About the Contributors

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Shirley Telles completed M.B.B.S. and Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from the National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. She is the Director of Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar. She has 166 research publications related to yoga research in journals indexed in international bibliographic databases (e.g., Medline), 18 chapters in books and 6 published books including a bestselling book ‘Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care’ published by Handspring Publishing Limited, United Kingdom. Apart from this she is the member of editorial and review board in more than 25 international indexed journals. She received an award from The Indian Council of Medical Research (for excellence in biomedical research), from the John Templeton Foundation (www. templeton.org), U.S.A. (January, 2002), for an essay on ‘Creative research ideas in neurobiology’ and a Fulbright Fellowship (J. William Fulbright Foundation, U.S.A) to study “Functional magnetic resonance imaging in meditators”.

Nilkamal Singh completed his Master of Science in Yoga from S-VYASA University, Bengaluru, India in 2006. At present, he is working as a Scientist-C in the Department of Yoga Research at Patanjali Research Foundation. He has published 25 research papers in PubMed/PsycInfo indexed journals, and 4 chapters in books. He has 9 years of experience in research.

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Rui Ferreira Afonso Physical Education teacher; master in Science (Psychobiology - Universidade Federal de São Paulo). Currently a Ph.D. student at the Brain Institute (Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein). Rui Afonso has worked as a Yoga teacher for the past 17 years, and since then, he is interested in the practice and academic studies of yoga.

Madhur Guruprasad Aggithaya is working as chief consultant Ayurveda, in the Institute of Ap- plied Dermatology (IAD) that conducts research on Integrative Medicine. He led the team to conduct randomized controlled trial in ayurvedic procedure based therapies and to develop Lymphedema Specific Quality of life Questionnaire. His team developed protocol for systematic review of evidence based Ayurveda, standardization of image acquisition techniques for Vitiligo, search strategy for published ayurvedic literature and clinical methods for ayurvedic dermatology. MG Aggithaya authored 32 peer reviewed publications.

About the Contributors

Akshay Anand graduated from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). After obtaining his post-doctoral training at Department of Immunopathology in the same Institute he joined the University of Kentucky as Scientist II. After serving their for two years, he returned to join faculty of Department of Neurology PGIMER. He was instrumental in setting up the Neuroscience research cum diagnostic facility which he currently runs in GLP mode. Dr Anand is a research improvement specialist who is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration utilizing invitro, invivo, alternative and biotherapeutic approaches. His other research interests range from analyz- ing the role of genetic and other risk factors that modify ALS, PD, AD and AMD to screening of novel drugs for memory enhancement. He has also been involved in the discovery of animal model of AMD published in Nature Medicine. Dr Anand is a recipient of Annual PGI faculty award-2013, 2014, Sardar Vallabhabhi Patel Foundation 9th International Prestigious Sardar Patel Award, 2014, Scopus Young Scientist Award Runner up, National Academy of Sciences India, New Delhi, 2012, ICMR Shankuntla Amir Chand Award (2010), Young Scientist Award from DAE (2005), Retina Research Foundation / Joseph M. and Eula C. Lawrence Award (2003), Runners up for NASI Scopus Award for Biological Sciences(2012), served as Judge at ISEF, USA (2002-3), obtained over 21 International travel awards, and is the Editor in Chief of Annals of Neurosciences, the official journal of Indian Academy of Neu- rosciences besides serving on Editorial board of Nature Scientific Reports and Neuroepidemiology. He is also Reviews Editor of Frontiers in Behavioral Neurosciences and on Editorial Advisory Board, User-Driven Healthcare and Narrative Medicine: Utilizing Collaborative Social Networks and Technolo- gies and other International Journals. Dr Anand is the guest faculty in the Human genomics program of Panjab University and advisor to the local chapter of Indian Muscular Dystrophy Association. He has over 82 publication in international peer reviewed Journals.

