Isha Yoga Practices and Participation in Samyama Program are Associated with Reduced HbA1C and Systemic Inflammation, Improved Lipid Profile, and Short-Term and Sustained Improvement in Mental Health: A Prospective Observational Study of Meditators (original) (raw)
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2022
Background: Although the benefits of yoga are well established across the world, there are limited studies exploring the long-term interrelation between yoga, meditation, and health. Specifically, there is limited research exploring the differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among regular meditators and nonmeditators. Objective: This study explored the differences in 7 domains of HRQOL (including quality of life, ability to adopt a healthy lifestyle, ability to relax, frequency of nervousness and stress, coping with day-today stress, workplace productivity, and staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic) among practitioners of yoga and meditation.
Thirty-eight individuals (mean age: 34.8 years old) participating in a 3-month yoga and meditation retreat were assessed before and after the intervention for psychometric measures, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), circadian salivary cortisol levels, and pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Participation in the retreat was found to be associated with decreases in self-reported anxiety and depression as well as increases in mindfulness. As hypothesized, increases in the plasma levels of BDNF and increases in the magnitude of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) were also observed. The normalized change in BDNF levels was inversely correlated with BSI-18 anxiety scores at both the pre-retreat (r = 0.40, p < 0.05) and post-retreat (r = 0.52, p < 0.005) such that those with greater anxiety scores tended to exhibit smaller pre-to post-retreat increases in plasma BDNF levels. In line with a hypothesized decrease in inflammatory processes resulting from the yoga and meditation practices, we found that the plasma level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-10 was increased and the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-12 was reduced after the retreat. Contrary to our initial hypotheses, plasma levels of other pro-inflammatory cytokines, including Interferon Gamma (IFN-γ), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) were increased after the retreat. Given evidence from previous studies of the positive effects of meditative practices on mental fitness, autonomic homeostasis and inflammatory status, we hypothesize that these findings are related to the meditative practices throughout the retreat; however, some of the observed changes may also be related to other aspects of the retreat such as physical exercise-related components of the yoga practice and diet. We hypothesize that the patterns of change observed here reflect mind-body integration and well-being. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience | www.frontiersin.org
Effects of Meditation on Health
International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies, 2019
This paper intends to study the relevance of Meditation on health Normal healthy volunteers with age not less than 35 years and not more than 70 years. Residing at Delhi. Subjects were randomized using random numbers generated by a computer for a 2 group assignment. Measurements/Variables, WHO Quality of life – Brief. The response were collected from 50 respondents out of them 25 as control group and 25 as a practice group. Tests for Normality (Shapiro Wilk’s) carried out for all the data variables showed a normally distributed data. Paired ‘T’ test was used to analyze within group differences in the yoga and control groups and Independent samples ‘T’ test was used to analyze the between group effect. The present study measured the effectiveness of Brahmakumaris Raja Yoga meditation on Quality of life domains on normal healthy volunteers compared to control group. The study showed a significant improvement in yoga group on all the four domains of WHO QOL scale such as physical healt...
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Background. Anxiety and depression are common in the modern world, and there is growing demand for alternative therapies such as meditation. Meditation can decrease perceived stress and increase general well-being, although the physiological mechanism is not well-characterized. Endocannabinoids (eCBs), lipid mediators associated with enhanced mood and reduced anxiety/depression, have not been previously studied as biomarkers of meditation effects. Our aim was to assess biomarkers (eCBs and brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]) and psychological parameters after a meditation retreat. Methods. This was an observational pilot study of adults before and after the 4-day Isha Yoga Bhava Spandana Program retreat. Participants completed online surveys (before and after retreat, and 1 month later) to assess anxiety, depression, focus, well-being, and happiness through validated psychological scales. Voluntary blood sampling for biomarker studies was done before and within a day after the...
