Raja Yoga Research Articles

Piloting a Virtual Yoga and Mindfulness Program for Juvenile Court Involved Youth.

Juvenile court-involved youth (JCIY) face unique psychosocial challenges, with a higher prevalence of mental health concerns and substance use disorders. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these challenges, prompting a need for interventions that address trauma and discrimination experienced by this vulnerable population that could be delivered virtually during the pandemic. This study describes implementation and evaluation of a Raja yoga and mindfulness program among JCIY, with particular attention to barriers and facilitators to participation to inform next steps in this work. The nine-session program aimed to promote mindfulness practices, build coping skills, and address elements of JCIY's emotional health and well-being. Despite challenges in participant retention, participants expressed intent to use skills they learned in the future. Challenges related to implementation included technological barriers, staff turnover, and competing responsibilities; abrupt closure of the county juvenile detention center further strained resources. Successes included providing real-time resources during the early pandemic stages and building relationships between program facilitators and juvenile court staff. Involving youth and court personnel in program design and evaluation, adopting implementation science approaches to refine program delivery, and developing tailored support systems for JCIY are among the key lessons learned. Given the many structural inequities that make JCIY more vulnerable to poor health outcomes, insights may inform broader efforts to improve receipt of relevant services and programs to enhance their well-being, including use of virtual modalities.

Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation and Hypertension: A Holistic Perspective

Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation and Hypertension: A Holistic Perspective

Bhagavad Gita and Modern Management Practices- A Study

Integrating the lessons of the Bhagavad Gita with modern management practices is the focus of this study. A highly regarded ancient Indian text, the Bhagavad Gita delves deeply into topics like leadership, ethics, motivation, and decision-making. Studying the Gita's core ideas like Karma Yoga (Action), Bhakti Yoga (Devotion), Jnana Yoga (Knowledge), and Raja Yoga (Meditation), the research finds similarities with modern management practices. The leadership concepts, decision-making frameworks, and contemporary ideas outlined in the Gita are in harmony with one another, according to a comparison. The Gita's effects on stress, conflict, and corporate governance are also investigated in this research. Leaders may strengthen their moral compass, inspire their teams, and create winning strategies by incorporating these ageless lessons into modern practices. The findings highlight how the Gita may be applied to contemporary management issues, providing comprehensive guidance for both personal and professional development.

“Physically this universe is one”: Universal Unity in Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga

Swami Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga (1896), the focus of this article, is usually credited with starting the yoga renaissance in the late nineteenth century. The text marks a watershed moment in yoga history when Vivekananda translated and popularised the ancient Indian Yoga Sutras by the sage Patanjali as part of anti-colonial intercultural exchanges between east and west in the fin de siècle. The book’s transnational discourse drew from contemporary new physics and neo-Vedantic philosophy as well as Indian nationalism, pre-Freudian psychology, Western occultism, and modern ideas about physical health, and it issued a radical alternative to the binary oppositions on which imperialist and materialist ideologies rely. Vivekananda elucidates Patanjali’s yogic philosophy but, significantly, he also outlines a practical methodology for achieving Raja yoga’s goal of universal unity. He sets out a praxis that gradually breaks down the boundaries between mind and body, matter and energy, subject and object, and thereby transforms the individual in powerful and positive ways. It was an idealistic goal that appealed to various groups of unconventional heterodox thinkers at the fin de siècle, and it arguably contributed to the spiritual and political revolution that spread in subcultural forms, across Europe and America from the second half of the nineteenth century onward (Gandhi 2006: 121).

