Yogacharya Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI

MBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, MD (Alt Med), FIAY

Deputy DirectorCentre for Yoga Education, Therapy and Research

(CYTER), MGMC & RI, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Puducherry.

Learning objectivesLearning objectivesStudents 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

SBV AIM HIGH’sSBV AIM HIGH’sCENTRE FOR YOGA THERAPY, CENTRE FOR YOGA THERAPY,

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EDUCATION AND RESEARCH ((CYTERCYTER))

Salutogenesis, our Focus

• Moving from pathogenesis, the focus on disease towards salutogenesis, the focus on health!

• Under SBV AIM HIGH SBV AIM HIGH (Academy of Integrative Medicine for Holistic Intervention towards General Health), CYTER is striding forward on an innovative path of promoting holistic health for one and all.

• Bringing together the ancient experiential wisdom of Yoga with the evidence based approach of modern medical science.

What is Yoga Therapy?• Not merely exercise!• Focuses on health promotion,

management of specific conditions and general disease prevention.

• Incorporates holistic amalgam:– Yogic counseling, – dietary advice, – lifestyle modifications,– breath-body work, – relaxation, – meditation, – chanting and mindfulness.

• Change in attitude.• Inherent healing facilitated• Self empowerment.

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

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

• 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

• LIFE STYLE MODIFICATIONS: “LIFE STYLE MODIFICATIONS: “Yoga is a system of Yoga is a system of perfect tools for achieving union as well as healingperfect tools for achieving union as well as healing”- ”-

Dr Dean Ornish Dr 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 cure Yoga 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 diets based diets• RELAXATION: RELAXATION: spanda -nishpanda spanda -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

• 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

• Comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Yoga therapy Comprehensive bibliometric analysis of Yoga therapy research between 1967 & 2013 by Jeter PE, Slutsky J, research between 1967 & 2013 by Jeter PE, Slutsky J, Singh N & Khalsa SB. Singh N & Khalsa SB. (J Altern Complement Med 2015)(J Altern Complement Med 2015)

• Three-fold increase in number of publications seen in Three-fold increase in number of publications seen in the last 10 years, inclusive of all study designs.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 Yoga interventions Top three disorders addressed by Yoga interventions

were mental health, cardiovascular disease, and were mental health, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease.respiratory disease.

Other recent reviews by Kim Innes (2005, 2007 & 2012), Other recent reviews by Kim Innes (2005, 2007 & 2012), Yang (2007) and Sengupta (2012) have also Yang (2007) and Sengupta (2012) have also highlighted the role of Yoga therapy.highlighted the role of Yoga therapy.

PSYCHO-NEURO-IMMUNO-ENDOCRINOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF STRESS, ILLNESS & HEALTH

NERVOUSSYSTEM

ENDOCRINESYSTEM

IMMUNESYSTEM

MENTAL & PHYSICAL ILLNESS+ve

YOGA

-ve

STRESS

HEALTH

Overexposure to stress

DDISEASEISEASE

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.

Postulated mechanisms by which Yogareduces 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.

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.

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.

Interconnections between Inner Correspondence / Peaceful Interconnections between Inner Correspondence / Peaceful Harmony (ICPH), mindful acceptance & mental /emotional Harmony (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.

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

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

• 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

LIMITATIONS OF YOGA THERAPY

• Not a miracle cure for all problems• Not for emergencies• Needs self-effort on part of patient• Slow and steady effects-takes time• Needs wholesome lifestyle & attitude change• Different approaches of different traditions• Each patient is different!• Are some pts resistant to Yoga Therapy?

AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

• The need of the modern age is an integrated approach towards therapy

• Utilize Yoga therapy along with other systems of medicine including Allopathy, Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy

• Physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic practices may be used with Yoga therapy too

• Advise on diet and life style is very important• Adoption of right attitudes through Yogic counseling

IN CONCLUSION• Ancient art and science of Yoga offers possibilities to

tackle health related issues of modern humankind. • We however want it to be a miracle pill, that we take

only once - immediate solution to all problems!• Yoga is a wholesome 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 cost effective integration of Yoga and modern medicine helps create a healthier and happier world.

Accredited with ‘A’A’ Grade by NAAC