A brief Report by Yogasadhaka Nilachal
Introduction
The 8th Session of Continuous Yoga Chikitsa Learning and Education (CYCLE) took place on September 1, 2024, with Yoga Chikitsa Ratna Dr R Nagarathna as the esteemed speaker, focusing on Managing Respiratory Disorders through Yoga. Dr. R. Nagarathna is a pioneering figure in yoga therapy and integrative medicine. She has contributed significantly to establishing yoga as a credible therapy in both the medical and holistic healing communities. As the chief medical director at Arogyadhama, S-VYASA, she has tirelessly worked to merge traditional yoga techniques with modern medical practices.
In a comprehensive CYCLE session led by Dr. R. Nagarathna, participants were guided through the essence of yoga therapy, known as the Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT). The session aimed to deepen the understanding of the mind-body connection, the causes of chronic diseases, and the therapeutic power of yoga as a tool for holistic healing.
Dr. Nagarathna emphasized the necessity of integrating yoga’s various techniques to promote healing on physical, mental, and spiritual levels. Unlike modern medical practices, which tend to treat symptoms in isolation, yoga therapy focuses on addressing the root causes of disease by restoring harmony in the body and mind.
Holistic Rehab
Holistic rehabilitation focuses on a comprehensive approach that encompasses prevention, treatment, and recovery through yoga therapy, targeting physical, mental, and spiritual health. The key principles of holistic rehab are as follows:
Prevention through lifestyle changes and yoga practices to maintain positive health.
Treatment by addressing the root causes of disease with a combination of modern medicine and yoga therapy.
Recovery by helping individuals return to normalcy and achieve higher levels of health through relaxation and awareness-based practices.
Why NCDs are increasing?
The rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is primarily attributed to lifestyle-related factors. Despite advancement in medical science, which have helped extend human life expectancy, NCDs continue to increase due to the following reasons:
- Lifestyle Choices
Lifestyle is a major contributor to the surge in NCDs. Poor dietary habits, such as the consumption of junk food, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy behavioral patterns like smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance abuse, all contribute to the development of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Additionally, prolonged sedentary lifestyles, which are prevalent in today’s society, further exacerbate the risk of these diseases. - Stress and Mental Health
Uncontrolled stress plays a pivotal role in the development of NCDs. Stress, in the form of anxiety, anger, and fear, creates a state of “uncontrolled spinning speed of thoughts in the mind,” which leads to imbalances in the body. This persistent mental unrest draws excessive prana or life energy to certain areas of the body, causing overactivity or blockages. Over time, these imbalances manifest as chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Over-Specialization in Medical Science
While medical science has made significant advancements in extending life expectancy, it has become “over-specialized.” Specialization in medical treatment tends to focus on addressing symptoms rather than the root causes of diseases, such as lifestyle-related imbalances. Although modern medicine can effectively treat acute conditions through surgery or medication, the underlying lifestyle and mental factors that drive NCDs remain unaddressed.
- Lack of Integration of Mind-Body Approaches
Medical science has recognized that many NCDs are mind-body diseases, yet there is a lack of integration between traditional medical treatments and holistic therapies that address the mind-body connection. There is a need of integrated approach where yoga therapy, which targets both physical and mental imbalances, is combined with conventional medical treatments to prevent and manage NCDs more effectively
The Concept of Stress and Disease
Stress originates from the Uncontrolled Spinning Speed of Thoughts (USST) in the mind, where excessive and emotionally charged thinking—such as anxiety, anger, or fear—creates mental unrest and imbalances in the body. Stress is not merely a response to external situations but is driven by the mind’s reaction to these situations. This leads to prana or the life energy getting trapped in various parts of the body, manifesting as physiological disorders over time. Prolonged mental turbulence can result in chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. The solution lies in slowing down the mind through yoga techniques like meditation, pranayama, and asanas, which help release trapped prana, restore balance, and prevent stress-related diseases. This disruption of prana is particularly relevant to modern non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. The excessive use of mental energy due to stress leads to problems ranging from gastritis to muscular pain, and from breathing issues to autoimmune diseases. Yoga therapy aims to restore the balanced flow of prana, thus reversing disease processes.
Dr. Nagarathna ji illustrated the practical applications of yoga therapy with compelling case studies, including a diabetic patient who significantly reduced his need for medication by focusing on healing specific areas of his body. The patient, already practicing meditation, was instructed to shift his focus inward, directing his awareness and prana toward the pancreas and other affected organs. Through a combination of specialized asanas and breathing techniques, he managed to bring more energy into the diseased organs, facilitating his healing. This method of focused awareness and healing was exemplified through the use of specific asana to stretch and open the body, combined with pranayama techniques. This approach allows the body to receive the necessary prana for healing.
Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT)
IAYT is grounded in the belief that modern medicine, while successful in acute care and extending human lifespan, often fails to address the root cause of many chronic illnesses. These causes, according to yoga therapy, stem from imbalances at the mental and emotional levels. To address these, yoga therapy incorporates a range of yogic practices, including asanas, pranayama, and dhyana.
The integrated approach uses all available yoga techniques, focusing on restoring the body’s and mind’s natural balance. The healing process to removing clouds that block one’s inner divine light. The diseases we experience are like clouds that obscure the healthy, universal light within us, and yoga therapy helps clear these blockages so the body can heal itself.
Panchkosha
The concept of Panchkosha, which refers to the five layers or sheaths that encompass human existence. This model serves as a framework for understanding the holistic nature of human beings, integrating physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions.