论Yama 和Niyama 在瑜伽练习中的作用和价值

This article intends to study the first two dimensions of the Ashatanga (eight-limbed) Yoga: Yama and Niyama, by trying to clarifying their meanings and pointing out their value to physical and mental health. Yama means the social ethics and how to interact with others, which includes non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, non-possessiveness and asceticism. Niyama means personal discipline and practice, which includes purity of the body in a physiological sense, contentment, indifference, self-study and devotion to the Lord. The principles of non-violence, truthfulness, non-possessiveness and in yama can protect asana practitioners free from yogic harms and improve their physical health while knowing how to practice safely. The principles of purity, contentment, indifference and self-study help to maintain psychological balance, promote mental health and avoid some mental illness. Therefore, a deep understanding and practice of the first two limbs of raja yoga help people maintain physical and mental health and achieve a happier life.

ASHTANGA YOGA'S IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT ON HEALTH PROMOTION

According to the World Health Organisation, "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity" is what is meant by "health." In reality, Ashtanga means "eight limbs." There is an overarching concept behind Ashtanga Yoga that has been simplified down into eight com-ponents and is intended to be a way of maintaining both physical and spiritual wellness. Both Raja yoga and Hathyoga include them. These two-go hand in hand with one another. In the present day, Ashtanga yoga is particularly beneficial for all-around personality development. As a trait of behaviour, cognition, and emotional pattern, personality must be created on a multidimensional basis. According to Bhagvadgeeta, it is mentioned that Yoga is a condition of harmony between mind and body i.e., Yoga Samatwamuchyate. It is described as Yoga Chitavrittinirodha, or the cessation of mental changes, in the Patanjali Yoga Sutra. It includes several elements that are important for enhancing social health as well. We shall attempt to analyse Ashtanga Yoga's involvement in the three dimensions of health in the following article. It is also important for women's health.

The Transformative Power of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation: Emerging Trends and Future Perspectives

The Transformative Power of Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Meditation: Emerging Trends and Future Perspectives

LONTAR SAMADHI GEGELARAN WIKU DITINJAU DARI SEGI PENDIDIKAN

To realize devotion to God Almighty, specifically in Hinduism, four ways are taught to achieve this goal. The four paths are called Catur Marga, or Catur Yoga. The parts of Catur Yoga include: Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga. These four yogas are means and vehicles for educating Hindus to achieve the goals of life and the goals of Hinduism. All types of these clans have the same position and equally can achieve the goals of life and religious goals.
 Lontar Samadhi Yoga Wiku Gegelaran in terms of education, because Yoga is indeed a good physical education that is more emphasis on physical health and spiritual education, which emphasizes the health and perfection of the soul, in order to return to the source of the Soul (God). One way to form a complete human being or humanize humans in this modern era is through education, with various types of education and at various levels. Meanwhile, one way to form a complete human being, physically and mentally, even humans who realized their humanity in ancient times, was through Yoga in its various forms. Apparently these two problems really interest us, I intend to bring these problems together in a topic “Lontar Samadhi Yoga Gegelaran Wiku from an educational perspective. How is the participation of Hindus with their Hindu teachings in building and educating their people in order to become fully human without leaving our personality, namely the personality of Pancasila. The problems mentioned above are problems that must be raised, explored, investigated, developed and then put into practice, considering that our country is heading in that direction. So all potentials that support the objectives of the Government's program must be developed, even if they come from any religion, as long as it is a religion that has been officially recognized by our Government. It would be appropriate if the author raises this problem with a topic like the one above. Hopefully there will be benefits for us together.
 The outline of the contents of Lontar Samadhi Yoga can be grouped into nine groups, groups one to group five discuss various types of Samadhi Yoga totaling 33 types of Samadhi Yoga. While groups of six to groups of nine each discussed the human senses with various reactions. And how to control it. The teachings of Saddangga Yoga which are taken from the teachings of Raja Yoga are also discussed in this group, the characteristics of the results of the implementation of Yoga as well as some Brata that must be carried out by Sang Wiku for the successful implementation of Yoga Samadhi. The number 33 is the number of the gods mentioned in the Brihad Aranyaka Upanisad. The teachings of Samadhi Yoga, the Viku performance, do not conflict with the teachings of the Vedas, in fact they are based on the Vedas as well. As a direct source and a close source is the book of the Shiva Madzab Religion, finally in its development it got a lot of influence from the Tantrayana Yoga system.
 This study uses data collection methods, data processing methods such as comparative methods, data analysis methods, and data presentation methods.Lontar Samadhi Yoga contains physical knowledge as well as spiritual knowledge, but knowledge concerning physical interests to support the success of spiritual efforts. Samadhi Yoga aims to obtain material possessions for the Wiku, on the other hand it can be concluded that, humans cannot simply get away with worldly things such as gold and silver, to awaken spiritual strength to achieve soul perfection for the purpose of clerical life, namely liberation or liberation. moxa.

