Name of Lecture: …Mind Body Science: Stress, Relax, Breath Practice: Complete breath, guided healing

Name of Speaker: …Susan Gould-Fogerite   

Program Time: …11am-12am

Actual Time: …1109am-12am

Location: ...Mediation Hall, SRSG

Name of Chairman: T.P. Sasikumar

Name of Reporter: Lela Pierce

Reference Material/Presentation/Other Information Collected: …Powerpoint

Main Points of the Lecture: ....

Susan Gould-Fogerite spoke primarily about how breathing affects the immune system and how awareness of the breath can help to elevate stress and illness. She emphasized the “mind body” approach to medicine by explaining how the mental and physical states naturally affect one another. The main tools of “mind body medicine” include; cognitive and behavioral therapy, group and social support, meditation, imagery and hypnosis, relaxation, biofeedback, tai chi, qi gong and yoga. Gould-Fogerite explained the basic structure of the nervous system to include the somatic and autonomic systems (previously referred to as voluntary and involuntary abilities) and further broke it down to sympathetic and parasympathetic aspects of the autonomic system. She outlined the HPA (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis) to show how exactly stress effects and stimulates the mind and body. Furthermore, she referred to the SAM (Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary Axis) and outlined the Psycho-Neural Adrenal Immune System.

            After explaining the basic structure of the immune and nervous systems Gould-Fogerite went into the ways that these structures are affected by relaxation and breathing techniques. She explained how the breath is the link between the mind and body and therefore is key to maintain balance between the two. She referenced Swami Rama’s book “the Science of Breath” and mentioned several breathing techniques that can be helpful in relaxing the body and reducing stress. Toward the end of the lecture she taught everyone how to do a complete yogic breath by lifting the arms above the head with an inhale and releasing them down with an exhale. She then guided the group through relaxation in makrasana (crocodile pose). In conclusion Gould-Fogerite stated that there needs to be more quality research to fully characterize the effects of breath in promoting health and elevating stress and illness.

Questions and Answers (name of person and details of question): … none

Other Comments (e.g. references to other resources, talks being held etc): ...

Swami Rama - Science of breath.