Name of Lecture. . .Use of biofeedback to characterize the effects of 61 points relaxation practice in healthy and stressed subjects.

Name of Speaker. . .Dr Jytoti Dvivedi, MD.

Programme Time. . .3pm-4pm Saturday February 28th 2009.

Location. . . Meditation Hall, SRSG

Name of Chairperson. . .Dr. Prakash Dixit

Name of Reporter. . . Adel Enderson

Main Points of the Lecture. . .

Dr Dvivedi gave an introduction to the common lifestyle diseases which occur in modern life due to the unhealthy lifestyle of the modern office worker.  Whereas previously many people worked in an agriculture based environment where work was physically active, there is a switch to sedentary professions and a lifestyle high in packaged refined foods.  Stress related disorders are common in people from these groups.  To address these disorders an integrated approach is required looking at mind body exercises, diet, environment and lifestyle.  Dr Dvivedi introduced a new topic area of study known as psychoneuroimmunology.  This relates to study of the biochemical nature of our emotions and how they may cause a target organ disease in the body.

Dr Dvivedi discussed the energy field of the body, and how each organ of the body emits a different energy pulse within it.  She discussed how the flow of pranic energy must be efficient to be healthy and how disease affects the energy body first.  In this way the practice of yoga as a lifestyle can be beneficial for stress related disorders.  She gave an example of a balanced simple diet, positive use of emotions, gentle asanas, meditation and the completion of cleansing practices including panchakarma.  Dr Dvivedi discussed the importance of the breath in the regulation of emotion and stress.  She described how disturbance of the mind will disturb the breath, and how the calming of the breath will calm the mind.  Dr Dvivedi described how meditation is an anti stress state with relaxing hormones released, strengthening the immune system and encouraging self healing.    

Dr Dvivedi discussed the biofeedback parameters for stress which include heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory pattern, moisture on the skin and muscle tension.  She discussed a study of hypertension in which subjects were given training for four weeks on the use of shavasana relaxation and biofeedback.   Dr Dvivedi also discussed a study in which the 61 points relaxation was used in conjunction with the biofeedback monitoring the key parameters of stress relating to Pre-Menstrual Tension.  The parameters were monitored through the training and assessment stages.  Outstanding effects were observed on the subjects as there was a significant fall in many of the measured stress parameters when using the technique.  It was concluded that the 61 points exercise could bring a significant beneficial effect for stress related disorders.  Overall it was recommended that benefits from stress could be gained from a daily practice of good diet, gentle asana, meditation and relaxation.  

 
Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): A question was received from Dr Ivan from Austrailia.  She asked if Dr Dvivedi had considered the negative effect that a diagnosis can have on a person.  For example a person going to the doctor with a problem is diagnosed in order to specify the treatment, but there can be a negative effect on that person from their identification with the diagnosis, rather than the disease/problem itself.  Dr Dvivedi replied that a diagnosis can be helpful in order to identify the treatment but the effect of the diagnosis on the person can be positive or negative depending on the person.  Dr Dvivedi’s husband also contributed some thoughts from his work as a plastic surgeon working on children with cleft palate and other issues at HIHT.  It was concluded that doctors need to make a judicious decision to disclose or not to disclose the diagnosis.  A second question was raised about the availability of aura reading machines.  Dr Susikumar replied that an aura reading machine is available in Puna at the Mahrastraane Institute which can give a diagnosis regarding any disturbances of the energy centres.    
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