Effect of nursing interventions like meditation, progressive muscle relaxant exercises, and counselling on lifestyle and diet modification on marital relationship among women undergoing infertility treatment: randomized controlled trial: a pilot study

Background: Infertility has an impact on marital pleasure. Couples who are unhappy in their relationship are also more likely to have various negative psychological, social and physical health issues. Nurses can play a significant role in the management of infertility and its consequences. The recent study aimed to evaluate the effect of nursing interventions on marital relationship among women undergoing infertility treatment. Methods: By using a systematic sampling technique, 60 infertile women with marital disharmony (30 experimental and 30 control group) were included in the current randomized control trial. After getting their consent relationship assessment scale was used to estimate the marital relationship. The experimental group underwent the nursing intervention (Raja yoga meditation, progressive muscle relaxant exercises, advices on lifestyle and diet modification) for 5 subsequent visits apart from 15 days and the control group underwent standard medical care. Succeeding the intervention after one month’s last intervention, the relationship assessment scale was again applied to both groups. Results: Before the interventions both the groups were homogenous according to mean, SD and chi square values. After applications of dependent t-test, the mean score before and after nursing interventions the mean score was 13.70 SD 3.99 and 18.33 SD 2.89 respectively. The mean difference of marital relationship was 4.633 (t29=10.640, p=0.001). Independent t test was applied which reveals that the mean difference between experimental and control group was 3.867 (t58=4.215, p=0.001) which was statistically highly significant at 0.001 level. Conclusions: After implementing the nursing intervention, the study’s finding showed an improvement in the quality of marital relationship.

The Siddha Breathing Techniques as Preventive Medicine

Yoga is a part and parcel of spirituality. There are several yogas and a number of schools of thought. Yoga definitely provides health. But peace of mind should include health. There are different kinds of yoga namely, bhakti yoga, karma yoga, raja yoga, kriya yoga, Kundalini yoga etc. The prime purpose of all of this yoga is the attainment of liberation for the sadhakas and sadhikas. The various spiritual practices formulated and introduced by our Seers consist of controlling the mind and strengthening the body. But the problematic problem is it is VERY difficult to calm and tame the mind. One can guarantee for the body built and it is impossible to answer in positive for mind control. Till this day, the current mind control yogic and other practices require LONG PERIOD of time. So far, no ways and means have been put forward for RAPID RESULTS. In this work, the author confidently proposes quick result oriented three EASY types of breathing techniques without any side effects and pains. In this work, the author unlocks the hidden treasures of mysteries of 32000 years old Tamil Lemurrian yoga.

MEDITATION: A SAVIOUR FOR BALANCING THE AUTONOMIC FUNCTIONS

Objective: Stress becomes an inevitable part of our current lifestyle. It has most deleterious effects on each and every system of the body affecting both physical and mental health. By reducing stress and anxiety through yoga and meditation, numerous health benefits can be achieved. Raja Yoga meditation is a simple and scientific technique to elicit physical and mental relaxation response. Methods: This case–control study was conducted in a tertiary health care center. A total of 100 participants were included in this study among them 50 were meditators who practice Raja Yoga for the past 1 year and 50 were non-meditators. All the subjects were between 31 and 60 years of age. Anthropometric measurements such as height and weight were measured. Heart rate (HR) during deep breathing both minimum and maximum HR was measured using electrophysiography. Results: Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21. Statistical analysis was done by t-test (paired and independent sample test). It was found that minimum and maximum HR were higher in non-meditators when compared to meditators and it was highly statistically significant (p=0.000). Deep breathing difference was found to be higher in meditators and it was found to be highly statistically significant (p= 0.000). Conclusion: Raja Yoga meditation provides significant improvements in physiological cardiorespiratory functions by tilting of autonomic balance from sympathetic to parasympathetic system.