International Journal of Yoga, 2012
diseases. [8,9] Yoga [10] and psychoneuroimmunology are two such potential intervention modules of alternative and complementary medicine that are emerging as foundations of mind-body medicine. [11] We have previously shown that this short-term lifestyle intervention is effective in reducing oxidative stress, [12] fasting glucose, and improving lipid profile as early as 10 days. [13] Though health-related quality of life is generally used to measure overall well-being of an individual, a self-evaluation of health status, levels of anxiety [5] and personality traits [14] can also predict mortality and treatment outcomes, sometimes better than that predicted by current health status or other risk factors. [15-17] This might be important, especially in case of lifestyle-related diseases [18] and may provide important clinical information. However, only a few studies have evaluated the association between lifestyle and self-rated mental and physical health in a general population [19-22] or patients with other lifestyle-related diseases. Therefore, we conducted the Objective: To assess the efficacy of a short-term comprehensive yoga-based lifestyle intervention in reducing anxiety, improving subjective well-being and personality. Materials and Methods: The study is a part of an ongoing larger study at a tertiary care hospital. Participants (n=90) included patients with chronic diseases attending a 10-day, yoga-based lifestyle intervention program for prevention and management of chronic diseases, and healthy controls (n=45) not attending any such intervention. Primary Outcome Measures: Change in state and trait anxiety questionnaire (STAI-Y; 40 items), subjective well-being inventory (SUBI; 40 items), and neuroticism extraversion openness to experience five factor personality inventory revised (NEO-FF PI-R; 60 items) at the end of intervention. Results: Following intervention, the STAI-Y scores reduced significantly (P<0.001) at Day 10 (66.7 ± 13.0) versus Day 1 (72.5 ± 14.7). Also, positive SUBI scores (F1-F6) improved significantly (P<0.01) at Day 10 versus Day 1. Similarly NEO-FF PI-R scores improved significantly (P<0.001) at Day 10 versus Day 1. Control group showed an increase in STAI-Y while SUBI and NEO-FF PI-R scores remained comparable at Day 10 versus Day 1. Conclusions: The observations suggest that a short-term, yoga-based lifestyle intervention may significantly reduce anxiety and improve subjective well-being and personality in patients with chronic diseases.
Complementary Medicine Research
Mental disorders are a core health challenge in the 21st century. Integrative mental health care takes an individual, lifestyle-modifying, salutogenic approach, combining somatic, psychosocial, and spiritual perspectives from evidence-based conventional and complementary medicine. In particular, meditation and mindfulness have received growing research interest in the last decade. In this article, we present Meditation-Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM), a new, complex mind-body intervention for mental health care. It is the first program to intensify meditation practice using classical yoga. The program (a) covers all areas of classical yoga, (b) considers ethical and spiritual aspects of daily life, (c) orients participants toward sustained lifestyle modification, and (d) is applicable in a clinical context. The scientific rationale of the program is outlined in this article, based on the Criteria for Reporting the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in Healthcare...
Effect ofSahajaYoga Meditation on Quality of Life, Anxiety, and Blood Pressure Control
The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2012
Objective: The present study investigates the effect of Sahaja yoga meditation on quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure control. Design: The prospective observational cohort study enrolled two study groups: those receiving treatment from the International Sahaja Yoga Research and Health Center (meditation group) and those receiving treatment from the Mahatma Gandhi Mission Hospital (control group). Researchers measured quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure before and after treatment. Results: Sixty-seven (67) participants in the meditation group and 62 participants in the control group completed the study. The two groups were comparable in demographic and clinical characteristics. At baseline, the meditation group had higher quality of life (p < 0.001) than controls but similar anxiety level (p = 0.74) to controls. Within-group pre-versus post-treatment comparisons showed significant improvement in quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure in the meditation group (p < 0.001), while in controls, quality of life deteriorated and there was no improvement in blood pressure. The improvement in quality of life, anxiety reduction, and blood pressure control was greater in the meditation group. The beneficial effect of meditation remained significant after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: Meditation treatment was associated with significant improvements in quality of life, anxiety reduction, and blood pressure control.
Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences
Original Research Article Meditation is considered as the doorstep of peace from ancient Indian civilization. Sahaja yoga is a method of meditation to connect an individual from within; results in thoughtless awareness and peaceful mind. The present study has been conducted on a group of students of 16-21 years of age from Sheth N. K. T. T. College Thane, India. The students were examined physically for their oxygen level, pulse rate, body temperature on different points on palm (known as chakras) as well as subjected to questionnaires; The Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) and Strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) for their physical and emotional health as well as behavior pattern before and after 12 weeks of meditation. The collected data was analyzed to understand the correlation between the variables and sahaja yoga meditation. The study showed a significant, beneficial change in the oxygen level, pulse rate. The overall health score analyzed by SF-36 and behavior score analyzed by SDQ improved in all participants significantly. The study showed a significant improvement in general, emotional health and behavior pattern on practicing sahaja yoga meditation for 12 weeks.
Increased Hatha yoga experience predicts lower BMI and reduced medication use in women over 45
an upper limit to the level of health that an individual can attain. Well-being is not defined as the absence of problems. [3-8] Positive well-being is not the polar opposite of negative mood, and the inverse correlation between the two constructs is somewhat weak. [9,10] In the worldview of humanist and positive psychology, one cannot create a life worth living by focusing entirely on alleviating disease and discomfort. [11] The most serious psychopathologies are believed to result from an absence of strengths, rather than from symptoms such as depression and anxiety. [3] Although wellness practices protect against pathology, [1,3,12] a major and perhaps underrepresented purpose of lifestyle-based wellness choices is to maximize positive experiences such as joy, vitality, serenity, happiness, self-actualization, and other qualities that make life worth living. [13] Background: Although high levels of subjective well-being (SWB) are common in old age, a subset of older individuals is disproportionately vulnerable to negative affect. Yoga has been shown to have many short-term benefits, but researchers have not determined whether a long-term or frequent yoga practice increasingly protects older women from low levels of psychological well-being. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which psychological attitudes, transcendence, mental mastery, and subjective vitality in a sample of female yoga practitioners over 45 years varied according to the length and frequency of yoga practice. Materials and Methods: We administered online surveys to a non-probability sample of 211 female yoga practitioners 45 to 80. We used weighted least squares regression analyses to evaluate the relationship of extent of yoga experience to the outcome variables after accounting for age and lifestyle factors. Results: Participants had practiced yoga for as long as 50 years and for up to 28 h per week. There were significant positive relationships between yoga experience and all outcome variables. These significant relationships remained after accounting for age and lifestyle factors. When we computed yoga experience in terms of total calendar years, without accounting for hours of practice, significant relationships did not remain. Transcendence of the ordinary was the most strongly associated with current yoga practice frequency, and positive psychological attitudes were the most strongly associated with total lifetime hours of practice. Conclusions: Among a non-probability sample of female yoga practitioners between 45 and 80 years, increased yoga experience predicted increased levels of psychological well-being. Results showed a dose-response effect, with yoga experience exercising an increasingly protective effect against low levels of SWB and vitality.
Quality of Life and Functional Health Status of Long-Term Meditators
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
Background. There is very little data describing the long-term health impacts of meditation.Aim. To compare the quality of life and functional health of long-term meditators to that of the normative population in Australia.Method. Using the SF-36 questionnaire and a Meditation Lifestyle Survey, we sampled 343 long-term Australian Sahaja Yoga meditation practitioners and compared their scores to those of the normative Australian population.Results. Six SF-36 subscales (bodily pain, general health, mental health, role limitation—emotional, social functioning, and vitality) were significantly better in meditators compared to the national norms whereas two of the subscales (role limitation—physical, physical functioning) were not significantly different. A substantial correlation between frequency of mental silence experience and the vitality, general health, and especially mental health subscales (P<0.005) was found.Conclusion. Long-term practitioners of Sahaja yoga meditation exper...