Indian Yoga Research Articles

Prevalence of Alcohol and Tobacco Use in India and Implications for COVID-19 - Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata Study Projections.

Abuse of legal substances in India includes alcohol and tobacco, which are the major risk factors for various non-communicable diseases and deaths. The current pandemic has identified tobacco consumption as a risk factor for COVID-19, highlighting the need to control substance abuse. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of substance abuse in India and discuss the cost-effective public health strategies (such as yoga) to alleviate COVID-related anxiety in order to prevent substance abuse and its associated co-morbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study reports the data on tobacco and alcohol abuse from a nationwide randomized two-arm diabetes control trial (Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata, 2017) conducted by the Indian Yoga Association (IYA) through Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), Bengaluru. Data of 30,354 participants who abuse tobacco and 30,159 participants who abuse alcohol were collected all over India. The prevalence is estimated at around 8.7% for alcohol abuse and 7.9% for tobacco abuse, Arunachal Pradesh state ranking the highest regarding both alcohol and tobacco abuse, while the Tripura state ranked the lowest. School and college-based mandatory yoga programs need to be implemented to prevent the increase of substance abuse in India to alleviate the psychosocial stress of adolescents and college-going students, besides the installation of the mindfulness-based diabetes yoga protocol (DYP) in the wellness centers of Ayushman Bharat.

Slowness Out of Sync - Understandings of Time in Ashtanga Yoga

ABSTRACT Yoga is often presented as a ‘slow’ form of exercise. Yoga magazines are filled with advice about how to ‘slow down’. However, Ashtanga yoga is considered dynamic and ‘fast’—something that dates back to its role in the modern re-invention of hatha yoga in India, highly influenced by European physical practices. It is therefore paradoxical that it has become part of the craving for ‘slow’ forms of exercise. This article argues that, when looking at the role of time in contemporary yoga practice, we first need to examine critically the different understandings of time that are part of the practice, and their geo-political circumstances. Methodologically, the analysis will be based in an auto-ethnographical approach and textual analysis of descriptions of Ashtanga yoga, especially by its main authority Pattabhi Jois (1915–2009) and his students. Philosophically, the article will draw upon the way time has been discussed (and the way Western concepts of time in philosophy, history, social sciences and anthropology have been questioned) within post-colonial theory. The analysis will focus on the different discourses of time in Ashtanga yoga as they appear in the technique and conceptual framework. Special focus will be given to the coexistence and superpositions of different discourses and understandings of time in the contemporary transnational practice of Ashtanga yoga.

The phenomenon of freedom in the philosophy of ancient east

The article shades light on the role and influence of oriental philosophical traditional views on the development of man, the process of his spiritual self-realization, formation of spiritual values from the point of view of the concepts of modern philosophy. The philosophical analysis of the phenomenon of individual freedom in ancient philosophy, in particular, classical Indian yoga, has been carried out. Practical methods of achieving the liberation of consciousness offered by the yoga system are analyzed. It is noted that the value of yoga as a spiritual teaching lies precisely in its effective practical method of self-perfection. Awareness of universal unity implies depersonalization as a way towards liberation and the emergence of a new state of consciousness, to which the true reality is revealed - the deep unity of all things. Emphasis is placed on spiritual freedom as a basic concept in social philosophical cognition in classical Indian yoga and oriental philosophy.

P630Role of Indian yoga with pranayam prevent ventricular remodeling and reduce mortality rate according to LV ejection fraction in post PCI patients of STEMI

Abstract Background Coronary revascularization is fruitful management to relieve angina and reduce mortality as compare to medical management in significant coronary artery stenosis. Although measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after acute myocardial infarction (MI) is a performance measure, little is known about the relationship between EF and post-discharge mortality among MI patients in contemporary clinical practice. Objectives To assessment of mortality according to left ventricular ejection fraction and compare between yoga group and non yoga group, so that we can evaluate the importance of yoga and pranayam. Methods 2,470 patients (25 to 68 years of age) with STEMI were registered and managed with percutaneous coronary intervention at three centres from 2010 to 2012. Method was used to assess the association between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measured during the index hospitalization and 5-year mortality from date of registry. The relationship was examined with EF as a categorical variable, utilizing four clinically relevant categories (EF ≤34%, 35 to 45%, 46 to 54%, and ≥55%), and also with EF as a continuous variable. We divided two groups, group A was yoga with pranayam (n=1470) and group B was normal group (n=1000). Results Among STEMI patients we found a graded inverse association between EF category and mortality. For patients relevant categories (EF ≤34%, 35 to 45%, 46 to 54%, and ≥55%) mortality after 5 years was assessed by 21%, 14.3%, 12.2% and 11% in yoga, pranayam group (p<0.004). For patients relevant categories (EF ≤34%, 35 to 45%, 46 to 54%, and ≥55%) mortality after 5 years was assessed by 25%, 17.5%, 14.4% and 13% in normal group (p<0.004). LVEF was increased in yoga & pranayam group by 11±3% versus 4±1% non yoga group. Conclusion Yoga and Pranayam; breathing exercise may help to reduce metabolic stress, reduce oxygen demand and prevent ventricular remodeling. Low LVEF after STEMI remains an important risk factor for post-discharge mortality, even after extensive adjustment for patient and hospital characteristics. Routine yoga and pranayam; breathing exercise may reduce the mortality after myocardial infarction.

