Meditation and Pain Management Conference Programme

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International Conference on

Meditation and Pain Management

February 24-28, 2009

Rishikesh, India



Meeting attendees will:

  1.  Examine the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual nature of pain and stress through modern scientific knowledge and ancient wisdom traditions.
  2. Personally practice and experience the effects of Meditation in the Himalayan Tradition and related  techniques, (breathing, relaxation, biofeedback, yoga asana practice, etc.),  which comprise the Combined Therapy Program as originally taught by Swami Rama of the Himalayas, as well as other techniques for pain management.
  3. Understand the underlying philosophy and benefits of an integrated-therapy approach to chronic pain and stress-related disorders.
  4.  Learn about related research and how these practices have been and are being applied in private, public and clinical settings.
  5. Recognize their own pain and stress-related symptoms and how to manage them in order to better serve themselves and the world.
  6. Receive numerous printed materials on techniques taught, presentations, and related articles on pain management as part of the conference welcome packet.
  7. Have the opportunity to be tested using biofeedback equipment to enhance meditation technique and reduce stress.
  8.  Be able to purchase at a discount materials such as audio or DVD recordings and a manual/publication which can serve as a source of current information and a guide to meditational approaches to pain management produced from the conference. 

Core Practice Curriculum:

1.       Meditation: Seated Mantra meditation, Contemplative walking meditation, other meditative techniques

2.        Pranayama: Diaphragmatic breathing, Complete yogic breath, Nadi Shodhanam-alternate nostril breathing

3.       Asana: joints and glands sequence, makarasana, gentle hatha including practices designed for specific  pain disorders, mudras for pain management

4.       Relaxation: Yoga nidra (deep yogic relaxation), 61 points, progressive relaxation, sweeping breath, biofeedback

  • lectures on the latest scientific research on pain and pain management; yoga practices, such as meditation, relaxation, breathing, biofeedback, and hatha asanas, that are useful in controlling pain and reducing stress
  • a full day at the Himalayan Hospital Institute Trust with lectures by the faculty of HIHT,  the Combined Therapy Program, and the Pancha Karma Center and a visit to the Swami Rama Center
  • lectures at Seema Dental College, including a lecture on dental pain management
  • a lecture on integrative therapy in clinical psychology
  • a panel discussion on the views of eastern and western philosophy on the nature of pain and its management
  • a scientific research poster session
  • evening entertainment with traditional Indian dance and music
  • small group discussions
  • and publication of conference proceedings.
Lectures on a wide range of approaches to pain management are planned:
  1. Combined Therapy Approach to Chronic Stress and Pain
  2. The Nature of Pain and Pleasure
  3. The Nervous and Immune Systems in Stress and Relaxation
  4. Autonomic Balance
  5. Neurophysiology of Breathing
  6. Ayurvedic Principles of a Healthy Lifestyle, Nutrition, and Autonomic Balance
  7. Integrative Therapy in Clinical Psychology Practice; Management of Pain in Dentistry
  8. Techniques for Pain Management
  9. Research on Yoga for Stress and Pain Related Diseases
  10. Yoga in East and West in the Context of Meditation for Pain
  11. Yoga Practices for Reducing Anesthesia Needs in Surgery
  12. Biology of Pain Generation and Sensing
  13. Effects of Meditation on the Brain
  14. Use of Biofeedback to Characterize Effects of the 61 Points Relaxation Practice in Healthy and Stressed Subjects
  15. Pharmacologic and Surgical Approaches to Pain Management
  16. Pleasure as an Antidote to Pain
  17. Stress, Pain, and Heart disease and Health
  18. Management of Cancer Pain
  19. Palliative Care from the Nursing Perspective
  20. Use of Biofeedback for Stress Reduction and Pain Control
  21. Ayurvedic Perspectives on Pain and Pain Management
  22. Pancha Karma  and  Management/Treatments for Patients with Stress and Pain Related Problems
  23. Integrative Therapy
  24. Research on the Use of Music, Dance, Art, and other Creative Expression Therapy for Healing of Stress and Pain and Recovery of the True Self.