Yogacharya Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, MBBS, MD (Alternative Medicine), is the Director of the Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth and Chairman of the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research at Ananda Ashram, Puducherry, India. A gold medallist in medical studies and Fellow of the Indian Academy of Yoga, he authored 19 DVDs, 23 books and nearly two hundred papers, compilations and abstracts on Yoga and Yoga research. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy as well as the Expert Committees of AYUSH for Celebration of International Yoga Day and a Yoga and Diabetes program. He is Consultant Resource Person for the WHO Collaborative Centre in Traditional Medicine (Yoga) at MDNIY New Delhi.

Ritu Chaku is Ph.D. in Yoga and Life Sciences. She worked as a Senior Research Fellow in a project by W.H.O. in the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi between 2008-2009. She served as guest faculty for BSc and Diploma in Yogic Science in MDNIY, New Delhi from 2009-2016. Dr. Chaku has assisted MSc students of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, Bengaluru, in writing their research papers for publication since March 2008.

Rhiannon Tudor Edwards is co-director of the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evalu- ation (CHEME) at Bangor University in the United Kingdom. Rhiannon has published collaboratively over 100 peer reviewed articles, reports and book chapters on health economics. For more information, visit http://cheme.bangor.ac.uk/RhiannonTudorEdwardsBiography.php.

448 About the Contributors

Ginger Garner is a dual licensed physical therapist and athletic trainer who has spent her career dedicated to yoga’s integration in healthcare. She is the founder of Professional Yoga Therapy Institute (2000) and the author of Medical Therapeutic Yoga (2016), a multi-media platform and medical textbook targeting healthcare reform through evidence-based yogic biopsychosocial rehabilitation and wellness care. She is a co-founder of the Yoga in Healthcare Initiative, a member of the Yoga in Healthcare Al- liance (UK), and serves at universities and educational organizations worldwide. Dr. Garner lives in the United States with her husband and three sons.

Ingunn Hagen is a Professor in Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), in Trondheim, Norway. Her main research interests include topics related to media and communication psychology, such the role of media and ICT in (especially young) people’s lives. Professor Hagen is also interested in research related to human contemplative practices, like Mindfulness, yoga, and also wellbeing. Recently, she has led research projects on topics like human happiness, and also on people’s experiences related to practicing yoga in various contexts. More information at her work web pages: https://www.ntnu.no/ansatte/ingunn.hagen.

Alex Hankey having gained 1st Class Honours Degree at Cambridge University, and a PhD in theoretical physics from M.I.T. under Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg and H.E. Stanley, Alex Hankey was at S.L.A.C. He then joined Maharishi International University rising to Professor of Physics. He worked for Maharishi’s organization in many countries for 30 years, lecturing on Vedic sciences, and organizing seminars, international conferences, and courses. During this time he developed his decoding of Vedic sciences using quantum theory, systems theory and complexity, through his training in theoretical physics, thus generating the approach used here.

Ned Hartfiel, Ph.D., is a board member of the Yoga in Healthcare Alliance Policy Group, and a research officer at the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation (CHEME) at Bangor University in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit https://www.yogainhealthcarealliance. com/policy-group/and http://cheme.bangor.ac.uk/NedHartfielBiography.php.

Stine Kofoed received her BA in psychology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technol- ogy (NTNU), in Trondheim, Norway in 2016. For her bachelor project she was part of a study concern- ing yoga and mental health in adolescents and young adults. She is currently finishing her degree as a clinical psychologist at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). Her main research interests include topics related to clinical psychology, mental health issues, and memory.

Elisa H. Kozasa is a Biologist, with a Ph.D. in the field of Psychobiology; she is also in contemplative research in Latin America, investigating meditation, yoga and Tai Chi effects in physical/mental health and wellbeing. She studies neurophysiology and behavioral mechanism of emotion and cognition using neuroimaging resources. In 2006 and 2011, she participated in the round tables with the Dalai Lama about Contemplative Practices and Science, in São Paulo, Brazil. She is a researcher at the Brain Institute of Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in São Paulo, Brazil, and a fellow of the Mind and Life Institute.

449 About the Contributors

Helen Lavretsky, M.D., M.S., is the Professor of Psychiatry, Semel Scholar in Integrative Mental Health, the Director of Late-life mood, stress and wellness program at the Semel Institute for Neurosci- ence and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles.

