Yoga: um diálogo com a Saúde Coletiva / Yoga: un diálogo con la Salud Colectiva / Yoga: dialoguing with Collective Health

A tradição indiana milenar do yoga oportuniza o autoconhecimento dos indivíduos em suas possibilidades e limitações, tornando-os mais autônomos na busca de bem-estar, mais saudáveis e conscientes. O ensaio teórico, fundamentado na revisão da literatura, analisa a repercussão do yoga em algumas de suas implicações como prática de saúde na racionalidade ocidental. A apropriação do yoga pela cultura ocídua implica a compreensão do sistema capitalista sobre o modo de produzir saúde nas sociedades contemporâneas e no aprofundamento das discussões acerca de seus benefícios filosóficos e práticos na Saúde Coletiva. Esse aprendizado fundamenta o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) e vem consolidando o conceito ampliado de saúde por meio da criação de pontes culturais baseadas na tolerância e no respeito a sua tradição. (AU)

La tradición hindú milenaria del yoga da oportunidad al autoconocimiento de los individuos en sus posibilidades y limitaciones, haciéndolos más autónomos en la búsqueda de bienestar, más saludables y conscientes. El ensayo teórico, fundamentado en la revisión de la literatura, analiza la repercusión del yoga en algunas de sus implicaciones como práctica de salud en la racionalidad occidental. La apropiación del yoga por la cultura occidua implica la comprensión del sistema capitalista sobre el modo de producir salud en las sociedades contemporáneas y la profundización de las discusiones sobre sus beneficios filosóficos y prácticos en la salud colectiva. Ese aprendizaje fundamenta el Sistema Brasileño de Salud (SUS) y consolida el concepto ampliado de salud, a partir de la creación de puentes culturales basados en la tolerancia y respeto a su tradición. (AU)

The ancient tradition of yoga coming from India provides individuals with self-knowledge regarding their possibilities and limitations, making them more autonomous in the search for well-being, healthier and more conscious. This theoretical essay, based on the literature review, analyzes the repercussion of yoga through some of its implications as a health practice within Western rationality. The appropriation of yoga by the Western culture implies an understanding of the capitalist system regarding the way of producing health in contemporary societies, and in the deepening of discussions about its philosophical and practical benefits in public health. This construction underlies the Brazilian National Health Sytem (SUS), and helped in the consolidation of an expanded concept of health, creating cultural bridges based on tolerance and respect for its tradition. (AU)

Yoga: beneficios para la salud. Una revisión de la literatura / Yoga: health benefits. A literature review

El Yoga es una forma de ejercicio físico no convencional, es una técnica milenaria que posee tres componentes esenciales: elongaciones musculares, ejercicios para el control de la respiración y meditación para una intervención mente-cuerpo. Esta modalidad de ejercicio físico tiene una particularidad, que, por su mirada holística, hace interesante y llamativa. El objetivo de esta revisión fue buscar evidencia que apoye al Yoga para su utilidad en beneficio de la salud de las personas. Esta fue una revisión narrativa, no sistemática, centrada en literatura primaria, seleccionada de una búsqueda en las bases de datos PubMed y SciELO. Los términos clave que se utilizaron para la búsqueda y selección fueron: "Yoga y ejercicio físico", "Yoga y salud física", "Yoga y salud mental". Se extrajo literatura secundaria (libros y capitulo de libros, hecho por expertos) para complementar a la literatura primaria y contribuir aún más para la investigación. Todos los autores participaron de la investigación y revisión de la literatura. Concluyeron que existe evidencia que apoya la utilidad del Yoga para el beneficio de la salud de las personas, aunque aún es limitada, debido a paradigmas aún existentes sobre conceptos de salud que limitan el diseño metodológico de muchos estudios referentes al tema.

Yoga is an unconventional form of physical exercise, it is an ancient technique that has three essential components: muscle stretching, exercises to control breathing and meditation for a mind-body intervention. This type of physical exercise has a particularity for its holistic look which makes it interesting and striking. The objective of this review was to search for evidence that supports Yoga for its usefulness for the benefit of people's health. This was a narrative, non-systematic review, focused on primary literature, selected from a search of the PubMed and SciELO databases. The key terms used for the search and selection were: "Yoga and physical exercise", "Yoga and physical health", "Yoga and mental health". Secondary literature (books and book chapter, made by experts) was extracted to complement the primary literature and further contribute to the research. All authors participated in the research and literature review. They concluded that there is evidence that supports the usefulness of Yoga for the benefit of people's health, although it is still limited, due to still existing paradigms on health concepts that limit the methodological design of many studies on the subject.

