yoga the way of life

Dr. B.C. Harinath Dr. Ranjan Choudhari Arogyadham Dept. Comm.

Medicine

Dr Manish Chandra Prabhakar Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical

SciencesSevagram, Wardha, India

Yoga Way of Living (YOGism) for better Health & Personality Development

&

Integrative / Holistic Medicine:

Holistic medicine is the combination of the practices and methods of Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) with conventional medicine.

Holistic medicine provides patients with individually tailored, health and wellness programmes to take care of patients health needs as well as better care of physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual health.

Contd…2

Integrative / Holistic Medicine:

Holistic medicine offers nutritional and preventive treatment programmes customized for each patient to promote wellness and intrinsic healing in the whole person - body, mind and spirit for a healthy and vibrant life.

After complete health assessment, a physician directed wellness plan of therapies is provided for optimizing one’s health or treating chronic medical conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, heart disease, cancer, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, allergic disorders, depression etc.

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Global situation of Use of CAM/Traditional medicine

CHINA 40%

CHILE 71%

COLUMBIA 40%

INDIA (Use of Ayurveda) 65%

AUSTRALIA 48%

BELGIUM 70%

CANADA 70%

FRANCE 49%

USA 42%

UK 70%

NORTH IRELAND 90%

SOURCE : WHO traditional medicine strategy 2002-2005. Document WHO/EDM/TRM/2002.

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NIH Classification of CAM (NCCAM):

• Alternative Medical Systems (Ayurveda etc.)

• Mind-Body Interventions (Meditation, prayer, music etc.)

• Biological Based Therapies (herbal medicine, special diet etc.)

• Manipulative and Body-Based Methods (Chiropractic approaches)

• Energy Therapies (Qi gong (‘chee gung’) etc.)

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Latest Figures in USA:

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults:

• United States, 2007. CDC National Health Statistics Report #12.

• 38% of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over (about 4 in 10).

• 12% children (about 1 in 9) use some form of CAM.

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Latest Figures in USA:

Recent Statistics on CAM costs in the United States

• 83 million adults spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on CAM (2007).

• CAM costs are 11.2% of total out-of-pocket expenditures on health care (2007).

• Pediatric Expenditures on CAM visits and remedies were $127M and $22M respectively.

(Yussamn, Ambul Pediatr. 2004)

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Alternative Therapies In US Hospitals*:

One or more alternative therapies available:

• 2005: 27% of hospitals

• 2007: 37%

Most common in-patient therapies:

• Massage, Acupuncture, therapeutic touch, guided imagery

*Health Forum Survey, 2007

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Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine:

• 44 medical schools who have support of their Dean with regards to the Consortium’s mission:

• Mission: to help transform medicine and healthcare through rigorous scientific studies, new models of clinical care, and innovative educational programs that integrate biomedicine, the complexity of human beings, the intrinsic nature of healing and the rich diversity of therapeutic systems

• Majority US universities (Harvard, UCSF, Maryland, Duke, Georgetown, Columbia, etc.)

• 3 Canadian universities: Alberta, Calgary, Laval, McMaster

A.Prasad, YOGism Symposium - 2010

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Yoga Therapy:


2007 National Health Interview Survey found that yoga is one of the top 10 CAM modalities used among U.S. adults. An estimated 6 percent of adults used yoga for health purposes in the previous 12 months.

• Hatha yoga, the most commonly practiced in the United States and Europe, emphasizes two of the eight limbs: postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama)

• Some of the major styles of hatha yoga include Ananda, Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar, Kripalu, Kundalini, and Viniyoga.

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Yoga Therapy….Uses:


• More than 13 million adults had used yoga in the previous year, and between the 2002 and 2007 NHIS, use of yoga among adults increased by 1 percent (or approximately 3 million people)

• The 2007 survey also found that more than 1.5 million children used yoga in the previous year.

• People use yoga for a variety of health conditions including anxiety disorders or stress, asthma, high blood pressure, and depression. People also use yoga as part of a general health regimen—to achieve physical fitness and to relax.

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Summit on Integrative Medicine & the health of the public Washington DC, Feb 2009:

Senator Harkin – “We don’t have a health care system in America, we have a sick care system.”

We spend about 3% of our healthcare dollars for prevention.

45 million Americans do not have health insurance.

The disease – driven approach to care has resulted in spiraling costs as well as fragmented health system that is reactive, episodic, inefficient and impersonal.

