Dr Ananda's lecture class at Dr MGR Medical University. He was invited to deliver lecture as Resource Person on “Research in Yoga” for the 25th workshop on Research Methodology and Bio- Statistics for AYUSH PG Students and Researchers organised by Department of Siddha of the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

1. Yogacharya
Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, MD (Alt Med), FIAY, C-IAYT
Director
Centre for Yoga Education, Therapy and Research
(CYTER), MGMC & RI, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry.

2. SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH
(Deemed University Accredited with “A” Grade by NAAC)
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education
and Research (CYTER)
Salutogenesis, our focus!

3. Learning objectivesLearning objectives
Students should:
1.Become aware of the concept of Yoga therapy.
2.Understand importance of integrative approach to
promoting health and preventing disease.
3.Understand scientific basis in applying Yoga as a
therapy through recent research studies.
4.Understand conditions where Yoga may have a
preventive, curative and rehabilitative role.
5.Understand limitations of Yoga as a therapy.
6.Become aware of SBV AIMHIGH -CYTER

4. YOGA & MODERN MEDICINE: MEETING POINTSYOGA & MODERN MEDICINE: MEETING POINTS
• Modern medical advancements provide the
rationale for the integration of various traditional
healing techniques including Yoga to promote
healing, health, and longevity
• Potential to provide us with a holistic health
science - a boon for psychosomatic health
• WHO : spiritual health in the “state of health’
• Modern medicine : accidents, acute illness,
emergencies and communicable diseases
• Yoga: preventive, promotive and rehabilitative
methods in addition to many management
methods to tackle modern illnesses

5. RELEVANCE TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
• Yoga is an experiential science and a dynamic state
of health is a by-product of Yoga
• “Re-orients the functional hierarchy of the entire
nervous system” - Dr B Ramamurthy
• Effective in preventing and combating the modern
pandemic of stress borne disorders.
• Scientific evidence indicates that Yoga has
– promotive, preventive and curative potential,
– is a safe, non-pharmacological therapy and is
– an effective lifestyle adjunct to reduce drug
dosage and improve QOL of patients

6. • Psychosomatic and stress related disorders
– DM, hypertension, bronchial asthma, IBS, epilepsy, back
pain and functional disorders
• Reduce / eliminate drug dosage / dependence in
– DM, hypertension, epilepsy, anxiety, bronchial asthma,
constipation, dyspepsia, insomnia, arthritis, sinusitis
and dermatological disorders
• Yoga therapists must work in tandem with medical doctors
when treating patients on allopathic treatment
• “The treatment of the part shouldn’t be attempted without
a treatment of the entirety” - the treatment of the body
without treating the mind and soul is a useless waste of
time”- Plato

7. • LIFE STYLE MODIFICATIONS: “LIFE STYLE MODIFICATIONS: “Yoga is a system ofYoga is a system of
perfect tools for achieving union as well as healingperfect tools for achieving union as well as healing”-”-
Dr Dean OrnishDr Dean Ornish
• REHABILITATION: “REHABILITATION: “Modern medicine kept me alive,Modern medicine kept me alive,
Yoga gave me back my lifeYoga gave me back my life”- Dr Swami Gitananda Giri”- Dr Swami Gitananda Giri
• COPING SKILLS: “COPING SKILLS: “Yoga may not be able to always cureYoga may not be able to always cure
but it can surely help us to endurebut it can surely help us to endure”- Sri BKS Iyengar”- Sri BKS Iyengar
• HEALTHY DIET : biogenic,HEALTHY DIET : biogenic, gunaguna based dietsbased diets
• RELAXATION:RELAXATION: spanda -nishpandaspanda -nishpanda conceptsconcepts
• EXPENDITURE: cost effective, cost loweringEXPENDITURE: cost effective, cost lowering
• AGING : anti-aging, regenerating, “young at heart”AGING : anti-aging, regenerating, “young at heart”
• PSYCHOTHERAPY: the mind and beyondPSYCHOTHERAPY: the mind and beyond
• WOMEN’S HEALTH: puberty, pregnancy, menopauseWOMEN’S HEALTH: puberty, pregnancy, menopause
• RESEARCH: Basic and applied scientific & literaryRESEARCH: Basic and applied scientific & literary