Supple bodies, healthy minds: yoga, psychedelics and American mental health.

Much discussion about mental health has revolved around treatment models. As interdisciplinary scholarship has shown, mental health knowledge, far from being a neutral product detached from the society that generated it, was shaped by politics, economics and culture. By drawing on case studies of yoga, religion and fitness, this article will examine the ways in which mental health practices-sometimes scientific, sometimes spiritual-have been conceived, debated and applied by researchers and the public. More specifically, it will interrogate the relationship between yoga, psychedelics, South Asian and Eastern religion (as understood and practiced in the USA) and mental health.

Ayurveda - a medicina clássica indiana / Ayurveda - the classical indian medicine

O objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar de forma sucinta as bases da Medicina Clássica Indiana, o Ayurveda. A palavra sânscrita Ayurveda significa literalmente o conhecimento (veda) da longevidade (ayus). Apresentamos um histórico das principais influências de outras medicinas ancestrais que conviveram com o Ayurveda, principalmente graças às várias invasões que o território indiano sofreu ao longo de toda sua história. Diferenciamos o Ayurveda de caráter experimental e de refinada observação de sintomas e sinais das doenças de outras formas de medicina mística praticadas no mesmo território indiano por sacerdotes brâmanes ritualistas. São delineados os princípios fundamentais do Ayurveda, desde a Filosofia Samkhya que oferece suas bases metafísicas, passando pela doutrina dos três humores (tridosha vidya) e dos cinco elementos básicos, pela fisiopatologia com a descrição das várias etapas evolutivas das doenças e seus prognósticos e pela funcionalidade dos sete tecidos corporais, tanto na sua forma saudável como patológica. Descrevemos também os canais de circulação (srotamsi) com suas respectivas funções de conduzir materiais densos como o sangue, a transpiração, as fezes e a urina, bem como os canais de energia sutil responsáveis pela condução dos pensamentos e das funções mentais. As técnicas de diagnóstico são também apresentadas em conjunto com as variadas formas de tratamento, baseadas em terapias mente-corpo como as práticas de ioga e meditação.

The aim of this article is to introduce briefly the foundations of the Classical Indian Medicine, Ayurveda. The Sanskrit word Ayurveda literally means the knowledge (veda) of longevity (ayus). We present a history on the main influences of other ancient medicines that coexisted with Ayurveda, due to the several invasions that the Indian Territory suffered throughout all of its history. Ayurveda has an experimental character and a refined observation of symptoms and signs of diseases, distinct from other forms of mystic medicines practiced within the Indian Territory by orthodox Brahmins priests. The fundamental principles of Ayurveda go from the Samkhya Philosophy that offers its metaphysical bases, through the three humours (tridosha vidya) and five basic elements doctrines, the pathophysiology with the description of the numerous evolutionary steps of diseases and prognosis according to functionality of the seven basic body tissues, in both their healthy and pathological forms. Likewise, we describe the channels of circulation (srotamsi) with their respective functions of conducting dense materials such as blood, perspiration, feces and urine, as well as the subtle energy channels, responsible for the conduction of thoughts and mental functions.

Yoga e yogaterapia / Yoga and yogatherapy

O objetivo desse artigo é apresentar um breve histórico do Yoga, desde a sua história conhecida, apresentar as escolas de pensamento que influenciaram no seu desenvolvimento, sobretudo descrevendo as bases metafísicas encontradas na Filosofia Samkhya. Apontamos as linhas de Yoga mais importantes que são descritas em textos de grande relevância do passado, evidenciando os textos de maior autoridade. Definimos os princípios básicos do Yoga, bem como as evoluções do pensamento ao longo do tempo influenciadas pelas novas formas de entender o Yoga, sobretudo após o surgimento do movimento tântrico. Apontamos com precisão o tema do Aprisionamento e da Libertação como o foco central do Yoga, que acredita que as impressões latentes, ou experiências acumuladas pelas vivências cotidianas, são a causa principal, pelo apego que geram, dos renascimentos constantes e do consequente aprisionamento. Finalmente, discorremos rapidamente sobre o uso do Yoga como terapia, mais modernamente, utilizando as técnicas de purificação, as posturas, os exercícios respiratórios e de meditação para tratamento de doenças físicas e mentais. Estudos em fisiologia integrada com grupos multidisciplinares devem permitir que as técnicas de Yoga sejam mais extensamente utilizadas como complementares nos tratamentos de doenças físicas e mentais expandindo os resultados positivos já demonstrados em pesquisas realizadas em importantes centros mundiais.