Contd…

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Summit on Integrative Medicine & the health of the public Washington DC, Feb 2009 (contd…):

The integrative approach puts the patient as the centre addressing not just symptoms but the real causes of illness. It is care that is preventive, predictive and personalized.

In integrative approach, one has to ensure that the full spectrum of preventive opportunities – clinical, behavioral, social, spiritual and environmental are included in the care of delivery process.

The health care “should account for differences in individual conditions, needs and circumstances, and engage the patient as a partner in addressing all the factors that shape wellness, illness and restoration of health.”

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Summit on Integrative Medicine & the health of the public Washington DC, Feb 2009 (contd…):

The epidemic of Chronic disease in US – Obesity, diabetes, Heart disease, asthma, HIV / AIDS, all of which can be delayed in onset if not prevented entirely.

The progression of many chronic diseases such as cardiac disease and cancer can be reversed and sometimes even completely healed by making lifestyle modifications.

Genetics is not destiny and gene expression can be ‘turned on’ or ‘off’ by nutritional choices, levels of social support, stress reduction activities such as meditation, and exercise.

Focus attention on healthcare for the whole person.

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Streams of Yoga

Four streams of Yoga have been advised by our Rishis and Saints based on Sanatan Dharma for leading a productive and peaceful life.

(1) Jnana Yoga (Path of philosophy or knowledge);

(2) Bhakti Yoga (Pure love to Divine or worship);

(3) Karma Yoga (Path of working with detachment) &

(4) Raja Yoga (culturing of mind or psychic control)

Depending on one’s emotional nature, capacity to acquire knowledge or take the challenge and work or to control mind and desires for transformation of individual with holistic personality.

YOGA IS THE SKILL TO CALM DOWN THE MIND

Mahan Prasamana Upayah Yogah - Vasista

YOGA:

YOGAH CITTAVRTTI NIRODHAH

Yoga is to gain mastery over the MindPatanjali (900 BC)

http://www.drshama.bravehost.com/

Aurobindo

Yoga is a technique for Total Personality Development at PHYSICAL MENTAL EMOTIONAL

& SPIRITUAL LEVELS

http://www.drshama.bravehost.com/

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Yoga not only helps us to achieve the fitness of body curing our abnormalities but also helps us to achieve…

Flexibility of body

Mental harmony

Cognitive restructuring

Social adjustment

Personality development

Spiritual upliftment

Success Stories in Yoga

Dr. Dean Ornish

Medical doctor in San Francisco, USA known as a pioneer in the reversal of heart disease.

As a medical student, he learnt Yoga and meditation from an Indian Guru.

He proved that Yogic way of life, vegetarian diet and stress management showing reduction in angina and coronary risks but also angiographically proved the reversal of blockages in the coronary arteries. (Published in JAMA in 1995).

A new era has started in the management of coronary heart disease - Saaol Heart Program

Advisor to the President of USA.

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Success Stories in Yoga (contd…)

Dr. Kabat – Zinn

University of Massachusetts Medical Centre, USA.

Based on Vipassana (Buddha’s technique for self realization) and Yognidra (Yogic Practice), Mindfulness (non judgment moment to moment awareness) was first developed in 1979 by Dr. Kabat – Zinn and is being practiced under Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR) in over 200 hospitals in US and is currently the focus of a number of research studies funded by NCCAM. Mindfulness meditation has been clinically shown to be effective for the management of stress, anxiety, chronic pain, depression and a wide array of medical and mental health related conditions.

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The Status of Yoga Research in the US:

Research suggests that yoga might:• Improve mood and sense of well-being• Counteract stress• Reduce heart rate and blood pressure• Increase lung capacity• Improve muscle relaxation and body composition• Help with conditions such as anxiety, depression,

and insomnia• Improve overall physical fitness, strength, and

flexibility• Positively affect levels of certain brain or blood

chemicals.


NCCAM – Funded Research:


Recent studies supported by NCCAM have been investigating yoga's effects on: • Blood pressure• Chronic low-back pain• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease• Depression• Diabetes risk• HIV• Immune function• Inflammatory arthritis and knee osteoarthritis• Insomnia• Multiple sclerosis• Smoking cessation

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Officially Recognized Medical Systems in India:

A: Ayurveda

Y: Yoga & Naturopathy

U: Unani

S: Siddha

H: Homoeopathy

In addition to Allopathic medicine

Non-codified medical knowledge is practiced in the form of folklore, tribal medicine and local health practices.