Kushal Madan is Assistant Professor & Cardiac Rehabilitation Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hos- pital. He accomplished PhD from Department of Physiology, All India Institute of medical Sciences, New Delhi. He is a fellow of American Heart association and also Vice Chair of Exercise, Cardiac Re- habilitation and prevention committee, Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association. He is the assistant editor for Journal of Preventive Cardiology. He also has been appointed as Faculty for European association of cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation. Along with being Principal Investigator to many trials he has authored many articles and chapters in journals and books of national and international repute.

Subhash C. Manchanda is the Senior Consultant, Deptt. Of Cardiology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. He was formerly Head, Department of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He has professional teaching and research experience of over 45 years in Cardiology. He has done original research work in the field of high altitude problems and lifestyle modification including Yoga/Meditation. He has over 400 Scientific Papers in various National and International Medical Journals including 50 Chapters in Standard Medical Books. He is the Recipient of several national & international awards including Padam Shri by president of India and life time achievement award by Cardiological Society of India. He is Editor in Chief of Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

S. R. Narahari is a biomedical dermatologists pioneered development of integrative treatment protocol for Lymphedema and clinical methods for integrating modern dermatology with ayurveda, and other traditional Indian Medicines. He won 3 international awards for his work on lymphoedema. He has 70 publications & produced seven technical reports. He is the member of expert group on Morbidity management and disability prevention of Lymphatic Filariasis constituted by Indian Council for Medi- cal Research. He is the director of Institute of Applied Dermatology (www.iad.org.in), a not for profit R&D institution and heads the centre for Integrated Medicine and Public Health, Government of Kerala.

Laura Obler is a 4th year medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Elin-Kristin Hem Olsen is a student in Clinical Psychology (professional degree) at the Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU). The last two years she has been doing research in the field of Yoga, especially Yoga and trauma, and Yoga in school. She has conducted a qualitative study of the experience of yoga among students in Norwegian high schools.

Pattharee Paholpak, M.D., is a staff psychiatrist and a lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at Khon Kaen University (KKU) in Thailand; and a Visiting Research Scholar at the Late Life Mood, Stress, and Wellness research program within the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles.

450 About the Contributors

Nagarathna Raghuram, MBBS, MD, FRCP, DSc, is the Medical Director of Arogyadhama, a 250 bedded teaching hospital of integrative medicine that combines evidence based Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT, including disease specific asanas, breathing techniques, meditation, yogic diet and yogic counseling) with modern medicine, Ayurveda, naturopathy, acupuncture and physiotherapy offered to patients with different NCDs, under the supervision of a team of experts in each of these specialties. Dr. Nagarathna also serves as a distinguished professor in the medical college, guides Ph.D. students and works as the Principle investigator for many funded yoga based clinical projects of the Vivekananda University (S-VYASA) situated in the same serene 100 acre campus, in south Bengaluru, India. She has authored more than 50 publications in peer reviewed high impact journals and written books, published DVDs, given TV serials on yoga for different NCDs including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, spinal problems, women’s problems, etc.

Terence Ryan is currently Professor Emeritus of Dermatology at the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University and Churchill Hospital. He has been actively engaged with Oxford for more than four decades and has developed it as the leading Centre of Dermatology. With over 650 international publications he received honours such as life time achievement awards of leading dermatological societ- ies and doctorates form Universities of UK. Management of Lymphoedema has been his major interest; and he guided dermatology institutions around the world to excel. Autobiography narrating 55 years of service to the cause of Dermatology is in press.

Danilo Forghieri Santaella is a Bachelor in Physical Education (University of São Paulo - USP - 1996); Master in Sciences (Experimental Physiology - 2003), and Ph.D. (Pneumology), both at the Medical School - University of São Paulo; Post-doctoral researcher at University of Rio Grande do Norte in Neurosciences – 2013 and currently at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein investigating the influences of Yoga on functional connectivity of the aging brain. Yoga Professor at the Sports Center (USP) and at the Yoga Teaching and Research Institute (IEPY). Research field: mind-body interaction, with special emphasis to the influences of Yoga on psychobiological variables.