8. • Yoga modifies coronary artery disease risk factors
and helps reverse heart disease
• Patients of respiratory disorders have shown
improvement with Yoga therapy
• Therapeutic tool for MR children -improvement in
IQ and social adaptation
• Has shown great potential in metabolic conditions-
diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome etc
• Psychiatry: OCD–improvement in Yale/Brown &
perceived stress scales , anxiety, depression

9. • Comprehensive bibliometric analysis of YogaComprehensive bibliometric analysis of Yoga
therapy research between 1967 & 2013 by Jeter PE,therapy research between 1967 & 2013 by Jeter PE,
Slutsky J, Singh N & Khalsa SB.Slutsky J, Singh N & Khalsa SB. (J Altern(J Altern
Complement Med 2015)Complement Med 2015)
• Three-fold increase in number of publications seenThree-fold increase in number of publications seen
in the last 10 years, inclusive of all study designs.in the last 10 years, inclusive of all study designs.
• 45% RCTs, 18% controlled, and 37% uncontrolled.45% RCTs, 18% controlled, and 37% uncontrolled.
• Most publications originated from India (n=258),Most publications originated from India (n=258),
followed by USA (n=122) and Canada (n=13).followed by USA (n=122) and Canada (n=13).
• Top three disorders addressed by YogaTop three disorders addressed by Yoga
interventions were mental health, cardiovascularinterventions were mental health, cardiovascular
disease, and respiratory disease.disease, and respiratory disease.
Other recent reviews by Kim Innes (2005, 2007 &Other recent reviews by Kim Innes (2005, 2007 &
2012), Yang (2007) and Sengupta (2012) have also2012), Yang (2007) and Sengupta (2012) have also
highlighted role of Yoga therapy.highlighted role of Yoga therapy.

10. PSYCHO-NEURO-IMMUNO-ENDOCRINOLOGICAL
CORRELATES OF STRESS
NERVOUS
SYSTEM
ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
IMMUNE
SYSTEM
MENTAL & PHYSICAL ILLNESS
+ve
YOGA
-ve
STRESS
HEALTH

11. Overexposure to stress
DDISEASEISEASE

12. Streeter CC et al. Med Hypotheses 2012; 78: 571-9
• Stress induces autonomic imbalance
• Decreased para-sympathetic & increased
sympathetic activity, under activity of GABA
system, the primary inhibitory neuro-
transmitter, and increased allostatic load.
• Yoga helps correct the underactivity of para-
sympathetic nervous system and GABA
systems in part through stimulation of vagus
nerves with reduction in the allostatic load.

13. Postulated mechanisms by which Yoga
reduces cardiovascular risk
Innes KE, Bourguignon C, Taylor AG. Risk indices associated with the insulin resistance syndrome, cardiovascular disease,
and possible protection with yoga: a systematic review. J Am Board Fam Pract 2005;18:491-519.

14. Innes KE, Vincent HK. The Influence of yoga-based programs on risk profiles in adults with type 2 diabetes
mellitus: A systematic review. eCAM 2007; 4: 469-86.
Postulated mechanisms of yoga in diabetes mellitus

15. Meditation: Potential Mechanisms
Innes KE and Selfe TK (2014) Meditation as a therapeutic intervention for adults at risk for Alzheimer’s disease
– potential benefits and underlying mechanisms. Front. Psychiatry 5:40. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00040

16. Impact of stress on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal
(HPA) axis and sympathetic NS.
* Yoga has been shown to have significant beneficial effects in these
Sengupta P. Health Impacts of Yoga and Pranayama: A State-of-the-Art Review. Int J Prev Med 2012; 3:444–58.

17. Possible factors responsible for improvement of
physical performance by yoga
Ray US, Pathak A, Tomer OS. Hatha Yoga Practices: Energy Expenditure, Respiratory Changes and Intensity of
Exercise. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011; 2011: 241294.