Lectures will be supplemented by practicums in:

  1. Diaphragmatic Breathing Instruction, Guided Healing Relaxation in Makarasana Pose
  2. Hatha Yoga - Joints and Glands Series
  3. Nadi Shodhanam Instruction and Guided Autogenic Relaxation
  4. Hatha Yoga Practice as Therapy for Osteoarthritis; Yoga Nidra
  5. Meaning and Use of Mantra with a Guided Mantra Meditation
  6. 61 Points Relaxation Practice
  7. Hatha Yoga as Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain.

Small group discussions to develop plans and set goals for putting the knowledge gained at this meeting
into personal and professional practice will take place near the conference conclusion.


Speakers and presenters will include:

Achala M. Singhal, MD, DM, FACC, Professor & Head of Cardiology Department at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. Personally trained by Sri Swami Rama in holistic approaches to medicine, Dr. Achala has conducted research on the effects of meditation and breath control on hypertension and heart disease. Holistic approaches with cardiac patients have helped avoid invasive procedures in many cases, along with complete healing. She has a special interest in using emotions for treating conditions of the heart and conducts a weekly support group called the Happy Healthy Heart Club.

Anil Singhal, MD, Professor of Neurology and Head of the Department s of Neurosciences and  of Holistic Medicine  at the Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. He has a special interest and expertise in using the power of the mind and nervous system in helping people improve their physical and emotional health. He credits his expertise to his training and experience in the Himalayan Yoga Tradition using meditative practices. He has been especially instrumental in integrating biofeedback technology with modern medicine.  He worked closely with Swami Rama from the very inception of HIHT.

Dinesh Sharma, GAM, belongs to the third genera¬tion of a well-known family of Vedic tradition in Rishikesh (India). In 1979 Dr. Sharma became an Ayurvedacharya (Ayurvedic physi¬cian) from Maharishi Dayanand University and started practicing Ayurveda from 1981. For the last 27 years, Dr. Sharma has treated people both in India and around the world.  International teacher of Vedic Astrology, Ayurveda, and Sthapatya Veda (Vastu Shastra). Board member of the American Council of Vedic Sciences.

John Clarke, MD, Former Chairman of the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of the USA. He received his M.D. degree from Harvard University, and has received certification in Family Practice, Internal Medicine and Cardiology.


Jyoti Dvivedi, MD, Assistant Professor, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences. Recipient of the Dr. Sushila Thakur Prakriti Mandir Award, India’s National Award  for the Best Research in the Field of Yoga and Naturopathy.


Linda Billau, BS, RYT-500. Personal assistant to Swami Veda Bharati.  A subject in the book Yogi in the Lab with an experiment done at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, California, and with meditation and yoga nidra practices done in association with surgery.


Ma Radha Bharati, MA and PhD work, Comparative Philosophy.  MA, Public Policy. Humphrey Institute Fellow. Disciple of Swami Rama of the Himalayas since 1971. Academic Director, Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama. Lecturer, Philosophy and Ethics at the University of Hawaii and other colleges. Policy Development/Program Planner/Administra¬tor in Minnesota state government, USA. Yoga and meditation teacher. Contributor to Aging in America,, University of Wisconsin Press.


Ma Sewa Bharati, MA, shares her experiences of the yogic teachings of Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas, in particular the preparation and purification of the body, breath, senses, mind, intellect and emotions for meditation.  A trustee of the Swami Rama Nishkarma Karma Yoga Trust, created by Swami Hariharananda Bharati in 2000.  Established by this Trust, the Swami Rama Institute of Vocational Education and Research, Malethi, India, is fulfilling Gurudeva Swam Rama’s instruction to develop international standard vocational and public school education and overall economic and cultural development for the residents of the hilly regions of the Himalayas.

