try to understand the ‘Self’ and its depth and how its deeper understanding brings about complete harmony of the body/mind and the environment, thus bringing peace and tranquility in the self.

The AOL Centre in Imphal provides the Part-I course and numerous others. The Imphal Centre is at:

Art of Living Center
La Mode Building (Top Floor)
Paona Bazaar (Moreh International Market, Imphal, Manipur)
Phone: 0385-2246473

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

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