Isha Research Center

Beneficial effects of yoga have been postulated to be due to modulation of the autonomic nervous system. The effect of Isha Yoga practices on the cardiovascular autonomic nervous system were assessed through short-term heart rate variability (HRV). Short-term HRV of long-term regular healthy 14 (12 males and 2 females) Isha Yoga practitioners was compared with that of age- and gender-matched 14 (12 males and 2 females) non-Yoga practitioners.

Sixty employees participated in the Inner Engineering Online pilot. The program duration was 40 days. Participants took a pre-program survey and a post-program survey at the end of the 40-day practice period. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data and used paired-sample t-test to determine the impact of the program on a wide array of attributes. Quantitative data was based on five different scales, for example, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Psychological Capital Scale and Utrecht Work Engagement.

Chronic workplace stress causes burnout and reduces professional efficiency. Inner Engineering Online, a web-based intervention is known to improve physical, mental, and emotional health of an individual. A Harvard Medical School study focused on the impact of this program on lowering burnout and stress.

Problems associated with menstruation are commonplace among women of reproductive age and have serious implications for their physical, mental and financial health. Current treatments for such disorders rely on hormone therapies and more serious cases may involve surgery. Hormone therapies are not effective in relieving symptoms in all cases and surgeries can be an extreme measure that pose other challenges.

Operating room professionals are exposed to high levels of stress and burnout. Besides affecting the individual, it can compromise patient safety and quality of care as well. Meditation practice is getting recognized for its ability to improve wellness among various populations, including healthcare providers.

Stress and anxiety are the leading cause of adult disability worldwide and underlying factors in many disorders such as depression, cardiovascular disease, obesity, chronic pain, gastrointestinal and sleep disorders. This study was conducted on 142 participants of a 3-day non-residential Inner Engineering retreat to investigate the effect of Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya (SMK) practice on perceived stress levels and general well being. Participants were instructed to practice SMK twice a day for at least 6 weeks.

Behavioral studies suggest a positive effect of meditation on attentional tasks. To investigate the effect of Isha Yoga on the brain’s ability to process visual information, 82 practitioners were tested at the beginning and end of the 3-months residential retreat. The retreat involved daily meditation and yoga practices, accompanied by a vegetarian diet and along with daily activities. Daily regimen included approximately 2 hours of sitting meditation practices, 1–2 hours of yoga practice with a meditative component and 1 hour of chanting.

A panel of scientists from various research institutes in California and Indianapolis monitored and studied physiological and psychological responses of those individuals who participated in a 3-month long residential yoga and meditation retreat held at Isha Institute of Inner Sciences, McMinnville, TN. The retreat involved daily meditation and yoga practices, accompanied by a vegetarian diet and along with daily activities. Daily regimen included approximately 2 hours of sitting meditation practices, 1–2 hours of yoga practice with a meditative component and 1 hour of chanting.

Anxiety and depression are common in the modern world, and there is growing demand for alternative therapies such as meditation. Meditation can decrease perceived stress and increase general well-being, although the physiological mechanism is not well-characterized. Here, we will look at a group of compounds called endocannabinoids (eCBs). These compounds are produced naturally in the body and bind to cannabinoid receptors. Binding to these receptors can create many effects, including a feeling of blissfulness.

The Samyama program is one of the most intense guided meditation programs offered to the general public. There are many examples of people reporting enhanced perception and an ecstatic experience during the program. The Isha Research Center (IRC) collaborated with research faculty members from several academic institutions including Indiana University, Harvard University, University of Tennessee, Rutgers University, and University of Florida for a study to assess how Samyama affects the psychology and physiology of its participants, and household controls. Studies include:

The brain activity of nine experienced Isha Yoga practitioners was measured before and after the Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya (SMK) practice. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to monitor the brain using non-invasive electrodes placed at 19 different locations along the scalp. Measured brain activity was sorted into four different frequency ranges: Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. Beta frequencies (high range), generally associated with mental tension and anxiety, showed marked decrease at specific locations after the practice.

Over 500 long-term Isha Yoga practitioners were surveyed to assess the impact of the practices on their overall wellbeing and disease status. The majority of respondents mentioned significant improvement in their overall wellbeing. Isha Yoga practitioners mentioned improvement in several criteria for wellbeing. In addition to improving their overall wellbeing, Isha Yoga practitioners mentioned improvements in disease status.