Stress and Non Communicable Diseases
With the pressure, tension and friction we all face on a daily basis, as a practicing yogi I still find it hard to keep up the balance in my life and not get Stressed. I believe keeping stress at bay is an on going practice, which needs to be worked at. My experience is as soon as you rest on your laurels, life spins a new set of challenges which can either push your nervous system to its brink or you can bring your awareness and tools into play to bring you back into balance. So this week we look at how yoga, meditation and mindfulness can help in our struggle to stay balanced and reduce our overall chronic stress.
This brings me to more of the research by assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Director of Yoga Research, Yoga Alliance and Director of Research, Kundalini Research Institute, to include but a few of his titles, Dr Sat Bir Singh Khalsa.
Our mood and how we handle stress have a major effect on the types of diseases we suffer. Dr Sat Bir informed us that this psychophysiology affects us on a biological level as well as effecting our genes (i.e. DNA). When we practice yoga, pranayama and meditation the relaxation response which is triggered via our autonomic nervous system and endocrine system, induces changes in our metabolism, insulin secretion and inflammatory pathways (Manoj K Bhasin..PLOS ONE| www.plosone.org May 2013| volume 8|issue 5|e62817)
Kirtan Kriya (a kundalini yoga meditation) effected the genes that created inflammation in the body and potentially counteracts the adverse effects of inflammation, anti-body responses to vaccinations and resistance to viral infections in the body. (Elsevier, SciVerse ScienceDirect David S Black, Steve W Cole, Michael R Irwin, Elizabeth Breen).
A meta-analysis concluded, when stress was reduced by doing regular yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction and stress-related physiological measures the student had reduced evening cortisol and waking cortisol levels. Cortisol being a stress induced hormone. Systolic blood pressure was decreased. Resting heart rate, blood glucose levels, cholesterol, lipoprotein were all reduced. This was associated with the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system (our go go gas pedal).
Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) such as diabetics, have high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol were responsible for 71% of deaths worldwide in 2016. Basically what all this means is that if you reduce your stress response by doing yoga as a therapeutic intervention it can help prevent getting these NC diseases in the first place.
This Autumn a total of 160 of newly matriculated students at Harvard Medical School will be learning mind body and resiliency skills (yoga & mindfulness) as part of their training. As being in the front line of stressful professions. This will hopefully not only help manage their personal stress levels and help them stay healthy. But give them a real experience and therefore understanding on how doing a regular yoga practice will reduce chronic stress and help their patients and society.
This week we have 2 Gong Baths to choose from, this is one of the most relaxing things you can do for your nervous system please come and join us.
Sat nam Fi x sanasumainsrilanka.wordpress.com read our weekly blogs and brain candy updates raymond.fiona@gmail.com www.sanasuma.co.uk 0778011984
Tues 10 Dec 9.15-10.30am Kundalini Yoga @9 Greenlands Lane , Col 5
Tues 10 Dec 6.15-7.30pm Kundalini Yoga(Shaunagh) @ 145/5 Fife Rd, Col 5
Wed 11 Dec 5-7.30am Kundalini Yoga @ 145/5 Fife Rd, Col 5 (FREE CLASS)
Wed 11 Dec 6-7.30pm Special Poya Healing Double Gong @ 145/5 Fife Rd, Col 5
Thurs 12 Dec 7.45 -9am Kundalini Yoga (Shaunagh) @ 145/5 Fife Rd, Colombo 5
Thurs 12 Dec 6.30-7.45pm Kundalini Yoga@9 Greenlands Lane, Col 5
Sun 14 Dec 4-6pm Art of Relaxation workshop @ Prana Lounge, 60 Horton Pl, Col7
Remember you can buy your 4000Rs class pass for 12 classes over 4 weeks.