Effect of 4-Week Heartfulness Meditation on Stress Scores, Sleep Quality, and Oxidative and Inflammatory Biochemical Parameters in COVID-19 Patients after Completion of Standard Treatment - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

COVID-19-affected patients showed increased stress, impaired sleep quality, altered complete blood count, and increased inflammatory and oxidative parameters. Yoga is an add-on nonpharmacological treatment that is established to normalize the abovementioned parameters. Heartfulness meditation is a form of Raja yoga. The present study aimed to study the effects of 4 weeks of heartfulness meditation on the abovementioned parameters in COVID-19 patients following treatment completion. The present study was a randomized controlled trial carried out in the Department of Physiology, AIIMS, Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh. Out of 50 COVID-19 treatment-completed patients recruited for the study, 25 were randomly assigned to the study group who received 4-week app-based heartfulness meditation. Other 25 patients were assigned to the control group who received app-based relaxation for 4 weeks. Perceived stress score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire, baseline cardiovascular parameters, complete blood count, serum cortisol, inflammatory parameters, oxidative stress parameters, and antioxidant parameters were assessed before and after 4 weeks of intervention in both the groups. The outcome assessor was blinded in the present study. The mean difference between the two groups was tested using the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test based on data distribution. Effect of intervention was analyzed using paired Student's t-test for dependent samples test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test based on data distribution. The groups were comparable before intervention for all the variables. After 4 weeks of intervention, we observed a significant decrease in stress, circulating cortisol, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress biomarker in both the groups. Further, we observed improved sleep quality and antioxidant biomarkers in both the groups. These beneficial alterations following intervention were high in the study group compared to the control group. Our results suggest that app-based heartfulness meditation/relaxation can be used as a nonpharmacological adjuvant to hasten the recovery process in patients who have completed the COVID-19 treatment protocol. Beneficial effects in subjects practicing heartfulness meditation were more than that observed in subjects practicing relaxation.

Influence of Vipassana, Raja Yoga and Sudarshan Kriya Yoga on Well-being and Character strengths

The World Health Organization (WHO) encourages using evidence-based traditional yoga and meditation practices for the promotion of mental health and well-being. This study intends to examine the influence of three Indian meditation practices, i.e., Vipassana mindfulness meditation, Raja Yoga and Sudarshan Kriya Yoga, by employing a cross-sectional design. 168 healthy adults - 84 meditators (n=28 for each practice) and 84 non-meditators – had voluntarily participated. Meditators reported significantly higher subjective well-being (satisfaction with life, positive affect), psychological well-being (flourishing), presence of meaning in life, and character strengths (hope, gratitude, curiosity, zest and love), and significantly lower negative affect as compared to non-meditators. The medium to large effect sizes (Cohen’s d: .572 to .955), except for zest, were marked with a significant association (r: |.245 to .487|, p <.05) with the duration pof meditation, thereby signifying enhanced benefits of sustained practice. 60.2% of the variance in flourishing was explained by satisfaction in life, positive affect, hope, gratitude and presence of meaning. These evidence-based universal practices accessible across the globe and acceptable to people of all ages and backgrounds are worthy targets of rigorous research, adoption at the workplace and widespread dissemination to further SDG 3 – ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

The Seer Writes Back Examining the Anti-Colonial Politics in Swam Vivekananda’s “Raja Yoga”

