"Stress" in the modern world is a common phenomenon. Stress induces negative responses in the form of restlessness, anxiety, irritability, aggressive behaviour, panicky states and in extreme cases addiction to tobacco and alcohol.

Negative emotions surface in the form of hatred/dislike for others, feeling of jealousy, greed, possessiveness, lust, arrogance and anger and a kind of vicious cycle sets in where our relationships start getting sour, our productivity decreases, concentration is lost, efficiency decreases and memory weakens we start blaming and complaining about people around us who in turn blame us and further stresses are added on.

Over a period of centuries, many techniques have been introduced by sages and rishis to prevent or alter our reaction to stresses. Yoga, meditation and pranayam (P) are well known. More recently Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) has been introduced by His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji.

Pranayam is an ancient knowledge. It directs or regulates the "prana", subtle life force energy. Regular practice of Pranayam activates and harmonizes many body and mind rhythms including that of brain, heartbeat, enzymes and also mental and emotional rhythms.

Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) is a rhythmic breathing process where three rhythms are followed in a cyclical fashion. This technique is communicated to participants through Art of Living workshops: 22-24 hours programme spread over 6 days.

According to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji (discoverer of Sudarshan Kriya), an intimate link exists between our thoughts, emotions and pattern of breath. Short breath indicates emotions like anger excitement and fear, while long deep and steady breath happens when mind is calm and intuitive. Feelings produce sensations in the body, which in turn are linked to pattern of breath. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji states - "Breath is one of the mystery of existence and the deeper mystery of our consciousness."

Pertinent issue is whether practices of SKY & P and other yogic and meditative states bring about changes in the functioning of the brain, in our attitudes, thinking, emotions and in our body physiology and/or pathology.

There are suggestions that even though broad outlines of neural connections are genetically determined, synaptic transmissions and neurotransmitter profile of human brain is subject to change. This phenomenon, called as neural plasticity, is utilized by yogic practices, breathing processes and meditative states, to bring about changes in the structure and function of the brain.

Achievement of state of relaxation was further demonstrated by lower blood cortisol (stress hormone) in long term practitioners of SKY and further fall during SKY as also the fall in blood lactate levels after SKY among police trainees at New Delhi.

Age, sex and living conditions in police training college were similar. For the lactate study, 24 subjects were chosen (10 amongst experimental group and 14 controls). Experimental group had practised SKY & P for 5 months while control group was not exposed to it.

Basal blood lactate level was lower to begin with in those practising SKY & P compared to control and there was a further fall during Kriya (p = 0.0006).

Though longitudinal studies would be required to confirm, the above observation is consistent with the possibility that the regular practice of SKY & P may reduce the incidence of CHD and other age related disorders. That prevention of CHD following SKY & P is a real possibility is further substantiated by demonstration of fall in Serum cholesterol and Low-density lipoprotein through studies done by Dr. Geetha, Prof. Of Biochemistry at Bangalore Medical College.

One of the major factors for occurrence of cancer as also CHD and respiratory diseases is addiction to tobacco. Most individuals, even if they wish to quit tobacco habit, find it difficult to do so because of the addictive nature of tobacco. Preliminary studies have indicated that those practising SKY & P regularly loose the urge to smoke and hence can give up this habit much easier. The study related to effects of SKY & P on tobacco cessation is ongoing and is likely to be completed soon.

suggested activation and the increased alpha suggested relaxation. Thus there was a combination of relaxation and activation during SKY. Part of this work has been accepted for publication in Indian Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology.

Dr. Vedamurthachar from NIMHANS Bangalore studied 60 alcohol dependent patients (30 undergoing standard therapy only and 30 undergoing SKY & P along with standard therapy over 15-day period). Both groups demonstrated a significant fall in serum cholesterol and ACTH and significant increase in Prolactin. However changes were more marked in those practising SKY & P along with standard drug therapy (p< 0.0001).

Eighty-six violent youths in Los Angeles (age range 1 3-18 years), 707 B offenders of violent crimes with deadly weapons, murder, rape, armed robbery and terrorist threat against others undertook the art of living prison smart program (SKY & P is a part of this program). At the end of 3-4 months of study, Verna Suarez, Psychologist from LA, reported significant reduction in anxiety levels (p = 0.004). There was a reduction in fights amongst inmates by 38%.

There is a possibility, suggests Sharon Sageman, Assistant Prof, of Psychiatry at Columbia University, New York that SKY & P might offer solace to those suffering from post traumatic stress disorders. Indeed extensive studies carried out at NIMHANS Bangalore have documented the benefits of SKY & P in treating depressive states. Many papers have been published related to this.

• Jankiramaiah et al. A Therapeutic Efficacy Of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) In Dysthymic Disorders. NIMHANS Journal 1 7; 21-28,1 998

• Naga Venkatesha et al. P300 Amplitude And Antidepressant Response To Sudarsha Kriya Yoga. Journal Affective Disorders 50; 45-48,1 998.

• Jankiramaiah et al. Antidepressant Efficacy Of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) In Melancholia. Journal Affective Disorders 57; 255-59, 2000.

A study conducted in South Africa revealed that phenomenon of stress and relaxation could affect even the visual system. Subjects under stress had to be moved closer to see an object, while those practising SKY & P regularly (relaxed group) could see a similar object from a distance. Investigators opined that regular practice of relaxation techniques such as SKY & P might influence the visual system.

Dr. Richard P Brown, Associate Prof, of Psychiatry at Columbia University, New York has offered possibility as to how SKY and P might be influencing the thought processes and emotional states.

According to him, feeling of calmness following Ujjayi pranayam may be due to the parasympathetic dominance through vagal stimulation. Bhastrika seems to be excitatory with activation of parieto-temporo-occipital cortical area. The subjective experience is one of excitation during the breathing, followed by emotional calming along with mental activation and alertness. The "Om" chanting that follows, probably balances and enhances the sympathetic and parasympathetic vagal outflow which might be responsible for improved heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity. Sudarshan Kriya according to Dr Brown might activate thalamus and hypothalamus via vagal input. In addition, it might rebalance relationship between the areas of brain such as right and left cerebral hemisphere, anterior and posterior and top and bottom. These might be responsible for increased attention and vigilance along with feeling of satiety and pleasure.

Activation/enhancement of Limbic pathways might be responsible for the release of pituitary hormone, prolactin, vasopressin and oxytosin, which might in turn, be responsible for the feeling of bonding amongst each other. Activation of Amygdala might lead to balance of emotions and memories.

With regular practice of SK & P, one experiences flow of positive emotions, replacing anger, frustration and jealousy. The body feels younger and healthier and the mind feels calmer. EEC, blood cortisol and blood lactate levels reflect a state of relaxation, yet alertness. Increase in NK cells and antioxidant enzymes suggest that regular practice might prevent many diseases including infections and possibly even cancer. Fall in cholesterol may prevent cardiac diseases and depression is benefitted in 70% of cases. Thus, even though further studies are needed, available data so far serves to validate the subjective claims of a healthier body, calmer mind, and balanced emotions

Chief, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital,

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi -110029