The Fulcrum of Experience in Indian Yoga and Possession Trance

The “inner organ” (antaḥkaraṇa) in the Indian philosophical school called Sāṃkhya is applied in two different experiential contexts: in the act of transcendence according to the path of yoga explored in the Yogasūtras of Patañjali (ca. 350 CE) and in the process of identity shift that occurs in possession by a deity in a broader range of Indian cultural practices. The act of transcendence will be better understood if we look at the antaḥkaraṇa through an emic lens, which is to say as an actual organ that is activated by experiential shifts, rather than as a concept or explanation that is indicative of a collocation of characteristics of the individuating consciousness or merely by reducing it to nonepistemic objective or subjective factors.

Yoga Research Output in India: A Scientometric Study

This article presents the research output of Yoga in India using different Scientometric approach both quantitative and qualitative methods. Bibliographic data for the study has been collected from the Web of Science Core Collection online database of Thomson Scientific, USA. The strings ‘Yoga and India’ in the topic and address field are used for retrieving data. Researcher have published 525 publications with 6683 Global Citations Scores (H-Index: 45) were selected and 525 publications which were used for further data analysis. Prominent Authors were identified by name, subject domain and able to place their papers in high impact journals. Moreover it has identified Countries wise collaboration of the research. 8 papers are received more than 100 citations. India has collaborated with 32 countries.

Methodology of Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata Abhiyaan-2017, a Nationwide Multicentric Trial on the Effect of a Validated Culturally Acceptable Lifestyle Intervention for Primary Prevention of Diabetes: Part 2.

Background:The rapidly increasing diabetes burden, reaching epidemic proportions despite decades of efforts, reflects our failure to translate the proven evidence for prevention of diabetes. Yoga, with its holistic approach, alters the habituated patterns of lifestyles and behaviour. Motivated by the accumulating evidence, the Government of India funded a large randomized controlled trial.Aims and Objectives:The twin objectives were: (a) estimate the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes through a parallel multisite stratified cluster sampling method and (b) implement NMB 2017 (niyantrita madhumeha bharata abhiyaan), a randomized control trial using yoga based lifestyle program.Materials and Methods:Screening for Indian Diabetes Risk score(IDRS) was conducted in randomly selected clusters in all 7 zones (65 districts from 29 states/union territories) of India. This was followed by detailed assessments in those with known diabetes and high risk (≥60) on IDRS. Those who satisfied the selection criteria and consented were recruited for the two armed waitlisted randomized control trial. A validated remedial diabetesspecific integrated yoga lifestyle module was taught to the experimental arm by certified volunteers of Indian Yoga Association. Followup assessments were done after 3 months in both groups. In this article, we report the methodology of the trial.Results:Response to door to door visits (n-240,968 adults >20yrs) in randomly selected urban and rural households for screening was 162,330; detailed assessments (A1c, lipid profile, BMI, stress, tobacco etc) were performed on 50,199 individuals. Of these 12466 (6531 yoga 5935 control) consented and for the RCT; 52% females, 48% males; 38% rural, 62% urban; BMI 21.1 ± 3.8; waist circumference 91.7 ± 11.9. A1c in diabetes subjects in yoga group was 7.63 ± 2.17 and 7.86 ± 2.13 in control group.Conclusion:This unique methodology provides the evidence to implement a validated yoga life style module using yoga volunteers in all parts of the country which is an urgent need to prevent India from becoming the global capital for diabetes.

