Medical Research on the Benefits of Inner Engineering

Enhanced Mental and Emotional Well-being7
A survey conducted on 536 Isha Yoga Practitioners showed
improvement in the following areas:
Factors
Medical Research on the
Benefits of Inner Engineering
% of respondents
reporting improvement
Concentration
70%
Emotional Balance
87%
Energy Level
79%
Inner Peace
91%
Mental Clarity
80%
Productivity
70%
Self-confidence
74%
Reduction in disease conditions and medicine usage in
chronic diseases1
In a health survey that was conducted on Isha Yoga practitioners, more
than 500 respondents reported improvement in their disease status and
reduction in medication use.
Disease Condition
Respondents Respondents
reporting
who stopped
improvement medication
Respondents
whose
medication
was reduced
Allergies
66%
42%
40%
Anxiety
86%
50%
28%
Asthma
72%
56%
31%
Back or Neck Pain
68%
50%
33%
Depression
87%
50%
25%
Diabetes
63%
12%
13%
3)Muralikrishnan et al, Effect of Isha Yoga on short term Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Third
international association of yoga therapists, Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research, March 2009.
Selvaraj et al, Heart Rate Dynamics during Shambhavi Maha Mudra – A practice of Isha Yoga.
Journal of Complimentary and Integrative Medicine, 2008; 5; Iss 1. Art. 22
Fibromyalgia
67%
67%
33%
Gastrointestinal Diseases
67%
50%
25%
Headache
88%
46%
45%
4)N. Vishweswariah et al, Impact of Isha Yoga meditation on sleep; a matched, controlled trial.
20th congress of the European Sleep Research Society, September 2010
Heart Diseases
37%
33%
17%
Hypertension
63%
28%
28%
Insomnia
73%
30%
40%
6)Manveer Bhatia et al, Neurophysiological and Biochemical evaluation of practitioners of Isha Yoga.
World Conference –Expanding Paradigms, Science, Consciousness and Spirituality, February 2006
Obesity
41%
67%
0%
Poor Resistance to Cold and Flu
86%
75%
13%
7)Raj Maturi et al, Survey of wellbeing in Isha Yoga practitioners, March 2010
Thyroid
51%
9%
50%
References
1)Raj Maturi et al, Impact of Isha Yoga on disease status and medicine usage, March 2010
2)Thenmozhi Priya et al, Effect of Isha yoga on menstrual disorders, 9th International scientific
meeting of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, September 2011
5)Braboszcz C et al, Is meditation improving attention? A study of 82 Isha meditation practitioners
following a three month’s retreat. 34th European Conference on Visual Perception, August 2011
Reduction in menstrual problems2
A study on women suffering from menstrual disorders showed a
significant improvement in symptoms after the practice of
Shambhavi Mahamudra.
Improved attention5
Neurocognitive tests show that Isha Yoga increases performances
in attention-oriented tasks suggesting better distribution and faster
allocation of attentional resources and enhanced sustained attention skills.
• 57% had reduction in severe menstrual pain
• 72% had reduction in irritability and mood swings
• 87% had reduction in heavy flow during menstrual cycles
Enhanced mental capabilities6
•63% had reduction in the need for medical or surgical interventions
for menstrual problems
The EEG study on meditators who practice the Shambhavi Mahamudra
also showed higher levels of coherence between the right and left
hemispheres of the brain. This greater brain synchronization leads to
greatly enhanced mental capabilities like better learning ability, increased
creativity, heightened mental clarity, and sharper intellect.
• 80% had reduction in irregularity of menstrual cycles
• 83% had reduction in work impairment due to menstrual cycles
Reduced risk of heart diseases and improved cardiac function3
Heart Rate Variability studies show that Isha Yoga causes greater balance
of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System, thereby enhancing the
ability of the heart to respond better and more effectively to various
stressful situations. This reduces the risk of many cardiac ailments like
hypertension, angina, infraction, arrhythmias, etc.
Improved quality of sleep4
Polysomnographic study comparing Isha Yoga practitioners and
matched controls showed a statistically significant improvement in
the efficiency of sleep and lesser number of awakenings during sleep,
indicating improved quality of sleep in Isha Yoga practitioners.
Increased alertness, awareness, and relaxation6
Neurophysiological studies using EEG revealed a substantial increase in
delta and theta brain waves and markedly reduced beta and alpha brain
waves when measured after 21 minutes of Shambhavi Mahamudra practice.
Increase in delta and theta waves are associated with deep relaxation and
higher levels of mental focus. Reduced beta waves are associated with
reduced mental tension and anxiety. Reduced alpha waves in conjunction
with increased theta and delta waves are associated with conscious
awareness of the subconscious mind.
These results support a drop in stress and anxiety, a boost in mental
alertness and focus, and an increase in self awareness as a result of just 21
minutes of daily practice.
Enhanced Mental and Emotional Well-being7
A survey conducted on 536 Isha Yoga Practitioners showed
improvement in the following areas:
Factors
Medical Research on the
Benefits of Inner Engineering
% of respondents
reporting improvement
Concentration
70%
Emotional Balance
87%
Energy Level
79%
Inner Peace
91%
Mental Clarity
80%
Productivity
70%
Self-confidence
74%
Reduction in disease conditions and medicine usage in
chronic diseases1
In a health survey that was conducted on Isha Yoga practitioners, more
than 500 respondents reported improvement in their disease status and
reduction in medication use.
Disease Condition
Respondents Respondents
reporting
who stopped
improvement medication
Respondents
whose
medication
was reduced
Allergies
66%
42%
40%
Anxiety
86%
50%
28%
Asthma
72%
56%
31%
Back or Neck Pain
68%
50%
33%
Depression
87%
50%
25%
Diabetes
63%
12%
13%
3)Muralikrishnan et al, Effect of Isha Yoga on short term Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Third
international association of yoga therapists, Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research, March 2009.
Selvaraj et al, Heart Rate Dynamics during Shambhavi Maha Mudra – A practice of Isha Yoga.
Journal of Complimentary and Integrative Medicine, 2008; 5; Iss 1. Art. 22
Fibromyalgia
67%
67%
33%
Gastrointestinal Diseases
67%
50%
25%
Headache
88%
46%
45%
4)N. Vishweswariah et al, Impact of Isha Yoga meditation on sleep; a matched, controlled trial.
20th congress of the European Sleep Research Society, September 2010
Heart Diseases
37%
33%
17%
Hypertension
63%
28%
28%
Insomnia
73%
30%
40%
6)Manveer Bhatia et al, Neurophysiological and Biochemical evaluation of practitioners of Isha Yoga.
World Conference –Expanding Paradigms, Science, Consciousness and Spirituality, February 2006
Obesity
41%
67%
0%
Poor Resistance to Cold and Flu
86%
75%
13%
7)Raj Maturi et al, Survey of wellbeing in Isha Yoga practitioners, March 2010
Thyroid
51%
9%
50%
References
1)Raj Maturi et al, Impact of Isha Yoga on disease status and medicine usage, March 2010
2)Thenmozhi Priya et al, Effect of Isha yoga on menstrual disorders, 9th International scientific
meeting of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, September 2011
5)Braboszcz C et al, Is meditation improving attention? A study of 82 Isha meditation practitioners
following a three month’s retreat. 34th European Conference on Visual Perception, August 2011