International Journal of Yoga
January 1, 2014
J.r. Infante, F. Perán, J.i. Rayo et al.
55 citations
Regular practitioners of transcendental meditation (TM) or the more advanced Sidhi-TM technique showed differences in certain immune cell levels compared to non-meditators. The meditation group had higher counts of CD3+CD4-CD8+ lymphocytes (cytotoxic T cells), B lymphocytes, and natural killer cells, but lower counts of CD3+CD4+CD8- lymphocytes (helper T cells). No differences were found in total leukocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, total lymphocytes, or total T cells. The findings suggest that TM practice may influence the immune system, possibly through its effects on neuroendocrine pathways.
International Journal of Yoga
January 1, 2020
Stephany Campanelli, Adrianobretanha Lopes Tort, Bruno Lobão‐soares
41 citations
A systematic review of 14 studies published between 2008 and 2018 found that yogic breathing techniques improve emotional and cognitive performance. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and included articles from Science Direct, PubMed, and Virtual Health Library. The authors note that the physiological mechanisms by which these practices modulate the human nervous system remain unclear and call for further research into specific aspects such as breath retention, prolonged expiration, attention on fluid respiration, and abdominal or thoracic breathing.
International Journal of Yoga
January 1, 2018
22 citations
Telomeres protect chromosome ends and shorten with age; shorter telomeres are linked to lifestyle disorders. A systematic review examined whether asana, pranayama, and meditation help maintain telomere length and telomerase activity. Literature was searched in six databases. The review suggests these practices may increase oxygen flow to cells and reduce stress via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, potentially preserving genomic integrity and aiding health. The evidence is limited, and the conclusion is that such practices can help maintain telomere stability and are important for human health.
International Journal of Yoga
May 1, 2022
V. Deshmukh
8 citations
Consciousness and awareness are distinct: consciousness is a dualistic, embodied cognitive process, whereas awareness is a nondual, nonlocal, ever-present affective self-awareness that can observe both subject-object duality and conscious contents. This nonlocal awareness is the default mode state, but most people are unaware of it due to mental preoccupation and mind-wandering. Through relaxation, meditation, and letting go of preoccupations, one can return to this peaceful, silent, fulfilling, and energetic state, feeling effortlessly alive and free. The article details meditative presence, yoga meditation, and mindfulness meditation, focusing on the neurobiology of meditation, including brain stem, reticular-limbic system, forebrain circuits, and the wholeness of conscious mind as bio-psycho-social-abstract/spiritual.