CHAPTER for Management of Stress & Life Style Diseases

235 Sandeep Rai, Madhur Rai, Yashoda Kattimani, Vishesh Agarwal

ABSTRACT developed by Dr Nirmala Devi Srivastava, (Hon PhD in The changes of rapid globalization are putting heavy Cognitive Science from Romania University), popularly stress on people and taking a heavy toll of their health and known as Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi in the year 1970. lives. Only a century ago the primary threats to human Through this process, an inner transformation takes place life were infections, but now days most humans die of by which one becomes energized and de- stressed. It offers diseases like diabetes heart attacks and stroke in which a practical method of understanding your own energy stress plays a major role. Diseases like angina, heart attack system and tapping into this powerful force. Scientific and diabetes which only struck in elderly age groups are studies have proved beyond doubt that SYM (sahaja yoja now claiming, as their victims, as young as 30 yrs old. It ) acts by reducing sympathetic activity (Stress) may not be an easy task to change the present day stressors and promoting parasympathetic activity (Relaxation). of competitive, aggressive fast paced lives, but certainly Studies comparing experienced SY meditators compared a change can be brought in an individual’s perceptions to controls or short-term meditators have demonstrated and coping abilities to combat negative effects of stress physiological changes during meditation suggestive of on health and diseases. In fact, new research reveals that a wakeful hypo metabolic state that is characterised by simple 20 minutes of Sahaja Yoga meditation a day now decreased sympathetic nervous activity, important for can keep you free of stress. fight and flight mechanisms involved in stress reactions, INTRODUCTION and increased parasympathetic activity, important for relaxation and rest. Sahaja Yoga Meditation, has been When stress takes hold, the brain is bathed in chemicals; shown to reduce autonomic activity in short- and long- the sympathetic nervous system gets a jump-start. term practitioners compared to controls. This included Glucose and fats flood the bloodstream and our a reduction in heart, respiratory and pulse rates, systolic cardiovascular and respiratory systems rev up, all to give blood pressure and oxygen metabolism, and reduction us the armaments we need to deal with the stress. These of urinary vanilly mandelic acid (VMA) a break down changes would make sense if we were running for our product of Stress Hormone Adrenalin and increases lives or rescuing our child from a fire. But when everything of Skin Resistance1 reflecting a de stressed state. from taxes to television news triggers a reactive response, These physiological alterations are indicators of deep stress becomes toxic. As it is not possible to change the parasympathetic activation and therefore physiological style or pace of our modern life, we need to discover relaxation that have been related to stress relief and may suitable mechanisms to cope with daily stress. have a role in the prevention of stress-related illness, most Psychological stress plays an important role in the notably, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. causation of essential hypertension, which is one of the Electro-physiological (EEG) studies comparing the most important public health problems in developed, and brain activation of long-term Sahaja Yoga practitioners developing countries. Recently, it has been reported that have been able to find specific brain activation patterns emotional stress and anxiety can precipitate overt ischemic corresponding to a relaxed state of mind & subjective heart disease and cause sudden death. Modulation of feelings of happiness and have also shown on sophisticated stress can in turn lead to improvement in numerous life EEG studies of better interconnectivity of different brain style diseases like, diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart regions2,3 An interesting study investigating the neural disease and host of other psychosomatic diseases, the correlates of emotional reactivity of long-term Meditators proof of which already exists in scientific literature. compared to controls showed reduced psychological, At present considerable evidence exists for the place of physiological and electrophysio-logical reactivity to mind body medicine in maintaining and improving stressful stimuli, providing for the first time in the World psychological health. Ten million American adults now the neurophysiologic evidence to support the hypothesis that Sahaja Yoga Meditation leads to ‘‘detachment’’ and say they practice some form of meditation regularly, 4 twice as many as a decade ago. “For 30 years meditation greater emotional resilience to stressful life events. research has told us that it works beautifully as an antidote Rigorous randomized trials on SY Meditation using active to stress,” says Daniel Goleman, author of Destructive control groups have demonstrated significant effects on Emotions. “But what’s exciting about the new research is depressive mood and work stress in full-time workers.5 how meditation can train the mind and reshape the