Yoga and meditation improve brain function and energy levels

Practicing brief sessions of Hatha yoga and mindfulness meditation can significantly improve brain function and energy levels, according to a new study from the University of Waterloo.

The study found that practicing just 25 minutes of Hatha yoga or mindfulness meditation per day can boost the brain’s executive functions, cognitive abilities linked to goal-directed behavior and the ability to control knee-jerk emotional responses, habitual thinking patterns and actions.

“Hatha yoga and mindfulness meditation both focus the brain’s conscious processing power on a limited number of targets like breathing and posing, and also reduce processing of nonessential information,” said Peter Hall, associate professor in the School of Public Health & Health Systems. “These two functions might have some positive carryover effect in the near- term following the session, such that people are able to focusmore easily on what they choose to attend to in everyday life.”

Thirty-one study participants completed 25 minutes of Hatha yoga, 25 minutes of mindfulness meditation, and 25 minutes of quiet reading (a control task) in randomized order. Following both the yoga and meditation activities, participants performed significantly better on executive function tasks compared to the reading task.

“This finding suggests that there may be something special about meditation– as opposed to the physical posing– that carries a lot of the cognitive benefits of yoga,” said Kimberley Luu, lead author on the paper.

The study also found that mindfulness meditation and Hatha yoga were both effective for improving energy levels, but Hatha yoga had significantly more powerful effects than meditation alone.

“There are a number of theories about why physical exercises like yoga improve energy levels and cognitive test performance,” said Luu. “These include the release of endorphins, increased blood flow to the brain, and reduced focus on ruminative thoughts. Though ultimately, it is still an open question.”

Hatha yoga is one of the most common styles of yoga practiced in Western countries.

It involves physical postures and breathing exercises combined with meditation. Mindfulness mediation involves observing thoughts, emotions and body sensations with openness and acceptance.

“Although the meditative aspect might be even more important than the physical posing for improving executive functions, there are additional benefits to Hatha yoga including improvements in flexibility and strength,” said Hall. “These benefits may make Hatha yoga superior to meditation alone, in terms of overall health benefits.”

Compulsory Yoga/Games in high school level for holistic development of children

The Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Vijay Goel said in the Rajya Sabha today that education falls under the Concurrent List, majority of schools fall under State Examination Boards and the school curriculum is determined by the State Governments. However, the National Curriculum Framework 2005 recognizes the role of sports and physical education in the holistic development of children and youth in the country. As part of this policy, the Government has made access to play fields, equipment for sports & games and engagement of physical education instructor- a mandatory requirement for all schools under the Right to Education Act.

In a written reply he said, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) places special importance on co-scholastic areas which includes sports and physical fitness. Details of salient measures taken by CBSE to promote sports in schools are given in the Annexure. It is expected that State Education Boards would also emulate the CBSE example.

Annexure

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of the Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2558 to be answered on 08.08.2017 regarding ‘Compulsory yoga/games in high school level’ by SHRI MOHD. ALI KHAN:

Salient steps taken to promote yoga/games/sports in the schools affiliated to CBSE are as

follows:

In classes VI-X any two activities out of the following are compulsory:

a. Sports/Indigenous sports (Kho-Kho etc.)

b. NCC/NSS

c . Scouting and Guiding

d. Swimming

e. Gymnastics

f. Yoga

g. First Aid

h. Gardening/Shramdaan

2. The Board has advised schools that there should be at least 40-45 minutes of physical Activities or Games period for Classes I-X every day. For Classes XI- XII schools should ensure that all the students participate in physical Activity / Games / Mass P.T. / Yoga with maximum health benefits for at least two period per week ( 90- 120 min week).

3. The Board also organizes ‘Inter school Sports and Games Competitions’ in as many as 24 disciplines at Cluster, Zone and National level. Over 1.5 lac students participate in it each year. In order to identify, recognize, nurture and develop the extraordinary talent among the students studying in class VIII onwards in sports and games, the Board provides Chacha Nehru Scholarship.