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Some Institutions Involved in Yoga Research in India:

• Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA, Bangalore).

• Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj, Hardwar.

• Patanjali Yogpeeth, Hardwar.

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

• The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai

… and more

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Supportive Laboratory Evidence for Beneficial Effects of Yoga:

• Cortisol ↑in stress and ↓ by meditation

• GABA ↓ in anxiety and ↑ by meditation

• Serotonin ↓ in depression and ↑ by meditation

• NK Cells ↓ in decreased resistance and ↑ by meditation

• Meditation helps in Relaxation mental imagery and helpful for children experiencing pain

• Mindfulness – Based Stress Reduction Programmes involving pain, cancer, heart disease, depression, anxiety improve both physical and mental health states.

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Supportive Laboratory Evidence for Beneficial Effects of Yoga (contd…):• Therapeutic intervention in diet, lifestyle, stress care, exercise and

psychological support changed the expression of over 500 genes in men with early stage prostate cancer.

• Oncogenes associated with breast & prostate cancer, heart disease, oxidative stress and inflammation were down regulated & protective genes are “turned on” by Life style changes.

• Acupuncture and mind-body practices helped in reduction of lower back

pain, with significant reduction in pain medication intake (Ford Motor company – corporate study).

• Corporate employee health program in preventive cardiology, smoking cessation, stress management, weight management – decreased medical costs on employees.

• Research trials by Health Insurance companies – Therapeutic Yoga & Meditation reduced health care costs.

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Mind-Body Medicine and Meditation

• Goal of mind-body techniques is to activate the relaxation response and reduce the stress response. When relaxed, the immune system becomes more efficient improving resistance to infection.

Vipassana, Yognidra, Mindfulness etc.

• Meditation has become an important component of mind-body medicine for promotion of optimal health and showing beneficial effects in reduction of stress, hypertension, anxiety, depression etc.

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100 Benefits of Meditation:Physiological benefits:

1. It lowers oxygen consumption.

2. It decreases respiratory rate.

3. It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.

4. Increases exercise tolerance.

5. Leads to a deeper level of physical relaxation.

6. Good for people with high blood pressure.

7. Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.

8. Decreases muscle tension

9. Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etc.

10. Reduces Pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms.

11. Helps in post-operative healing.

12. Enhances the immune system.

13. Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress

14. Enhances energy, strength and vigour.

15. Helps with weight loss

16. Reduction of free radicals, less tissue damage

17. Higher skin resistance18. Drop in cholesterol levels, lowers risk of cardiovascular

disease.19. Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier

breathing.20. Decreases the ageing process.21. Higher levels of DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone)22. Prevented, slowed or controlled pain of chronic diseases23. Makes you sweat less24. Cure headaches & migraines25. Greater Orderliness of Brain Functioning26. Reduced Need for Medical Care27. Less energy wasted28. More inclined to sports, activities29. Significant relief from asthma30. Improved performance in athletic events31. Normalizes to your ideal weight32. Harmonizes our endocrine system33. Relaxes our nervous system34. Produce lasting beneficial changes in brain electrical

activity35. Helps cure infertility (the stresses of infertility can

interfere with the release of hormones that regulate ovulation).

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100 Benefits of Meditation: Contd…

Psychological benefits:36. Builds self-confidence.37. Increases serotonin level, influences mood and

behaviour.38. Resolve phobias & fears39. Helps control own thoughts40. Helps with focus & concentration41. Increase creativity42. Increased brain wave coherence.43. Improved learning ability and memory.44. Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.45. Increased emotional stability.46. Improved relationships47. Mind ages at slower rate48. Easier to remove bad habits49. Develops intuition50. Increased Productivity51. Improved relations at home & at work52. Able to see the larger picture in a given

situation53. Helps ignore petty issues

54. Increased ability to solve complex problems55. Purifies your character56. Develops will power57. Greater communication between the two brain

hemispheres58. Respond more quickly and more effectively to a

stressful event.59. Increases ones perceptual ability and motor

performance60. Higher intelligence growth rate61. Increased job satisfaction62. Increase in the capacity for intimate contact with

loved ones63. Decrease in potential mental illness64. Better, more sociable behaviour65. Less aggressiveness66. Helps in quitting smoking, alcohol addiction67. Reduces need and dependency on drugs, pills &

pharmaceuticals68. Need less sleep to recover from sleep deprivation69. Require less time to fall asleep, helps cure

insomnia70. Increases sense of responsibility

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100 Benefits of Meditation: Contd…

