Not Just Yoga (II) - Psychological and physical effects of yoga version 2013

Psychological and Physical Effects of

YogaPresented by Dada Rainjitananda

Yoga

• Nowadays Yoga is recommended • by psychologists • and physicians

• to improve health in various kinds of diseases.

Yoga

• It has become common knowledge that practicing Yoga • makes one relax • and be more peaceful, • less anxious • and less stressed.

Yoga

• Most people take these facts for granted and do not try to understand why Yoga is so beneficial.

Benefits of Yoga

• The following are the benefits of Yoga

• as listed by the International Association of Yoga Therapists

• and is based on the traditional practice of Asana, Pra’n’a’ya’ma’ and Meditation.

Physiological benefits of Yoga

• Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium, with a tendency toward parasympathetic nervous system dominance rather than the usual stress-induced sympathetic nervous system dominance

• Pulse rate decreases

• Respiratory rate decreases

• Blood pressure decreases


• Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases

• EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)

• EMG (Electromyographic) activity decreases

• Cardiovascular efficiency increases


• Respiratory efficiency increases (respiratory amplitude and smoothness increase, tidal volume increases, vital capacity increases, breath-holding time increases)

• Gastrointestinal function normalizes

• Endocrine function normalizes

• Excretory functions improve

• Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase


• Posture improves

• Strength and resiliency increase

• Endurance increases

• Energy level increases

• Weight normalizes

• Sleep improves

• Immunity increases

• Pain decreases

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

• • Mood improves and subjective well-being increases • Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase • Social adjustment increases • Anxiety and depression decrease • Hostility decreases


• • Psychomotor functions improve: • • Grip strength increases • Dexterity and fine skills improve • Eye-hand coordination improves • Choice reaction time improves • Steadiness improves • Depth perception improves • Balance improves • Integrated functioning of body parts improves


Cognitive function improves: • Attention improves • Concentration improves • Memory improves • Learning efficiency improves • Symbol coding improves • Depth perception improves • Flicker fusion frequency improves

The Biochemical Profile

• The biochemical profile improves, indicating an antistress and antioxidant effect, important in the prevention of degenerative diseases.

• • Glucose decreases • Sodium decreases • Total cholesterol decreases • Triglycerides decrease • HDL cholesterol increases • LDL cholesterol decreases • VLDL cholesterol decreases

The Biochemical Profile

• • Hemoglobin increases • Lymphocyte count increases • Total white blood cell count decreases

• • Vitamin C increases • Total serum protein increases • Oxytocin increases• Oxygen levels in the brain increase

Yoga Compared to Conventional Exercise

• YOGA

• Parasympathetic nervous system dominates

• Slow dynamic and static movements

• Normalization of muscle tone

• Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments

• EXERCISE

• Sympathetic nervous system dominates

• Rapid forceful movements

• Increased muscle tension

• Higher risk of injury


• YOGA

• Low caloric consumption

• Effort is minimized, relaxed

• Energizing (breathing is natural or controlled)

•Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups

• EXERCISE

• Moderate to high caloric consumption

• Effort is maximized

•Fatiguing (breathing is taxed)

• Imbalanced activity of opposing groups


• YOGA

• Noncompetitive, process-oriented

• Awareness is internal(focus is on breath and the infinite)

• Limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness

• EXERCISE

• Competitive, goal-oriented

• Awareness is external(focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)

• Boredom factor

Why does Yoga practice give so many benefits?

Why do people start Yoga?

• To relax

• To remove stress

• For physical health

• For mental health

• For spiritual reasons

People want to feel good

• This is basically what brings people to Yoga.

• Feeling good

• Peaceful

When do you feel good?

• When you get what you want

• When you are in peace within

Physical discomfort

• Hampers one’s feeling of well-being.

• Diseases

• Physical imbalance

How we take care of the body?

• Exercising

• Good food

• Good environment

Physical/Psychic Body

• One may exercise and be in good shape or fit but if one suffers from shyness then one’s life will not be easy.

• Shyness maybe something mental but according to Yoga it is caused by improper secretion of hormones on the adrenal glands.

Characteristics of Humans

• There is a desire that differentiate human beings from animals and plants.

• One is that human beings want to expand.

• Infinite expansion


• The second is that we want to feel one with the Cosmic Entity.

• While humans are limited

• Cosmic Entity is limitless, infinite


• The third is that we want to do something noble, something great.


• And the fourth is that we want to enjoy peace, undisturbed infinite peace.

Yoga

• Works on all levels of human existence:

• Physical• Endocrine system

• Mental

• Spiritual

Yoga

• Works on all 4 characteristics of humans:

• Expansion

• Oneness with the Cosmic Entity

• Do something noble

• Enjoy infinite peace

Summary

Questions

For more information

• www.pathofbliss.com

• www.dadas.info

• retreats: http://pathofbliss.com/events/bliss-retreat/

• Twitter: @sosdada

• https://www.facebook.com/pobmeditation

• Video recording of the live presentation using these slides: https://sellfy.com/p/rQ8q/