“Witnessing” Yoga Sleep in time reduction process of Internet Game Disorder in Adolescent groups

Ancient Indian yoga texts and present day researches explore the linkages between the mind and body, including ‘witnessing’ quality of the mind. This paper attempts to answer the gaps in tentative Internet Game Disorder (IGD) by using the technique of “Witnessing” one's own addiction through Yoga method. Yoga sleep (yoga nidra) for 10–15 minutes is suggested to overcome tentative addiction disorder. We have selected a sample size of 630 participants from the school students in the age group of 15–18 years from Bhopal city, India. The main findings on the basis of frequency of the online playing game conditions with and without yoga nidra was seen with dominant 87.70% frequency percentage while there is nobody in the control group with one hour internet game play. It further indicates that the internet addiction decreases with increase in yoga nidra. The statistical ‘t'test results show significant difference at p<0.001. It may be concluded that yoga nidra techniques may help the students in reducing the tentative internet online game disorder time from 7.25 to 1.13 hours/day.

Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata 2017, Methodology for a Nationwide Diabetes Prevalence Estimate: Part 1.

Background:Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) poses an ever-increasing threat to people's health worldwide. India has reported high rates of incidence of T2DM. The dangers make accurate assessment of its burden and intervention of lifestyle change, an urgent necessity.Aims and Objectives:The aim of the study was to estimate the nationwide prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes, followed by a translational lifestyle trial.Methodology:The Indian Yoga Association was commissioned in 2016–2017 by the Government of India to conduct this study which was undertaken in two phases: Phase 1 was to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes across the country, and Phase 2 was to conduct a randomized controlled trial using a validated yoga lifestyle protocol. This paper highlights the unique methodology of Phase 1 of the study. The first stage was screening (February to April 2017) for adults (>20 years) with high risk for diabetes on Indian diabetes risk score (IDRS) on mobile app, using a random cluster sampling survey method. All households in the rural (4 villages with about 500 adult population/village) and urban (2 census enumeration blocks [CEBs] of about 1000 adult population/block) sectors of 65 districts (one per ten districts in the entire country) from 29 out of 35 states of India were approached. In the second stage, detailed assessments (sociodemographic, clinical details, A1c, lipid profile, body mass index, stress, and tobacco) were carried out on those with high risk on IDRS and on all self-reported diabetes individuals.Results:In the first stage of door-to-door visit, 240,968 adults in all households of the selected clusters of villages and CEBs were approached. Of these, 162,330 responded. The respondents in the second stage for detailed assessments in the selected cohort were 50,199 (48% rural and 52% urban) adults. Of these, 7472 were self-reported known diabetes adults and the remaining were 42,737. Prevalence estimates for the country will follow in the future publications.Conclusion:This rapid survey completed within 3 months in the entire country using trained volunteers offers the methodology to obtain a quick estimate of diabetes and high-risk population to implement any lifestyle program.

P4488Evaluation of heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic control on exposure to Indian music and slow music yoga asana before sleep at night

P4488Evaluation of heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic control on exposure to Indian music and slow music yoga asana before sleep at night

Какая философия может послужить мостом между наукой и буддизмом? Российский подход

The present paper considers an intercultural philosophy as a possibility to bridge the gap between Buddhism and modern science. The bridge metaphor, which was common in many Buddhist texts, now becomes popular in the currently emerging philosophical language peculiar to our era of globalization and new possibilities of multicultural education. The author insists upon the fact that today to create both the identity of a person and identity of a group or even identity of a whole society means to be involved at large into different cultural experiences. The latter implies neither hierarchical relationship between them nor mutual exclusion but a genuine complementariness instead. The paper treats a number of such intercultural projects offered in the works of three eminent Russian Buddhist scholars: Theodor Stcherbatskoy (1866-1942), Otton Rosenberg (1888-1919), and Alexander Piatigorsky (1929-2009). In recent years Western neuroscientists and their Russian colleagues demonstrate a great interest in the study of Indian yoga techniques and Buddhist meditation with the methods of modern science. These studies accumulated some undeniable evidence that meditation and mindfulness training affect certain areas of the brain. Any study of meditative practices, the author believes, will be inefficient until Buddhist and Indian theories of consciousness have been taken into serious consideration. Their integration into the struc-ture of modern scientific knowledge in the West is significantly promoted by the cooperation between neuroscientists with philosophers-buddhologists (J. Dunn, G. Dreyfus, geshe Thupten Jinpa, E. Thompson, M. Bitbol, J. Garield and many others). The concepts of Russian philosophers-buddhologists, analyzed in this paper, can also contribute to the development of modern scientific research strategies regarding consciousness.