T. N. Sathyaprabha, MD, Physiology from Bangalore University in 1993. Her journey in to medical research was a natural process as she inherited a legacy of a family of medical doctors and scientists. She has been awarded prestigious Dr. Kalpana Chawla young women scientist award and “ICMR In- ternational Young Scientist fellowship award” and had fellowship at Queen’s square hospital, London. Other award for her credits include Sushila Thakur Prakruthi Mandir award twice for her work in field of Yoga & Naturopathy. She has guided several M Phil, MD, MS, DM, MCh, PhD students to reach greater heights. Her long list of scientific communications, awards, presentations both in India and abroad speak volumes about her endeavors and achievements. She has more than 86 publications which includes national, international journals. She is very keen on serving the society. It’s her hobby. Till today she has attended more than 200 free medical camps in rural areas.

Sachin Kumar Sharma completed his Post-Graduation in Yogic Science (2009-2011) from Uttara- khand Sanskriti University, Haridwar, India. He has been working in the Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, since 2008. He has worked as Senior Research Fellow in a Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) funded project entitled “Effect of a yoga program on anthropometric and biochemical measures in obese person”. He has published eight research papers in

451 About the Contributors

Pubmed indexed journals. His area of research is to study the effect of Pranayamas on autonomic variables. He is working as a Research Associate in a project entitled “Effects of yoga breathing techniques on measures of attention and arousal” funded by Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India he is also coordinating a nationwide project for the management of obesity through yoga.

Umesh Pal Singh is a physician, yoga practitioner. Being a scoliosis and recurrent shoulder dislocation sufferer, gave him an opportunity for developing unique and detailed insights into how the structure of the human body works. By successfully applying the techniques of self-care and soft-tissue manipula- tion, the author was able to consistently resolve over 50% of his own problems. Dr. Umesh Pal Singh practiced self massage from 1983 to 1986. Later on he switched over to breathing and postural exercise (Yogic Relaxation) that he is continuing till date. It should be noted that after extensive observations of his postural behavior and of his own preparatory automatic reactions to the act of breathing, he was also able to develop a working model of “Simple yogic posture” (SYP), a self-care modality, for the lay persons. See, how you can become accustomed to yoga practice and feel motivated by doing SYP as described in the chapter. Currently he is working as Senior Resident in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine in Subharti Medical College Meerut, U. P., India.

Fredrick Travis received his Masters and Ph.D. in Psychology from Maharishi University of Manage- ment in 1988. After a two-year post-doctoral position exploring brain changes during sleep, he returned to Maharishi University of Management to direct the Brain, Consciousness and Cognition Center. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on brain and consciousness. He has also authored 67 papers and book chapters that investigated effects of Transcendental Meditation practice on: (1) normal child development, (2) ADHD in children, (3) posttraumatic stress in veterans and refugees, (4) brain patterns of higher states of consciousness, and (5) brain patterns of world class performers. When not in the Brain Center, Fred plays tennis with his daughters, camps with his family, works in the garden, and remodels his home.

Kaviraja Udupa received his MBBS (Mysore University), MD Physiology (Pondicherry University) and Ph.D. in Neurophysiology (NIMHANS, Bangalore). He started his physiologic studies on Yoga in the guidance of Prof. Madanmohan at JIPMER, Pondicherry. During PhD (under Dr. TN Sathyaprabha), he studied the modulatory effects of antidepressant medications over the cardiac autonomic functions in patients with major depression. After ten years post-doctoral studies at University of Toronto, Canada exploring neurophysiology of motor cortex and basal ganglia in pathophysiology of movement disorders, he will be joining as Faculty of Neurophysiology, NIMHANS in May 2017. He has also authored 59 papers and book chapters that investigated motor pathophysiology and effects of Yoga on physiologic functions.

Meena Ramanathan Yogachemmal, Ph.D. (Yoga), is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Yoga Therapy Education and Research at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry, India. She has trained a large number of students under the auspices of Pondicherry University as coordinator Yoga courses in its Community College as well as through neighboring Universities. She is coordinator Outreach Programs of Yoganjali Natyalayam and has authored a dozen books and papers on Yoga and Yoga research. She has been doing yeomen service for the cause of senior citizens and special children of Pondicherry.

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