brain. In other studies, on SY Meditation, promising effects have 6 Sahaja Yoga is a unique form of meditation technique been shown in depression & anxiety, on enhanced Quality BEYOND MEDICINE 1070 Control& ADHD inchildren. pressure, Blood of attacks of epilepsy & asthma reduction & improvements in Diabetes significant the to related were furthermore which training, Meditation with of weeks few patients after Diabetes, in and epilepsy achieved hypertension, asthma, be also could individuals, achieved withSahaja Yoga Meditationinhealthy and age groups. nationalities different of consisting population of group • • • who were notpracticinganymeditation. population meditators ascomparedtogeneralhealthy and perceived stresslevels inlongtermSahajaYoga stress oxidative decreased significantly found and levels cortisol serum and function endothelial variability, rate heart in improvement significant very levelsa found HRV and stress perceived cortisol, serum stress, on oxidative authors the by Mumbai effects of Sahaja Yoga meditation on endothelial function, Navi Sciences, Health Institute of MGM of Department Medicine & Physiology Two largecontrolledstudiesrecentlycompleted in the of life 7 and on improving Psychological health in adiversePsychological health andonimproving mental stress and exercise and can contribute to mental stress andexercisecancontribute may causeconstriction ofcoronaryarteries during homeostasis. Diminished nitricoxide bioactivity of biological properties that maintain vascular is endothelium. Thissubstance hasawiderange oxide Nitric a solublegascontinuously synthesizedbythe FUNCTION: ENDOTHELIAL higher stresslevels inthem. Cortisol values in theNon Yoga groupindicated Group showed lower Cortisollevels. Higherserum to stress becomes chronic. In our study SYM responses acute when particularly time, over body the on protective effects damaging have can glucocorticoids their despite of elevations chronic stress, of times during effects However, blood increasing analgesia. as such pressure andbloodsugarlevels andpromoting functions, survival stressor is believed to beinvolved inpromoting This releaseofcortisolinresponsetoanacute cortisol levels aredecreased duringmeditation. previous studieshave foundthaturineandplasma compared it totheHealthynonmeditators. Most was measuredinthelongtermSYmeditatorsand Serum Cortisol levels (a biological marker of stress) compared tononyogagroup. Perceived stresslevels were foundtobelower inas SYM groupwas overall alllessstressedandtheir healthy group.Thusitwas clearlyevidentthatthe significantly less compared to that in the Non Yoga our study theperceived scores in SYM group were external stimuli and quicker response to stressor. In to copethroughreduced reactivity to ability one’s improves behavioral one’s also but cope, to subjectiveability only not Meditation programs. used and psychiatricdiseases and stress management widely most physical the events, of stressfulness assessing for scale is PSS Stress: Perceived 8 n at te ae hsooia effects physiological same the fact, In 6,9,10,12,13-16 17 effects of certain factors on the risk for cardiovascular risk the disease anddeath. on the leastminimize factors at certain or of effects to prevent serve may profile alter this autonomic imbalance toward a more salubrious like incorporatingSahajaYoga Meditationindailylifecan death and disease. Thus, changes in Life style & behaviors common final the pathway linkinga host of disorders and conditions to be might imbalance autonomic that in Sahaja Yoga State Meditation Subjects. It is now amply clear (Relaxed) Dominant Parasympathetic a Indicated higher Also levels ofHFwhichwere recorded in theYoga subjects. Group Yoga in Balance Sympathovagal better a indicated Group Yoga in ratio LF/HF lower The SYM the of ratio wasGroup LF/HF lowersignificantly Non the than Group. Yoga mean the showed study Our meditation. and relaxation induction, positive-emotion acute increases in HF-HRV generally occur in response to behaviors that might increase HRV. In healthy individuals, risk factors might beprevented or minimized by engagingin modifiable of effects The mortality. and morbidity HRV, decrease to shown which isinitselfamajorriskfactorforcardiovascular has stress Work that shown the precedes HRV including decreased development of a numberofriskfactors. Studies have that diseases, notion the and support conditions of cardiovascular disease. Substantial evidenceexiststo host a from common pathway toincreasedmorbidityandmortality final a be may imbalance autonomic Therefore, diseases. energy excessive various time, demands on thesystemcanleadtopremature agingand with Over associated conditions. pathological is system, parasympathetic by characterized a hyperactive sympathetic system and a hypoactive imbalance, Autonomic worldwide. disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability parasympathetic branches of ANS. Cardiovascular provides a picture of the interplaybetween thesympatheticand HRV essence, In rate research. of cardiology heart edge current cutting the stress: is variability of rate Heart indicator variability. biological best body’s is alsowhereresearchersdiscoveredThe heart the the samestress responsecanbetriggered insituations however, humans