Last Date of Nomination for AYUSH Medical Seats Extended to July 31, 2017

The Ministry of AYUSH has extended the last date for application to several seats for MD/PG in Ayurveda/Unani/Siddha and Homoeopathy Courses under Central Government Nomination (CGN) as per guidelines for the academic session 2017-18 from the eligible Government Teachers/Medical Officers (Doctors)/Research Officers.

These applications were invited through the concerned State /UT Governments up to 15.06.2017 and 30.06.2017 (NER). In view of administrative reasons, the ministry said it has decided to extend the last date for receiving through the concerned State Governments/UTs up to 31st July, 2017.

There are total 626 AYUSH Colleges in the country and two National Institutes to impart education in Ayurveda namely (i) National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur for Under-graduate and Post-graduate education and (ii) Institute of Post-Graduate Training and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar for Post-graduate education.

In addition the Government has established two new Ayurveda institutes during the academic session 2016-17 namely (i) All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi for Post-graduate education and (ii) North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda & Homoeopathy, Shillong for Under-graduate education in Ayurveda.

Currently, India has five Central Councils for Research in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Yoga and Naturopathy and Homoeopathy for undertaking, coordinating, formulating, developing and promoting research on scientific lines, through 82 peripheral institute/Centres/Units located all over India and also through collaborative studies with various universities, hospitals and institutes.

The research activities of the councils include medicinal plant research (Medico-ethno botanical survey, pharmacognosy and tissue culture), Drug Standardization Pharmacological Research, Clinical Research, Literary Research & Documentation, and other outreach activities. Further, Ministry of AYUSH runs Extra Mural Research (EMR) scheme to conduct the research on various aspects of AYUSH systems.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) was announced on 29th September 2014 for better access to AYUSH services such as strengthening of AYUSH educational institutions, facilitate the enforcement of quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and sustainable availability of raw materials by promotion of medicinal plants in the States/UTs.

 

AYUSH Ministry Clarifies on Sex During Pregnancy in Booklets

With the Indian media going gaga over the brochure on “Mother and Child Care”, published by the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), the AYUSH ministry has given clarification that the advice to have ‘no sex’ was not true.

Some news reports have drawn an assertion that the booklet puts forward the “prescription” that “pregnant women in India” should “say no to sex after conception”. “This is far from the truth. In fact, the words “no sex” do not feature at all in the booklet,” the AYUSH ministry pointed out in a statement.

Some reports have appeared in the print and electronic media since June 13, 2017 concerning the publication of CCRYN, an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH but these reports are seen to be inaccurate, and some are even seen to misrepresent facts, that forced the Ministry of AYUSH to issue clarification:

It said the booklet puts together relevant and useful information culled out from many years of clinical practice in the fields of Yoga and Naturopathy, keepin in view the health benefits of Yoga and Naturopathy to expecting mothers and new mothers in a simple format.

This publication, which has been in distribution through the units of the erstwhile Department of AYUSH and CCRYN since 2013, and not a recent publication, clarified the statement.

Many new mothers and families have appreciated that information relevant to the different phases of pregnancy has been made available in a simple format in the booklet. The information provided includes diet plans based on clinical experience, simple naturopathy treatments and tips for remaining stress-free during pregnancy.

It also suggests on page 14 of the booklet to avoid certain types of food like tea, coffee, white flour products, fried and oily items and non-veg during pregnancy, which have received selective attention. The suggestion that non-vegetarian food may be avoided (as Yoga & Naturopathy doesn’t advocate non-vegetarian food in its practice) has been singled out for high-lighting in some reports, omitting the mention of white flour products, fried and oily items etc have also been there, said the statement.

The Ministry of AYUSH has urged the media to view the efforts of CCRYN to take the preventive health benefits of Yoga to all sections of the population (including expecting mothers) in the right perspective.