As a thinker and reformer of the period ascribed as the “Bengal Renaissance”, Swami Vivekananda is usually read and studied in the light of his impact on social andreligious reforms in India. This has elicited multiple responses to Vivekananda’s works and life ranging from profound spiriualism to political connotations. The latter again has come to be defined either in terms of eulogies for his contribution to social and political reforms during colonial rule or, much recently owing to postcolonial studies, in terms of omplicity with colonial presumptions about the Orient such as the “effeminate Bengalee”. The latter variety of critical discourse has come to closely resemble what Partha Chatterjee has aptly described as “derivative discourse”. However, my principal contention in this paper is that while the derivative nature of Vivekanada’s discourse has good enough claims to be made in its favour particularly when considered from the historical and social contexts of their formulation, its resistive potential as an anti-colonial intellectual exercise is too often missed due to a lack of serious textual engagement with them. This paper will attempt to focus on the textual aspect of Vivekanda’s thought that establishes not only its critique to the foundations of Western discourse on logic, science and politics, but also identify possible sites of subversion of these foundations in the light of Vedantic interpretation.

Stress and the impact of stressful events are lesser among raja yoga meditators – A cross sectional study during COVID-19 pandemic from India

This research work presents a study on the relationship between stress & related events with meditation practice and other socio-demographic variables during COVID 19 pandemic among healthy adults. In this cross-sectional survey design, healthy adults with and without practice of Raja yoga meditation completed stress, anxiety & depression related questions (Depression Anxiety & stress Scale, DASS 21) and its impact (Impact of Event Scale-Revised, IES-R) along with other socio-demographic including COVID infection or contact related information. Data was assessed for difference in DASS 21 scores and IES-R scores between Raja yoga meditators (n = 802) & non-meditators (n = 357). An analysis was performed to study the predictors of DASS 21 and IES-R scores. We conclude that healthy Raja yoga meditation practitioners differ from non-meditators in terms of stress/anxiety/depression and its impact during COVID 19 pandemic and meditation practice predicts mental health better along with other sociodemographic variables.

Back to Science of Consciousness: Science of Raja Yoga and the need for reversal of Psychological Paradigm

Psychology is originally called Science of Consciousness as the Greek word ‘Psychology’ means ‘Science of Soul’. Raja Yoga explores Consciousness and its role in real life applications which could develop interest in Consciousness amongst Psychologists and Psychiatrists. Consciousness plays an important role in intention, attention, thoughts, feelings, emotions, behavior and health. Raja Yoga teaches how to use Consciousness as a King to control his State, consisting of ministers, subjects who are known as mind, intellect and five senses. Raja Yoga explains that mind and intellect do not have separate existence but they are just different functions of Consciousness itself. Raja Yoga helps to manage the psychological, biological, social and spiritual factors of human beings effectively. If Counselors understand Consciousness and apply them in therapeutic techniques, there will be better results than what is obtained now. This article of an individual Case-study is written based on 21years of self-observation on Raja Yoga practice (Dana, 2020) and its application on Counseling interventions.

Efficacy of Residential, Group-Based, Intensive Holistic Lifestyle Intervention Among Type-2 Diabetes Patients - A Single Group Pre- And Post-intervention Study.

