We are today faced with numerous debilitating chronic illnesses related to aging, environment, and hedonistic lifestyle, such as cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular diseases as well as many incurable diseases such as AIDS. Modern medical advancements provide the rationale for the integration of various traditional healing techniques including Yoga to promote healing, health, and longevity. It is imperative that advances in medicine include the wholistic approach of Yoga to face the current challenges in health care. The antiquity of Yoga must be united with the innovations of modern medicine to improve quality of life throughout the world. While modern medicine has a lot to offer humankind in its treatment and management of acute illness, accidents and communicable diseases, Yoga has a lot to offer in terms of preventive, promotive and rehabilitative methods in addition to many management methods to tackle modern illnesses. While modern science looks outward for the cause of all ills, the Yogi searches the depth of his own self. This two way search can lead us to many answers for the troubles that plague modern man. It is suggested that a two way integration of the experimentally tempered modern science with the experientially modelled science of Yoga can lead us to many answers for challenges plaguing modern humankind such as debilitating chronic illnesses related to aging, environment, and hedonistic lifestyle. Modern medical advancements provide the rationale for the integration of various traditional healing techniques including Yoga to promote healing, health, and longevity. It is imperative that advances in medicine include the wholistic approach of Yoga to face the current challenges in health care. The antiquity of Yoga must be united with the innovations of modern medicine to improve quality of life throughout the world.

1. Yogacharya
Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI
MBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, FIAY, MD (AM)
Chairman ICYER at Ananda Ashram &
Deputy Director - CYTER
Centre for Yoga Education, Therapy and Research (CYTER),
MGMC & RI, SBVU, Puducherry.

2. • CAM includes all types of healing practices that range
from cultural tradition medical systems and practices
to products that are not presently considered to be
part of conventional medicine
• Complementary medicine is used together with
conventional medicine to create integrative
medicine, and alternative medicine is used instead of
conventional medicine.

3. • Homeopathy
• Naturopathy
• Herbal supplements
• Nutritional supplements
• Vitamins
• Meditation
• Hypnotherapy
• Flower essences
• Mindfulness-based stress
reduction
• YogaYoga
• Acupuncture
• Hyperthermia
• Energy work
• Remote healing
• Psycho-spiritual
• Massage
• Bioelectromagnetic therapy
Ministry ofMinistry of
AYUSHAYUSH

4. • Spiritual art and science of psychosomatic, spiritual
integration
• Promotes positive health
– Yogic lifestyle & techniques like asana, pranayama,
shatkriya, mudra, relaxation, meditation etc
• Improved psycho-neuro-immune function
• Yogic lifestyle (yama-niyama) is preventive
• Improved sense of well being and QOL
• Positive attitude towards suffering –Bhavana
• Enhanced self healing

5. 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

6. 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

7. • 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

8. • LIFE STYLE MODIFICATIONS: “LIFE STYLE MODIFICATIONS: “Yoga is a system ofYoga is a system of
perfect tools for achieving union as well as healingperfect tools for achieving union as well as healing”-”-
Dr Dean OrnishDr 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 cureYoga 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 dietsbased diets
• RELAXATION:RELAXATION: spanda -nishpandaspanda -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

9. • Improved general health, posture, muscle tone,
sleep, immunity and pain tolerance
• Weight normalizes
• Stable autonomic nervous system
• Increased cardio-respiratory efficiency, musculo-
skeletal flexibility, range of joint movement, physical
endurance, strength and energy levels
• Decreased HR, BP, RR and EMG activity
• Normalizes GIT and endocrine function

10. • Improved Mood
• Increased
– Somatic Awareness,Kinesthetic Awareness,
Subjective Well-being,
– Self-acceptance
– Self-actualization ,Social Adjustment
• Decreased
– Hostility, Anxiety, Depression

11. IMPROVED
Attention
Learning efficiency
Depth perception
Concentration
Memory

12. The biochemical profile improves,
Indicating an
ANTI STRESS & ANTI OXIDANTANTI STRESS & ANTI OXIDANT EFFECT,EFFECT,
important in prevention of degenerative disorders.

13. • Natural, effective and safe
• Complementary to “modern” medicine
• Cost effective
Should be the basis of our public health policy
and clinical approach- yet,
Are our doctors trained in it?Are our doctors trained in it?

14. • Wholistic: Body, mind, soul
• Preventive, promotive, curative
• Science, philosophy, art
• Desirable +ve “side benefits”
• Simultaneous improvement in health and control of
other diseases
• Relief from stress - the main cause of Adhija Vyadhi
(psychosomatic disorders)
• Yoga enables us to attain and maintain a dynamic
Sukha Sthanam - a dynamic sense of physical,
mental and spiritual well being.

15. • Yoga helps cultivation of positive health
through three integral steps:
1. Cultivation of correct psychological attitudes,
2. Reconditioning of neuro-muscular and neuro-
glandular system – in fact, the whole body –
enabling it to withstand stress and strain better,
3. Laying great emphasis on appropriate diet
conducive to such a peak state of health, and
encouraging natural processes of elimination
through various processes of Shuddhi.

16. Components of a healthy Yogic lifestyle :
ACHAR – healthy physical activities and exercise
VICHAR – right thoughts and right attitude
AHAR – healthy, nourishing diet
VIHAR – proper recreational activities

17. • 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

18. • A bibliometric analysis on biomedical literature
involving research on clinical application of Yoga
from 1967-2013 (Jeter PE, 2015) revealed a three
fold increase in number of publications in the past
decade with substantial & growing use of RCTs.
• Top 3 disorders addressed by Yoga interventions
were mental health, cardiovascular disease, and
respiratory disease.
• In an earlier similar review (Khalsa, 2004), discrete
disorders receiving most attention were asthma,
hypertension, diabetes, depression, heart disease
and anxiety.
• Recent reviews by Innes (2005, 07, 12 and 2014),
Yang (2007) and Sengupta (2012) have highlighted
role of Yoga as a therapy based on indexed reports.