71. Reduces road rage

72. Decrease in restless thinking

73. Decreased tendency to worry

74. Increases listening skills and empathy

75. Helps make more accurate judgements

76. Greater tolerance

77. Gives composure to act in considered & constructive ways

78. Grows a stable, more balanced personality

79. Develops emotional maturity

Spiritual benefits:

80. Helps keep things in perspective

81. Provides peace of mind, happiness

82. Helps you discover your purpose in life

83. Increased self-actualization.

84. Increased compassion

85. Growing wisdom

86. Deeper understanding of yourself and others

87. Brings body, mind, and spirit in harmony

88. Deeper Level of spiritual relaxation

89. Increased acceptance of one self

90. Helps learn forgiveness

91. Changes attitude toward life

92. Creates a deeper relationship with your God

93. Increases the synchronization in your life

94. Greater inner-directness

95. Helps living in the present moment

96. Creates a widening, deepening capacity for love

97. Discovery of the power and consciousness beyond the ego

98. Experience an inner sense of Assurance or Knowings

99. Experience a sense of Oneness

100. Leads to enlightenment

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• Wellness Institute of Cleveland Clinic has started Life style 180

programme for a fee of $1500 addressing 25 million Americans with

chronic disease, to reclaim their health and vitality by making positive

changes in their life style under guidance of experts on nutrition

education, exercise and stress management with specific achievable

goals.

Wellness Institute of Cleveland Clinic

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Tamasic SELFISH AVERSION; Dull, depressed, repressed, inferiority, denied, underactive.

Rajasic SELFISH DESIRE; Excited, manic, obsessive, superiority, addicted, greed, selfish lust, attachment, over-active.

Sattvic THE GOLDEN BALANCE: LOVE, GOODNESS, WISDOM, and THE GOLDEN BALANCE; Soulful, spiritually aware, dharmic, balanced, and holistically healthy. All goodness arises out of love, all love arises from the soul, all souls arise out of God's eternal and undying love and creative power, the love and power that creates everything.

A human being is an expression/experience of a combination of Universal qualities. These qualities are represented by the seven chakras.Each chakra can be in one of three modes (corresponding to three qualities - gunas – of human temperament) which are:

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THE GOLDEN BALANCE

• Avoid the extremities

• Behaviour and experience in the tamasic and rajasic modes is always delinquent and selfish.

• Tamasic (too little = aversion, denial, depressed)

• Rajasic (too much = excessive desire, lust, over-excitement) experiences always lead to a negative outcome.

• Extremity is the source of all vice and unhappiness for everyone.

• Sattvic : The balanced, holistically healthy,

• Sattvic experience is ALWAYS POSITIVE for All sentient beings.•

Characteristics of Spirituality

• Compassion Truthfulness Sacrifice

• Contentment Gentleness Sharing

• Charity Simplicity Purity

• Forgiveness Love to Nature & its creation.

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Meditation & Spirituality

• Retrospection and Meditation promote Spirituality.

• Spiritual life makes one Contented, Peaceful and Calm in all adverse circumstances.

• Helps in development of equanimous mind.

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Need for Holistic Health Research in India:

• The concept of Body, Mind and Soul is the very basis of Yoga.

• Yoga & Naturopathy aim at purification of mind (mental) and body (physical) i.e. removing negativity of mind and helps in detoxification of body.

• Yoga is oldest and time tested holistic system for mind-body fitness.

• With regular practice of Asanas, Pranayama and Meditation, one can enjoy good vital capacity and good body-mind coordination and stress free life.

• Yoga way of Living is strongly preventive and therapeutically effective in reversing Life style health problems in early stages.

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It is important to maintain a balance between our mind, body and soul to have a total harmony within ourselves and around us, which comes through practicing yoga.

We, in the present era, believe that only physical and emotional needs are important and thus they lack in the vision for the other needs which are actually important for their holistic development.

YOGism is simple living in harmony with Nature and concern for

whole Universe. Simplicity, Service and Spirituality are three pillars of

YOGism. Yoga is an eternal (ageless) and Universal Science of Living.

Yoga way of simple living (YOGism) harmonizes the body, mind and spirit

and connects to the Oneness of the Universe. In brief YOGism is

live Simple, live Spiritual and

live to Serve the unfortunate.

Thank You

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