Gliding Body – Sitting Body. From Bodily Movement to Cultural Identity

Bodily movement has a deeper meaning than modern sport science might recognize. It can have religious undertones, and in modern societies, it is sometimes related to the building of national identity. In the study, two cases of bodily practice are compared. Norwegian ski has a relation to friluftsliv (outdoor activities) and is highly significant for modern Norwegian identity. Indian yoga is related to the traditional ayurveda medicine and to Hindu spirituality, and obtained an important place in the process of anti-colonial nationalism. The aim is to demonstrate how Norwegian skiing and Indian yoga as national body and movement cultures in different ways, show a complex connection between ‘ancient roots’ and modern transformations of cultural identity. Gliding on skis, sitting, and breathing in yoga make up the basis on which people have built identities of their collective ‘we’.

The subtle body: an interoceptive map of central nervous system function and meditative mind–brain–body integration

Meditation research has begun to clarify the brain effects and mechanisms of contemplative practices while generating a range of typologies and explanatory models to guide further study. This comparative review explores a neglected area relevant to current research: the validity of a traditional central nervous system (CNS) model that coevolved with the practices most studied today and that provides the first comprehensive neural-based typology and mechanistic framework of contemplative practices. The subtle body model, popularly known as the chakra system from Indian yoga, was and is used as a map of CNS function in traditional Indian and Tibetan medicine, neuropsychiatry, and neuropsychology. The study presented here, based on the Nalanda tradition, shows that the subtle body model can be cross-referenced with modern CNS maps and challenges modern brain maps with its embodied network model of CNS function. It also challenges meditation research by: (1) presenting a more rigorous, neural-based typology of contemplative practices; (2) offering a more refined and complete network model of the mechanisms of contemplative practices; and (3) serving as an embodied, interoceptive neurofeedback aid that is more user friendly and complete than current teaching aids for clinical and practical applications of contemplative practice.

Effect of Yoga on Human Aggression and Violent Behavior - A Review of the Indian Yoga Scriptures and Scientific Studies

Among the deviant human behaviors, aggression appears to be the most prevalent and disturbing one, affecting one and all. Uncontrolled aggression/violent behavior could cause a significant toll, equally affecting both involved and the non-involved. This delinquent human behavior has been well addressed in Indian yogic scriptures. It provides a theoretical framework to understand the causes, ill-effects, need for peace, harmony, and ways to correct the aggression behavior. It is also claimed that yoga is a way for inner bliss and external coherence; and with this time-tested technique, it is possible to bring about a sense of inner peace and emotional stability, thus having potential to correct aggressive behaviors. This review paper brings out the studies made to find out effect of yoga on human aggression/violent behavior.

Are Indian yoga trials more likely to be positive than those from other countries? A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveTo determine whether the conclusions of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of yoga are more likely to be positive when they were conducted in India and/or when they are published in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) specialty journals. MethodsMedline/PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, IndMED, and the tables of content of yoga specialty journals not listed in medical databases were screened through February 2014 for RCTs comparing yoga interventions to non-yoga interventions. The RCTs' conclusions were classified as positive (yoga is helpful for a respective condition) or not positive; and compared between RCTs that were a) conducted in India vs. outside India, and b) published in a CAM specialty journal or another type of journal. ResultsA total of 306 RCTs were included; 131 from India and 175 from other countries; and 84 from CAM specialty journals and 222 from other types of journals. Positive conclusions were reached in 277 RCTs (91%); with more positive RCTs being conducted in India than elsewhere (odds ratio=24.8; 95% confidence interval=3.3, 184.5; p<0.001) while type of journal was not associated with the direction of the conclusions (odds ratio=1.2; 95% confidence interval=0.5, 2.9; p=0.828). ConclusionsRCTs on yoga that are conducted in India have about 25 times the odds of reaching positive conclusions as those conducted elsewhere. Indian trials should be dealt with carefully when evaluating the helpfulness of yoga for patients in other countries and vice versa.

Immediate effect of yogic visual concentration on cognitive performance

The ancient Indian yoga text, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, describes six cleansing techniques. The objective of cleansing techniques is to purify and prepare the body for the practice of yoga postures, breath regulation, and meditation. Yogic visual concentration technique (trataka) is one of these techniques. A previous study showed an increase in critical flicker fusion (CFF) following yogic visual concentration (trataka).The present study planned to assess the immediate effect of trataka on cognitive performance using the Stroop color–word test.Performance on the Stroop color–word test was assessed in 30 healthy male volunteers with ages ranging from 18 years to 31 years old (22.57±3.65 years). The participants were tested before and after yogic visual concentration (trataka) and during a control session on two separate days.There was a significant improvement in performance on the Stroop color–word test after trataka compared to the control session [repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) with Bonferroni adjustment; p < 0.001].Performance on the Stroop color–word test was better after trataka compared to the control session suggesting that the trataka technique increased the selective attention, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition.