The scope of this article is to succinctly describe Yoga’s history, since the beginning, and to bring forward the schools of thought that influenced its development, especially describing the metaphysical bases found in Samkhya Philosophy. We pointed out the most important kinds of Yoga, described in relevant ancient texts. The basic principles of Yoga are well marked, as well as the development of the thought over time influenced by the new ways to understand Yoga, especially after the emergence of the Tantra movement. We pinpointed the theme of imprisonment and liberation as Yoga's main focus, as it preaches that latent impressions or experiences accumulated through daily experiences are the main cause of attachment, generating the constant rebirth and consequent imprisonment. Finally, we discuss the use of yoga as a therapy, more modernly, using purification and breathing techniques, postures and meditation exercises to treat physical and mental illnesses. Studies in integrated physiology with multidisciplinary groups should allow Yoga techniques to be more widely used as complementary in physical and mental illness treatments expanding the positive results already demonstrated in studies performed in major world centers.

Science of the mind: ancient yoga texts and modern studies.

The practice of yoga is gaining in popularity with a wide range of practices. Recent research and descriptions from the ancient texts are often concurrent with regard to the effects of the practice, taking into account expected differences between modern scientific terms and those used in the original texts. Voluntarily regulated yoga breathing practices form a bridge between physical and mental changes. The voluntarily regulated yoga breathing has distinct effects on metabolism, the autonomic nervous system, higher brain functions, and mental state. The effects of meditation on the nervous system and mental state are even clearer.

Yoga research and therapy in India

Yoga was originally intended for spiritual growth. However, nowadays there is an increasing trend to use yoga as an add-on-therapy. In India it is believed that all diseases arise as a result of conflict between our instinct and our intellect1. This is also important in using yoga to promote positive health and prevent disease. A number of examples are cited here. Healthy children were given yoga and physical therapy and their physical fitness, cognitive functiones and emotional well being were tested. Yoga improved their emotional well being. Yoga also helped children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (a degenerative disease) by improving their quality of life and mental status2. Again the benefits were ascribed to the mental as well as the physical effects of yoga. Of course yoga has marked benefits in healthy obese adults to prevent diseases by increasing mental well being, reducing stress and improving sleep3. Yoga also reduced anthropometric indices and brought about changes in leptin and adiponectin levels in otherwise healthy adults4a,b. This change too, was believed to be related to mental changes, along with the physical. Finally yoga can help in various disorders in which a person feels pain and distress5a,b. Many of the effects are believed to be due to changes in the functions at the level of the cortex and thalamus6, as well as the autonomic nervous system7. However the mechanisms underlying the effects of yoga need to be explored more thoroughly.

Thunder among the pines: defining a pan-Asian soma.

Many ancient cultures and religions engaged in various techniques and used various substances to instigate religious experience and to alter perception. These techniques of psycho-sexual drug yoga reached an unparalleled level of sophistication that arose and was often cloaked in practical terms of alchemy and metallurgy. The Vedic tradition describes this plant-based ritualism as soma, which has been identified by Gordon Wasson as the mushroom Amanita muscaria. This article traces these soma-influenced sects of esoteric Buddhism that exerted influences from India, China and Tibet to Japan. Some of the key components, practices and symbolism are retained despite numerous cultural filters. Japan's tradition of esoteric Buddhism can thus be seen to have preserved and incorporated the soma/amrita mushroom lore into its own traditions of mountain ascetic mystics.

Grasping at ontological straws: overcoming reductionism in the Advaita Vedanta-Neuroscience dialogue.

Contemporary neuropsychology reveals that the parietal lobe contains neurons that are specifically attuned to the act of grasping and this act may be fundamental to the establishment of the phenomenal boundaries between subject and object. Furthermore, alterations to this process, such as the hypoactivation of this region during meditation or the hyperactivation associated with schizophrenia, may eliminate or confuse, respectively, the phenomenal boundaries between subject and object. Traversing disciplines, the Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism traces some of its key terms for subject and object to the verbal root grah, to grasp. The subject is literally the grasper. Furthermore, the practice of asparsa yoga, the yoga of no-touch, is aimed at stopping, hypoactivating, the grasping process in order to transcend all subject-object boundaries. This paper will argue that while we have not uncovered an identity of thought, we have uncovered a confluence of ideas between these two disciplines. We will see that this confluence of ideas has not pitted the believer against the critic-not forced us into the great reductionism debate that has dominated so much of the interchange between religious studies and the sciences. This case study will illuminate some of the methodological ways around this reductionism battle and also the boundaries of both disciplines for the intellectual benefit of each.