19. Most yogic phenomena are
beyond the mere physical
manifestation of their effects
To conclude that shavasana has only
the physical effect of lowering BP and
HR is to sight merely the iceberg’s tip,
missing the other 90%.
The real effects of shavasana as the
ultimate relaxation & true
renunciation may have more far-
reaching effects than we would have
been led to believe

20. THETHE
YOGICYOGIC
CONCEPTCONCEPT
OFOF
ORIGINORIGIN
OFOF
DISEASEDISEASE
--
YogaYoga
VashishtaVashishta

21. Stress response

22. PSYCHO-NEURO-IMMUNO-ENDOCRINOLOGICAL
CORRELATES OF STRESS
NERVOUS
SYSTEM
ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
IMMUNE
SYSTEM
MENTAL & PHYSICAL ILLNESS
+ve
YOGA
-ve
STRESS
HEALTH

24. 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.

25. Postulated mechanisms by which Yoga
reduces 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.

26. Innes KE, Vincent HK. The Influence of yoga-based programs on risk profiles in adults with type 2 diabetes
mellitus: A systematic review. eCAM 2007; 4: 469-86.
Postulated mechanisms of yoga in diabetes mellitus

27. Possible pathways by which yoga may attenuate the
distressing symptoms associated with RLS
Innes KE, Selfe TK. The Effects of a Gentle Yoga Program on Sleep, Mood, and Blood Pressure in Older Women with Restless
Legs Syndrome (RLS): A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012; 2012:

28. 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.

29. Possible factors responsible for improvement of
physical performance by yoga
Ray US, Pathak A, Tomer OS. Hatha Yoga Practices: Energy Expenditure, Respiratory Changes and Intensity of
Exercise. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011; 2011: 241294.

30. Proposed relationships among dyspnea, benefits of yoga,
and outcomes of participation in a yoga program.
Donesky-Cuenco D, Nguyen HQ, Paul S, Carrieri-Kohlman V. Yoga Therapy Decreases Dyspnea-Related Distress and Improves
Functional Performance in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study. J Altern Complement Med
2009; 15: 225–234.

31. Postulated mechanisms for role of
yoga in pregnancy outcomes
Chuntharapat S, Petpichetchian W, Hatthakit U. Yoga during pregnancy: effects on maternal comfort, labor pain and
birth outcomes. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2008; 14(2): 105-15.

32. 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.

33. Yoga in chronic low back pain-mechanisms
Sherman et al., Comparison of yoga versus stretching for chronic low back pain: protocol for the Yoga Exercise Self-care
(YES) trial. Trials 2010; 11:36

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

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

36. 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

37. – Physical therapies
– Emotional therapies
– Mental therapies
– Spiritual therapies
– Preventive therapies
– Rehabilitative therapies
– Pain relief therapies

38. • 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

39. SOME
YOGIC PRACTICES
FOR
GENERAL HEALTH

42. POSTURES DONE FROM STANDING
Mehru AsanaMehru AsanaArdha Kati ChakrasanaArdha Kati Chakrasana

43. POSTURES DONE FROM
SITTING
Ushtra AsanaUshtra Asana
ArdhaArdha
MatsyendrasanaMatsyendrasana
Chatus Pada Asana and Vyagrah PranayamaChatus Pada Asana and Vyagrah Pranayama

44. POSTURES DONE FROM LYING DOWN
Bhujanga AsanaBhujanga Asana
Matsya AsanaMatsya Asana
Bala AsanaBala Asana
Pawan Mukta AsanasPawan Mukta Asanas

45. PRANAYAMAS
• Bhastrika Pranayama
– Bellows breathing
• Chandra Nadi Pranayama
– Breathe in and out by
left nostril
• Pranava Pranayama
– Chanting Akara, Ukara,
Makara and Omkara
• Anu Nasika Pranayama
– Blasting out through
nostrils in specific pattern
• Kukkriya Pranayama
– Dog pant breathing
• Bhramari Pranayama
– Bee sound breathing

46. YOGA RELAXATION
Makara Asana
Shpanda Nishpanda KriyaShpanda Nishpanda Kriya
KayaKaya
KriyaKriya

47. LIMITATIONS OF YOGA THERAPY
• Not a miracle cure for all problems
• Use discernment (Viveka)
• Not for emergencies
• Consult a doctor where in doubt
• Each patient is different
• Different approaches of different traditions
• Don’t be a quack !

48. AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
• The need of the modern age is to have an integrated
approach towards therapy and to utilize Yoga
therapy with coordination and collaboration with
other systems of medicine such as Allopathy,
Ayurveda, Siddha and Naturopathy
• Physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic practices
may be used with the Yoga if needed
• Advise on diet and life style is very important
• Adoption of right attitudes through Yogic counselling

49. IN CONCLUSION
• The ancient art and science of Yoga has infinite
possibilities of solutions for the health related issues
faced by modern humankind.
• We however want it to be a miracle pill, that we take
only once - immediate solution to all problems!
• Yoga is a wholistic 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 integration of Yoga and modern medicine can
help create a healthier and happier world.

50. “Health and happiness are your birthright.
Do not forsake your golden culture for the
plastic playthings of the modern world.
Learn and live Yoga for then you will know
true health and happiness”
Yogamaharishi
Dr Swami Gitananda Giri
Guru Maharaj
(1907-1993)
Founder
ICYER at Ananda Ashram,
Pondicherry

51. THANK
YOU
www.icyer.com