Increased core body temperature is accompanied by altered metabolic state during brief session of guided Kriya Yoga meditation: A Thermographic Study

Abstract

Long-term meditation has been found to alter various physiological parameters of the body but the effects of brief meditation are relatively unknown. This paper mainly focuses on the effects of brief session of guided Kriya Yoga meditation on body temperature and metabolic variables. The core body temperature is found to increase after meditation. This increase can be due to the increase in the metabolic rate of the person. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of saliva are obtained. 10 spectral peaks corresponding to the carbohydrate, protein and lipid region are significantly altered in post meditation phase [P<0.001; at 95% confidence interval]. Meditation has been a well-known technique for stress regulation, relaxation enhancement and also for curing various psychological and physiological problems. Effects of different techniques of meditations like Mindfulness Meditation, Indic Meditation (Sahaja Yoga) etc have been studied by researchers. The studies suggest positive effects of meditation on moods, memory functioning, alertness, attention-concentration as well as on cognitive behaviour. Significant research is being conducted on exploring the effects of meditation on body and mind. Scientific studies suggest that meditation regulates body metabolism thus improving the immune system, energy level and overall health condition. However, the effects of brief meditation intervention on metabolic variables and body temperatures are relatively unknown. This paper aims to experimentally study effects of brief session of guided Kriya Yoga meditation on body temperature and metabolic variables. Kriya Yoga is described by its practitioners as the ancient Yoga system which is revived in modern times by Mahavatar Babaji through his disciple Lahiri Mahasaya, in 1861. To Westerners, it is brought into popular awareness through Paramahansa Yogananda's book Autobiography of a Yogi and through Yogananda's introductions of the practice in the west since 1920 and India since 1917. The system consists of a number of levels of Pranayama based on techniques that are intended to rapidly accelerate spiritual development and engender a profound state of tranquility and God-communion [1].This work mainly focuses on the study of body temperature variations both core as well as peripheral temperature. The variations caused can be thought to be related with the variations caused in the metabolic rates of the person. The metabolic studies are also performed from the collected saliva samples. The subjects are guided to do 12-15 minutes Kriya Yoga meditation of which 10 minutes are dedicated for certain guided breathing exercise or pranayam.