THU0328 The Efficacy of Classical Indian Yoga in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundFibromyalgia (FM) is a complex musculoskeletal disorder treated with multidisciplinary therapies. It is manifested by widespread musculoskeletal pain, functional disability, sleep disturbances and poor quality of life. Classical Indian Yoga...

Envisioning Yoga Therapy as A Stride towards Successful Ageing

Geriatric Social Work is becoming ostensibly crucial in contemporary times. The modes and modalities being discussed in strengthening geriatric well-being deserve mammoth attention. In this context, Yoga Therapy is being envisioned as one among the strides towards Successful Ageing. The practice of Yoga in India can be traced to thousands of years back and has rolled down to generations through innumerable strategies. Yoga is considered as a practical philosophy that facilitates people to improve their Quality of Life. It is a discipline that has evolved in response to the problems in contemporary society without losing its true essence. Research in the field of Yoga Therapy advocates it to be the best means to ensure the quality living, especially in old age. Yoga helps to mitigate, alleviate, and reverse many of the geriatric problems, both physical and mental. The proposed paper is based on an experimental study conducted among elderly people in Kerala. The paper describes Yoga in its essence based on Patanjaly Yoga Sutra thereby scientifically analyzing its effect on our body. It emphasizes the practicality for quality living in old age and provides suggestions for successful ageing.Keywords: Successful Ageing, Yoga therapy, Patanjaly yoga sutra, Quality of life

Performance in attentional tasks following meditative focusing and focusing without meditation

Background/Aims:Ancient Indian yoga texts have described four mental states. These are caïcalatä (random thinking), ekāgratā (focusing without meditation), dhāraṇā (meditative focusing), and dhyāna (defocused meditative expansiveness). A previous study compared the performance in a cancellation task at the beginning and end of each of the four mental states (practiced for 20 minutes each, on four separate days) showed an increase in the scores after dhāraṇā Hence, the present study was designed to assess the effects of dhāraṇā (meditative focusing) and ekāgratā (focusing without meditation) on two attention tasks (i) d2 test of attention and (ii) digit symbol substitution test.Materials and Methods:Sixty normal healthy male volunteers with ages ranging from 17 to 38 years (group mean age ± S.D., 24.87 ± 4.95) were studied. Assessments were made before and after the practice of ekāgratā and dhāraṇā on two separate days.Results:After both types of focusing, there was a significant improvement in all measures of the d2 test of attention (TN, E, TN-E, E%, and CP). However, the performance in the digit symbol substitution test was better after dhāraṇā but did not change after ekāgratā.Conclusions:Hence, in summary, dhāraṇā (meditative focusing) and ekāgratā (focusing without meditation) produce nearly comparable results though dhāraṇā (meditative focusing) results in better incidental learning and better accuracy (as assessed by the substitution task).

Clinical Effects of Yoga on Asthmatic Patients: A Preliminary Clinical Trial, Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the commonest respiratory diseases in Jimma area as well as a significant disease burden worldwide costing billions of dollars. Anti-asthmatic drugs that are available in the market are expensive and have adverse effects. Thus, it is wise to look for an adjunct therapy to alleviate these problems. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to see the effect of yoga on patterns of clinical features, peak expiratory flow rates and use of drugs in asthmatic patients. METHODS: A preliminary controlled clinical trial study was conducted on 24 volunteer asthmatic patients who were getting support at the missionary of charity. They were grouped in yoga and control groups. An Indian yoga expert through a translator conducted the training on yogic practice, yogic posture, breath slowing technique and discussion at the end. Then, the yoga groups were supervised for four weeks taking yoga exercise daily for 50 minutes. Peak expiratory flow rate was taken using the mini Wright peak flow meter and vital signs were measured in both groups. Data were analyzed using web based Graph pad quick calcs statistical software. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1:1 in both cases and control groups, 8(66.7%) were Christian and 9 (75.0%) were farmers. The yoga group showed 66.7% reduction in the use of salbutamole puff and 58.3% salbutamole tablets. There was a 10% increment in the PEFR in the yoga group while only 2% in the control group. There was statistically significant reduction in day and night asthma attacks in the yoga group. CONCLUSION: Yoga exercise among asthmatic patients resulted in a decreased number of day and night attacks and use of drugs. It also shows significant improvement in the peak expiratory flow rate. Further large scale study is recommended.