Yoga Mimamsa

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Background: Divine worship follows Veda or agama sastras (liturgy) in Hindu lore. Nyasa is a mandatory procedure before every mantra japa (repetition of a mantra) as per agama sastra. In nyasa, the individual places parts of the mantra in designated parts of the body in a sequential order before performing japa. Aims: The aims of this study are to understand the concept and the diverse practices and to gather scientific evidence of the benefits to the body-mind-intellect of an individual doing mantra japa with nyasa. Method: Literature available on the subject was studied. Controlled experiments on a limited scale were performed using Electrophotonic Imaging (EPI) device with participants from a Vedic institution, performing daily Gayatri japa (recitation of the most popular mantra) with self as control and cross-over design. EPI was used to measure three parameters, namely integral entropy, integral area, and fractality. Results: Qualitative outcome of the study is described. Marginal improvements in integral entropy (decrease) and integral area (increase) were observed. Both signify positive outcome due to nyasa compared with relaxation by the control group. There was no noticeable difference in fractality between the two groups. Conclusion: Because decrease in entropy and increase in integral area are associated with better health, the study can be extended to larger and heterogeneous samples and over longer periods of nyasa practice for more conclusive results.

Context: Ādi Śaṅkāracārya was an exponent of Advaita Vedānta philosophy. It is well-known that he preached Jñāna Yoga or the path of knowledge for attainment of liberation. However, very few people are aware of the fact that Ādi Śaṅkāracārya has mentioned various methods or types of yoga for liberation depending on the dispositions of the aspirants. Study of his unpopular works reveal this fact. Aim: The aim of this paper is to present various types of yoga discussed in the works of Ādi Śaṅkāracārya. Method: A descriptive method of analyzing arguments is used because of the philosophico-literary nature of the study. Result: Ādi Śaṅkāracārya has stated various types of yoga such as Bhakti Yoga, Rāja Yoga, Haṭha Yoga, and Tantra Yoga as a means to Jñāna Yoga. Conclusion: Study of Ādi Śaṅkāracārya's work reveals that Bhakti Yoga, Rāja Yoga Haṭha Yoga, and Tantra Yoga are a means to knowledge or Jñāna Yoga for the attainment of emancipation.

Background: Although yoga is an effective treatment for chronic low back pain (CLBP), little is known about the mechanisms responsible for its benefits. Objective: To study the effect of Integrated Approach of Yoga Therapy (IAYT) on disability, depression, and pain in patients with CLBP. Method: Seven days intensive residential IAYT program in a single group pre-post study was conducted in a holistic health centre at Bengaluru, India. Thirty-five patients (22 females, 13 males) with CLBP were selected conveniently to undergo the IAYT program. The IAYT program was a combination of Asanas (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing practices), and meditation, apart from interactive sessions on the philosophical concepts of yoga. The modified Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Straight Leg Raising (SLR) Test were administered before and after the IAYT program. Statistical Analysis: The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16 was used for statistical analysis. The Shapiro–Wilk test showed that the data was normally distributed. Paired samples t-test was used to compare the means. Results: The data analysis showed significant change (p< 0.001, in all cases) with 54.13% decrease in the RMDQ scores (t = 0.759), 36.46% increase in right (t = 0.887) and 36.04% (t = 0.884) in left SLR scores, and 71.47% decrease in BDI scores (t = 0.797). Conclusion: The present study suggests that 7-day intensive residential IAYT program reduces disability and depression and improves spinal mobility in patients with CLBP. Thus, yoga may play a vital role in the management of CLBP. Additional randomized control trials are needed before a strong recommendation can be made.

More than 153 million children worldwide have been orphaned by the loss of one or both parents and millions more have been abandoned. There is a strong association between child health measures and the health of their primary caregivers. Poor caregiver health is a strong signal for poor health of orphan children. The strategies to support orphan children may include taking steps to ensure food security, foster gender equality, and prevent and treat traumatic events. Yoga, a feasible and acceptable activity with self-reported benefits to child's mental and physical health, may play effective role in the rehabilitation of orphaned children.

Context: Need for yogic lifestyle education in schools is being recognized eloquently. However, effectiveness of yogic lifestyle for enhancing adolescent health in schools remains partially or minimally attempted. Aims: To examine the relevance of yogic lifestyle education in improving holistic aspects of adolescent health in schools. Method: A four week field experiment was conducted among a sample of 100 students enrolled in a residential school located in a semi-urban setting by using a 2 (control and intervention group) ×2 (male and female students) ×2 (pre and post-test) factorial design. Standardized self-report adolescent health questionnaires were used before and after yogic lifestyle education to assess its holistic effects. Results: ANOVA was used to analyze efficacy of yogic lifestyle education in promoting different aspects of adolescent health. Results revealed that yogic lifestyle education group participants' responses displayed significantly greater enhancement on a variety of self-reported positive health outcomes and a reduction on different negative health outcomes than the control group participants. Conclusions: Yogic lifestyle education programme has promising potential to not only reduce health problems but also enhance positive aspects of health in school going adolescents.

Context: Obesity has been globally recognized as a risk factor for human health. It not only affects our health but also challenges our emotions and behavioral patterns. It is a significant problem among Indian women because many of them are homemakers and have sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, there is a growing urgency to counter obesity among women. Aim: The objective of the study was to find out the effect of yogic practices on cholesterol and triglyceride levels among obese women. It was hypothesized that yogic practices would significantly decrease total cholesterol and triglyceride levels among obese women in comparison to the control group. Method: The study consisted of yoga and control group, each containing twenty obese women randomly selected from Mogappair (Chennai). The yoga program was conducted three days a week (50–60 min/day) for twelve weeks. Cholesterol and triglycerides were tested on both groups at zero time and after 12 weeks, and the data were analyzed with independent t-test. Results: The post-test mean value of total cholesterol (193.4 mg/dL) and triglyceride (144.9 mg/dL) of the yoga group considerably reduced with respect to the corresponding mean value of post-test total cholesterol (213.1 mg/dL) and triglyceride level (167.8 mg/dL) of the control group. The independent t-test indicated that the total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and triglyceride (p < 0.05) levels were significantly decreased in the yoga group after twelve weeks of yogic practices. Conclusion: Regular practice of yoga significantly improved the health condition of obese women by decreasing total cholesterol and triglyceride.