Maya Balog, RN, ERYT 500. Internationally recognized hatha yoga instructor. Since 1962 she has studied yoga (meditation, traditional hatha and the Iyengar system), theosophy, and the healing arts of naturopathy, homeopathy and Ayurveda in Europe, Canada, India, and the USA. She has been teaching classes, train¬ing teachers, and leading workshops for over 20 years. Since 1981, she has been a student of the Himalayan Tradition and was initiated in 1983.

Peter J. Fabian, PT, CFP. He holds a BA in Psychology and a BS in Physical Therapy.  Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner.  International teacher of physical therapy, advanced manual therapy approaches, and yoga.


Prakash Keshaviah, PhD is Director of Nephrology and an Honorary Professor of Physiology at HIHT. He received Post-Graduate Degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Physiology from the University of Minnesota, USA. His training with Swami Rama dates back to the late 1960s.
 Pratibha Mamgain, MD, PhD, graduated in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from State Ayurveda College, Lucknow, India. She did her MD and PhD in Kayachikitsa under the supervision of Prof. R.H. Singh. She conducted a commendable piece of clinical and laboratory research on Ischaemic Heart Disease and its Ayurvedic management. She published several scientific papers in the area of her specialization. Dr.  Mamgain serves as Lecturer and Consultant Physician in the Department of Ayurveda at Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Dehradun.
Ravindra Kumar Mamgain, MD, PhD, experienced in Ayurveda for over 20 years, is an Associate Professor of Ayurvedic Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, and consultant physician at the Department of Ayurveda.


Richard P. Brown, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia University of Physicians & Surgeons, USA.  Subspecialties Certificates in psychiatry, neurology, and psychopharmacology.  Specialties: psychopharmacology, integrative psychopharmacology, complementary, alternative and mind-body treatments in psychiatry.  Researcher. Author. Lecturer.  Dr. Brown has engaged in yoga and meditative practices including Zen meditation, yoga and breath practices for over 30 years. He is a certified Aikido teacher (4th Dan) and a volunteer teacher of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga combining asanas, pranayamas, and meditation. He developed a comprehensive neurophysiological theory of the effects of yoga breathing on the mind and body, particularly its benefits in anxiety, depression, trauma, and violence.


Stephen (Stoma) Parker, PsyD, ERYT 500.  Licensed psychologist with a private practice in Minnesota, USA. Adjunct assistant professor at Saint Mary’s University and at the University of St. Thomas School of Professional Psychology.  He did his doctoral training under Brad¬ford Keeney, PhD, a family therapist acclaimed for experi¬ence with indigenous healers. Sanskrit scholar.  International lecturer on yoga and meditation.


Sunil Saini MBBS, MS ( Surgery), Fellow UICC, Senior Consultant Surgical Oncology , Professor of Surgery. Dedicated to the service of cancer patients, Dr. Saini was inspired and trained by Swami Rama to focus on holistic approaches, quality of life issues and stress management in cancer control and research.


Susan Gould-Fogerite, PhD in microbiology and immunology, Director of Research, The Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Associate Professor, Primary Care, School of Health Related Professions, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, USA.  Researcher in mind/body science, vaccinology, mucosal immunology, drug delivery, and gene therapy.  Lecturer. Writer. Inventor, Hatha, meditation and breathwork teacher.  Reiki energy healer. A scientific  founder of BioDelivery Sciences International.

Swami Ritavan Bharati, MA, ERYT 500, has been serving H.H. Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas and Swami Veda Bharati for the past 30 years. He holds master’s degrees in management, in education, and in holistic philosophy.  International teacher of yoga and meditation.
Vijay Dhasmana, MA, vice-chancellor of HIHT University, is respected for his dynamic leadership and management abilities. Having recently translated several of Swami Rama’s books from English into Hindi, Vijay is very conversant with Swami Rama’s teachings.


Additional presenters to be announced.