Comparison of the conceptualization of wisdom in ancient Indian literature with modern views: focus on the Bhagavad Gita.

The study of wisdom has recently become a subject of growing scientific interest, although the concept of wisdom is ancient. This article focuses on conceptualization of wisdom in the Bhagavad Gita, arguably the most influential of all ancient Hindu philosophical/religious texts. Our review, using mixed qualitative/quantitative methodology with the help of Textalyser and NVivo software, found the following components to be associated with the concept of wisdom in the Gita: Knowledge of life, Emotional Regulation, Control over Desires, Decisiveness, Love of God, Duty and Work, Self-Contentedness, Compassion/Sacrifice, Insight/Humility, and Yoga (Integration of Personality). A comparison of the conceptualization of wisdom in the Gita with that in modern scientific literature shows several similarities, such as rich knowledge about life, emotional regulation, insight, and a focus on common good (compassion). Apparent differences include an emphasis on control over desires and renunciation of materialistic pleasures. Importantly, the Gita suggests that at least certain components of wisdom can be taught and learned. We believe that the concepts of wisdom in the Gita are relevant to modern psychiatry in helping develop psychotherapeutic interventions that could be more individualistic and more holistic than those commonly practiced today, and they aim at improving personal well-being rather than just psychiatric symptoms.

Review of Prof. B.K. Anand's scientific study: fifty years following his discovery of feeding centre.

Prof. BK Anand the living legend, is the founder of modern neurophysiology in India. His career spanned an era that marks the beginning of Brain Research in India. His contributions to understanding of brain functions began with the epoch making discovery of lateral hypothalamic area as the 'feeding center'. Subsequently it encompasses a wider range of studies from elucidation of the intricate mechanisms underlying ingestive behaviour to hypothalamic regulation of cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal activity and regulation of various physiological functions by limbic system. The following review gives an account of the contributions made by Prof Anand and his colleagues during twenty five years of his illustrious career. The publications resulted from his studies has not only stood as a testimony to understanding of the neural control of ingestive behaviour and limbic functions but also have been a sources of a great interest to those who pursue knowledge in this field.

Kaya Kalpa methods adopted by Siddars: a scientific approach.

Thirumular says in his "THIRUMANTHIRAM" the body is a sacred instrument to contain the soul and therefore must be nurtured well to safeguard the life. Thirumular is reported to have lived a long span of three thousand years according to tradition. The art of longevity and the attempts of immortalising the corporeal human body were the ultimate aims of Siddhars as understood from their numerous treatises on the art of rejuvenation - Thirumular Karpam - 300, Bohar Karpam - 300, Thiruvalluvur Karpam - 300 Yugimuni Karpam - 300 etc. which form some of the excellence works in this regard. One of the means to rejuvenate the body was achieved through the art of breathing (Pranayama) which has a direct bearing on the basal metabolic rate and the span of longevity. In this paper an attempt has been made to throw some light on the scientific basis of the various Kaya Kalpa methods adopted by Siddhars.

Soma siddhas and alchemical enlightenment: psychedelic mushrooms in Buddhist tradition.

In the legendary biographies of some Buddhist adepts from the 2nd- and 9th-centuries there are some clues which can be interpreted to reveal that the adepts were consuming psychedelic Amanita muscaria, 'fly agaric', mushrooms to achieve enlightenment. This secret ingredient in the alchemical elixir they used to attain 'realization' was, of course, unnamed, in keeping with their vows to maintain the secrecy of their practices. Its identity was concealed behind a set of symbols, some of which appeared in the Soma symbol system of the Rg Veda, some other symbols possibly passed down from a time of earlier shamanic use of the mushroom in the forests of Northern Eurasia, and some symbols that may be unique to these Buddhist legends. The congruity of these sets of symbols from Northern and Southern Asian traditions will be shown to be reflected in the Germanic tradition in some characteristics of the Oldest God, Odin.