Yoga Mimamsa

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Context: Yoga is a popular mind-body program designed to improve muscular endurance, core stability, flexibility, and balance. Some styles of yoga appear to provide mild cardiovascular stimulus which may enhance cardiovascular endurance when performed regularly. Few studies have compared training intensity of different yoga styles. Aims: The aim of this study is to examine training intensity, caloric expenditure, and acute psychological response to three different styles of yoga (i.e., Dynamic, Hatha, and Gentle Yoga). Settings and Design: This was a quasi-experimental, within-group repeated measures design. Subjects and Methods: Eight young females (M = 19.24, standard deviation = 1.82) performed three yoga styles on separate occasions. Each participant wore chest-mounted heart rate (HR) monitor to record physiological data (i.e., average HR, maximum HR, calorie expenditure, training duration, and percentage of time within the 5 Polar-defined training zones). Participants filled out the Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory before and after each session. Statistical Analysis Used: Analysis was done using nonparametric statistical tests. Results: Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant differences in the average HR, calorie expenditure per minute, and time spent in Zone 2 (moderate intensity) between yoga styles. Follow-up analyses indicated that these physiological variables were higher in Dynamic Yoga compared to Hatha and Gentle. For psychological response, higher change in tranquility score was observed in Gentle Yoga compared to Hatha and Dynamic. Conclusions: This study concludes that different yoga styles elicit different training intensities and psychological response and extends current knowledge suggesting that health and fitness benefits of yoga may differ by style.

Emotional intelligence (EI) plays a very important role in life satisfaction, the quality of interpersonal relationships, academic success, and success in occupations that involve considerable reasoning with emotional information. Emotional sensitivity, emotional maturity, and emotional competency are the three important psychological dimensions of EI, which motivate student to recognize truthfully, interpret honestly, and handle tactfully the dynamics of their behavioral pattern. Yoga has been reported to improve emotional regulation and mental health. This brief review will discuss about the significance of EI for students and the possibility of implementing yoga as an intervention to improve EI.

Aim: This pilot study was done to evaluate the immediate effect of Sukha Pranayama, a slow and deep breathing technique on maternal and fetal cardiovascular parameters. Subjects and Methods: Single session pre-post comparison was done for 10 min of Sukha Pranayama in 12 pregnant women in their 3^rd trimester. The study participants were guided to breathe in and out in a slow and regular manner for a count of 4 s each. Maternal cardiovascular parameters, namely mean heart rate (MHR), systolic pressure (SP), and diastolic pressure (DP), were measured before and after the session and rate-pressure product (RPP) derived with the formulae. Fetal heart rate (FHR) was derived from the nonstress test tracing. Results: SP, MHR, FHR, and RPP reduced significantly after single session of Sukha Pranayama. The mothers reported that they felt more relaxed and also sensed active fetal movement while performing the pranayama. Discussion: Reduction in maternal cardiovascular parameters may be attributed to reduced sympathetic activity coupled with enhanced vagal parasympathetic tone. Reduction in RPP signifies reduced myocardial oxygen consumption and load on the heart as evidenced by previous studies. These changes in cardiac autonomic status may enhance placental circulation, leading to healthier fetal development. Conclusion: The present study reiterates the importance of yoga for the psychosomatic health of maternal-fetal unit as an add-on relaxation technique. We plan to develop this pilot study into a full-fledged evaluation of maternal and fetal wellbeing through yoga.

Dharma (virtuous acts), Artha (wealth), kα̑ma (desire), and moks᷂a (final emancipation) are the important components of health according to Āyurveda. Charaka Sam᷂hiᾱ, ancient medical text in the Āyurveda literature, describes not only physical and mental health, but also spiritual health. The concepts of spirituality in Charaka Sam᷂hiᾱ are influenced by the Upanishads where the aim of the life is moks᷂a (final emancipation). Charaka Sam᷂hiᾱ Sarḭra sthᾱna is one of the unique things where all the aspects of health, i.e., physical, mental, and spiritual health, have been explained and more importance is given for spiritual health such as concept of chetana dhᾱtu purus᷂ha (element of consciousness), Jivᾱtman (empirical soul) and paramᾱtman (absolute soul), and yoga and moks᷂a (final emancipation). The aim of this study is to understand the concepts of spiritual health mentioned in Charaka Sam᷂hiᾱ with the base of Upaniṣhads.

The pineal gland is a small but critical hormonal gland in our body. It is considered as a regulating or master gland that regulates the cycles within our bodies. Its purpose and function are still largely a mystery to science, and research on it is yielding very interesting discoveries, especially on its connection to spirituality and higher states of consciousness. Descriptions of the human anatomy derived from religious texts are often omitted from the medical literature. It may be that over time, science will validate many of these spiritual truths and statements as being based in scientific and medical fact.