- Annamaya Kosha (Physical Sheath): Represents the physical body composed of food (anna), including muscles, organs, and bones. It is maintained through nutrition and exercise.
- Pranamaya Kosha (Vital Energy Sheath): Refers to the life force (prana) that animates the body, encompassing breath and vital energies. It is linked to pranayama practices that enhance the flow of prana.
- Manomaya Kosha (Mental Sheath): Represents the mental body, including thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences. It reflects psychological states and influences perceptions and interactions.
- Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Sheath): Relates to intellect, wisdom, and higher consciousness. This layer encompasses discernment and spiritual understanding, leading to deeper self-awareness.
- Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Sheath): Associated with bliss and spiritual fulfillment. It reflects the state of joy and inner peace, representing one’s true essence and divine consciousness.
- Specific Techniques: Cyclic Meditation and Yoga Nidra
The role of specific yogic techniques in calming the mind and body are found to be very effective in IAYT. One such technique is Cyclic Meditation, where practitioners alternate between dynamic and slow movements to bring awareness to different parts of the body. This practice is especially useful in psychiatric patients or those suffering from excessive stress or anxiety, as it helps shift the mind’s focus from overthinking to body awareness.
Similarly, Yoga Nidra is a form of guided meditation designed to induce a deep state of relaxation by engaging the mind in specific imagery and focusing on different body parts. It’s use for individuals who are too weak to perform physical postures, such as those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Through Yoga Nidra, they can experience deep mental relaxation, which can be therapeutic for stress-related disorders and physical ailments.
Addressing Endothelial Dysfunction and Autoimmune Conditions
A central focus of the talk was on how yoga therapy can address inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, particularly in heart disease. Dr. Nagarathna explained that the root cause of coronary artery disease lies in the inflammation and dysfunction of the endothelium (the inner lining of the arteries). Persistent lifestyle factors lead to inflammation, which then causes a build-up of plaque and blockages in the arteries.
Yoga therapy, by reducing stress and inflammation, can help reverse this process. Dr. Nagarathna explained how specific breathing practices, such as Sitali and Sitkari (cooling pranayamas), can reduce inflammation and support heart health. She also provided an example of a woman with chronic lung disease who was able to reverse her oxygen dependency through focused yoga therapy, emphasizing the body’s innate ability to heal when stress and imbalances are addressed.
The Science of Prana and Measurement Tools
The effect of yoga therapy can be measured with the help of various instruments. To track the Pranamaya Kosha or to observe the effects on the body’s energy system an instrument is used called Gas Discharge Visualization (GDV) and Electrophotonic Imaging (EPI). These technologies capture the bio-energy fields around the body and are able to show changes in energy patterns before and after yoga practice. These are based on Electrophotonic Imaging which is a Kirlian principle based system for subtle energy measurements. Through these instruments, researchers can visualize the pranic energy and meridian balance in patients, helping to track improvements over the course of yoga therapy.
In a study on cancer patients, for instance, GDV technology revealed significant improvements in the patients’ energy fields after a month of integrated yoga therapy, reflecting the profound impact of yoga on their overall health and wellbeing. Other instruments include Acugrapha electrodermal assessment based on Chinese traditional medicine system; Nadi Tarangini- an indigenous pulse based diagnostic system for assessment of tridosha (vata, pitta, kapha) based on Ayurveda principle and Random Event Generator to study the influence of human mind on the hypothetical consciousness field & power of intention of individuals.
Ananda Mimamsa: The Inquiry into Bliss
The concept of Ananda Mimamsa directs that happiness is not derived from external objects or experiences, but rather from the mind’s state of silence and inner peace. Dr Nagarathna ji related this idea to the practical process of overcoming addictions and cravings. She narrated the case of a participant addicted to sweets who, by practicing Ananda Mimamsa, learned to observe her state of mind when eating sweets. Instead of finding happiness in the act of consuming the sweet, she became aware of her mind’s response to it. Through this process of introspection, she realized that happiness came from within, not from the object itself. By using this understanding, the participant gradually overcame her craving for sweets.
When people seek happiness from sensory experiences, such as eating sweets or engaging in pleasurable activities, they mistakenly attribute the source of joy to the external object. However, the actual joy or ‘ananda’ actually arises from a momentary quietness in the mind. This concept also applies to other forms of addiction, including smoking and drug use. By observing the mind and its tendencies, yoga practitioners can develop mastery over their cravings and redirect their awareness toward a deeper sense of inner peace and happiness.
Conclusion
Dr. Nagarathna’s session on yoga therapy revealed the immense potential of yoga as a holistic healing system that integrates physical, mental, and spiritual elements. From her discussion of stress and its physical manifestations to her explanation of prana, meditation, and specific techniques like Cyclic Meditation and Yoga Nidra, Dr. Nagarathna emphasized the importance of balance and slowing down as the key to health. Her case studies, combined with scientific data on prana, underscore the fact that yoga therapy is not just about physical postures but about tapping into the body’s own healing mechanisms. By calming the mind, regulating emotions, and restoring the natural flow of energy, yoga therapy offers a profound path toward health and wellbeing, addressing both the root causes of disease and the symptoms.
Finally, her call to all yoga therapists to engage in personal sadhana serves as a reminder that yoga therapy is not just a professional endeavor but a personal journey towards mastery of the mind and body—a journey that leads to Ananda.