BackgroundThe present study assessed the efficacy of the residential, group-based, intensive holistic lifestyle intervention on glycaemic control.Materials and methodsA one-group pre and post-intervention study was conducted among 145 people with diabetes for a period of one year from February 2019 to January 2020. The study population underwent "Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga lifestyle" intervention. Outcome variables were changes in HbA1c levels and anthropometric parameters (like weight, BMI, etc.). Paired t-test was used to compare normally distributed numeric variables.ResultsThe mean age was 52.39±5.79 years, with a male-female ratio close to 1:1. Mean HbA1c at baseline was 9.06±2.1%. The mean weight and BMI were 71.03±12.84 kg and 28.28±4.83kg/m2, respectively. Mean HbA1c value had shown a reduction of 1.60% (95%CI 1.17 to 1.90, p <0.001) at three months and 1.58% (95% CI 1.13-1.87, p<0.001) reduction at a six-month follow-up. Between the third and sixth months, there was no significant change in the HbA1c value. Mean weight reduced by 0.79 kg (95% CI 0.08-1.08, p=0.023) at six-month follow-up and mean BMI decreased by 0.31 units from baseline to three months (95% CI 0.05-0.56, p=0.017). A statistically significant reduction was observed in waist circumference at the third month (MD=1.61 95% CI =0.95 to 2.28, P<0.001) and sixth month (MD=1.53, 95% CI 0.82-2.25, p<0.001) follow-up.ConclusionThis residential, group-based, intensive holistic lifestyle intervention showed a significant decrease in HbA1c levels and anthropometric parameters at three- and six-months follow-up, thereby improving the overall health and wellbeing of people with diabetes.

Trataka: the Serene Consciousness

Tratakais a Yogicpractice, which means to gaze steadily. It is the practice of meditation that involves staring at a single point such as a small object, black dot or candle flame. It is primarily used to purify the mind and provides the strength to concentrate but it also improves eyesight and stimulus the brain via optic nerve. It acts as stepping stone between physically oriented practices and mental practices which lead to higher states of awareness. Trataka is explained in Shatkarma.Shatkarma is combination of six karmasof purification. The six types of karmas are: Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Trataka, Nauli and Kapala Bhati.Among those Shatkarma,Trataka destroys the eye diseases and removes sloth, etc. Itis traditionally associated with Hath Yogabut it can also be usedto achieve Raja Yoga.It forms a bridge between Hath Yogaand Raja Yoga. Yogais a traditional method of meditation of ancient India which has explained about Shatkarma.

An analytic interpretation on the importance of India's soft power in international cultural diplomacy over the centuries

India’s Soft Power which is part of Smart Diplomacy or cultural diplomacy in India. India’s soft power diplomacy can be traced back to the time when Swami Vivekananda visited Chicago Parliament of Religion and spoke about Hinduism and India, which attracted many Indians and Foreigners who visited India and learnt about the Indian culture and the Sanskrit, his book on Raja Yoga influenced Western countries to practice Yoga who came to India and visited asharams, India’s main soft powers include spiritualism, yoga, Ayurveda, the world is shifting towards organic method of treatment which has its trace in India. There is culture exchange of arts, music, dance. Indian Diaspora and Young youth are the weapons for the spread of Indian culture across the globe, People are interested in Indian culture and epics of Ramayana and Mahabharat and studying on Kautliya. India literature and craft have received international recognition, countries abroad have included Sanskrit as part of their educational curriculum. India has also emerged has an export of herbs medicine to many foreign countries like Middle East, Europe, Africa etc. and this soft power of India will help in creating a massive influence across the world but before that Indian should have ample knowledge about their own history and culture and languages.

Kunglig förening: Den teosofiska raja yoga-pedagogiken och det tidiga 1900-talets yogareception

Research on the early 20th century European and American reception of yoga have revealed the significance of esoteric movements like the Theosophical Society in creating the modern, global phenomenon of yoga. Alongside interpretations of yoga as primarily a form of meditation which were common in the literature and, sometimes practice, of movements like Theosophy or Thelema there exist another phenomenon labeled yoga that have received less attention. A system of pedagogy called raja yoga was for several decades among the foremost preoccupations of one of the main global Theosophical movements, the Universal Brotherhood. Under its leader Katherine Tingley, the Universal Brotherhood strove to develop and popularize raja yoga as the solution to the social and spiritual problems of humanity. Focusing on Swedish raja yoga literature of the Universal Brotherhood, this article will explore how Swedish writers imagined and argued for this system of education and spiritual development. Furthermore, the article will investigate some of the complicated connections between this form of pedagogy and the broader trends of the early 20th century European reception of yoga.