18. Proposed relationships among dyspnea, benefits of yoga,
and outcomes of participation in a yoga program.
Donesky-Cuenco D, Nguyen HQ, Paul S, Carrieri-Kohlman V. Yoga Therapy Decreases Dyspnea-Related Distress and Improves
Functional Performance in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study. J Altern Complement Med
2009; 15: 225–234.

19. Postulated mechanisms for role of
yoga in pregnancy outcomes
Chuntharapat S, Petpichetchian W, Hatthakit U. Yoga during pregnancy: effects on maternal comfort, labor pain and
birth outcomes. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2008; 14(2): 105-15.

20. Yoga in cancer related fatigue
Bower JE, Garet D, Sternlieb B. Yoga for persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors: results of a pilot study. Evid Based
Complement Alternat Med 2011; 2011:623168.

21. Yoga in chronic low back pain-mechanisms
Sherman et al., Comparison of yoga versus stretching for chronic low back pain: protocol for the Yoga Exercise Self-care
(YES) trial. Trials 2010; 11:36

22. Interconnections between Inner Correspondence / PeacefulInterconnections between Inner Correspondence / Peaceful
Harmony (ICPH), mindful acceptance & mental /emotionalHarmony (ICPH), mindful acceptance & mental /emotional
stabilization in response to mind-body interventions such as Yoga.stabilization in response to mind-body interventions such as Yoga.
Arndt B¨ussing et al. Inner Correspondence and peacefulness with practices among participants in Eurythmy Therapy &
Yoga: A Validation Study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011; 2011: 329023.

23. Bhavanani AB et al. IJPP 2003: 47:297-300 and IJPP 2012; 56 : 174–180.

24. Bhavanani AB et al. Int J Yoga Ther 2011; 21: 73-76 & Yoga Mimamsa 2012; 44: 101-112. Indian J
Physiol Pharmacol 2012; 56: 273–78 & Biomed Human Kin 2012: 4: 66 – 69. Int J Yoga 2012; 5: 108-11

25. Recent work from our team at Pondicherry
includes:
• Effects on single session of integrated yoga programs
in different populations.
• Comparative effect of slow and fast pranayama
training.
• Comparative immediate effect of different yoga
asanas.
• Differential effects of uninostril and alternate nostril
pranayamas.
• Comparative study of the effects of asan, pranayama
and asan-pranayama training.

26. • C.V.S : Essential HT, CAD
• Respiratory : Asthma, COAD
• Stress : Tension headache
• M.S : Backache, RA, spondilitis
• Metabolic : DM, thyroid disorders, obesity
• G.I.T : IBS, dyspepsia, ulcerative colitis
• Psychiatric : Anxiety, depression, phobias
• C.N.S : Mental retardation, epilepsy, migraine

27. LIMITATIONS OF YOGA THERAPY
• Not a miracle cure for all problems
• Use discernment (Viveka)
• Not for emergencies
• Consult a doctor where in doubt
• Each patient is different
• Different approaches of different traditions
• Don’t be a quack !

28. AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
• The need of the modern age is to have an integrated
approach towards therapy and to utilize Yoga
therapy with coordination and collaboration with
other systems of medicine such as Allopathy,
Ayurveda, Siddha and Naturopathy
• Physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic practices
may be used with the Yoga if needed
• Advise on diet and life style is very important
• Adoption of right attitudes through Yogic counselling

29. IN CONCLUSION
• The ancient art and science of Yoga has infinite
possibilities of solutions for the health related issues
faced by modern humankind.
• We however want it to be a miracle pill, that we take
only once - immediate solution to all problems!
• Yoga is a wholistic science and must be learnt and
practiced with a holistic view.
• The dedicated practice of Yoga as a way of life is no
doubt a panacea for psychosomatic, stress related
disorders helping us to regain our birthright of
natural health and universal happiness.
• The integration of Yoga and modern medicine can
help create a healthier and happier world.

30. Accredited with ‘AA’ grade by NAAC