In animals. of group this to advantage and thisability hasconferredaconsiderable survival survival to perceived threats reflexively with and rapidly have over millions of years evolved the abilitytodeal humans, including Mammals, Mechanisms, Possible The HEARTRATE VARIABILITY HOW YOGIC MEDITATION REDUCES STRESS? Yoga Meditators. Better a Endothelial FunctioninginThelongtermSahaja indicated This Group. than Yoga Non more the in significantly were Group Yoga SYM in Nitrite Serum of value Mean the that showed, the endothelialfunctionofbody.Ourstudy in thebody.NOlevels correlatevery well with levels (NO) Oxide Nitric of assessment indirect an Serum Nitrite was measured in boththegroups for study, present the In disease. artery coronary with provocation of myocardial ischemia in patients CHAPTER 235 1071 Journal of Journal International Clinical Child Clinical Journal of Clinical Journal of Biological Psychology Biological 1977; 67:954-9. 1988; 19–23. 2002a; 45:158–1158. 2002a; 45:158–1158. 2004; 9:479–497. 1995; 39:111-6. 2004; 9:479–497. 2005; 115:893. 2005; of Neuroscience International Journal The Journal of Alternative aznd Complementary U. Rai, S. Sethi, and S. Singh, ―Some effects of Sahaja Yoga Sahaja of effects ―Some Singh, S. and Sethi, S. Rai, U. and its role in the prevention of stress disorders, Medical Sciences International Aftanas, L.I., Golocheikine, frontal S.A. midline theta and Human lower alpha reflect anterior emotionally and positive state and internalized attention:EEG highresolution investigation of meditation. 2001; 310:57–60. Neuroscience Letters Aftanas, L.I., Golocheikine, S.A. during state of consciousness Altered of concomitants Linear and non-linear investigation. EEG resolution high meditation: Journal of Psychophysiology Psychology and Psychiatry Peters RK, Benson response breaks H, in Peters a working blood pressure. Am J Pub Health JM. population: II ―Daily effects on relaxation Aftanas, L., Golosheykin, S. Impact of regular meditation at rest and during evoked negative practice on EEG activity emotions. C. and Peters, D. Kenchington, P. Marks, B. G. Manocha, R. in the management of moderate M. 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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank We the Vice Hon’able Chancellor, Respected Dean & Head of Departments of the Physiology MGM institute & of Medicine,of Health Sciences of the International doctors the entire team of dedicated , Navi Mumbai, Sahaja Yoga Health Centre, Navi Mumbai, School, Medical Sydney Dr Psychiatry, in Lecturer Manocha, Ramesh Australia, Dr Sheng Chia, Asst Prof of Epidimiology at the London School of Epidemiology, Dr Usha Panjwani –Professor, Defence Institute of Physiology Consultant Senior Chug, Deepak Dr Delhi, New Sciences, and Allied Dept Rubia, Katya Prof USA, Angeles, Los in Neurologist Neuroscience, Institute Of of Cognitive Psychiatry, Kings College University London, Dr Ashish Pradhan, Medical Director, Pfizer, USA, Prof Medicine,and last but not the MGM, Mumbai, least, all the Volunteers for all their contributions. cooperation & valuable which, which, while they do not necessarily threaten survival, frequently. fairly occur is in situation typical Such a the daily live hassles as in thought to result is response stress of the activation meeting deadlines. Repeated dysregulation of physiology which leads to the in turn damages and this mechanisms own survival body‘s health. changes the physiological that is popular view One very are characterized by the relaxation by SYM achieved response—Psychophysiological studies of Sahaja Yoga, relaxation response. elicit a reality it does suggest that in It is hypothesized that system of the brain and therefore actualizes in limbic this subtle energy () by its effects onlimbic system Also of an individual. emotional response the limbic system,through this and with hypothalamus rich connections has it modulates the route it exerts its effect onthere and axis autonomic the HPA on acts also limbic system The nervous system. hormones released by the release of various modulates in turn can Stress of Modulation to stress. in response diseases in numerous life style lead to improvement like, Diabetes, Hypertension, Ischemic Heart disease and host of other psychosomatic diseases, the proof of which already exists in scientific literature is now a central feature in Meditation Sahaja Yoga programs and youth development corporate wellness globally and is increasingly being prescribed by doctors non It is health recommendations. Holistic a part of as been has and self regulating in nature. SYM intrusive is and abroad It upon in researched extensively Centers in more Yoga taught free of charge at all the Sahaja than 157 countries around the world. For her significant contribution to understanding of subtle energy systems numerous received H.H Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi recognition from around the Globe. She has and Awards been twice has Prize and Nations Peace United received Prize. The simple technique nominated for Nobel Peace internet also. from be learnt free can Yoga Sahaja of Meditation or for any more For learning Sahaja Yoga information visit site -www.freemeditation.com, or write to [email protected]