Developing a Small Theory of Treatment of Yoga, Dec 8, 2016
With a recent trend to medicalize yoga, it is important to ensure that its application for health... more With a recent trend to medicalize yoga, it is important to ensure that its application for health is evidence based and that efficacy or effectiveness of yoga is evaluated rigorously. The method of ‘theory based evaluation’ regarding health interventions has been in vogue since the 1970s. Although there is now substantial research to understand the mechanism of action of yoga that may point to a theory and sometimes even serve in its stead, it is not the same thing as a theory (of yoga). Currently there is no cogent theory of yoga, primarily because there is a missing link in the causal pathway that connects practice of yoga to its ultimate health effects and benefits. Along the lines of the 1993 groundbreaking work of Mark Lipsey, who suggested developing small theories of treatment for evaluation research, this article offers a hypothesis to elucidate the missing link for the development of a small theory of treatment of yoga and examines the implications of the absence of such a theory as well as the advantages such a theory offers.
Yoga has been researched for almost a century now. Yoga’s mechanism of action has also been extensively investigated and many different explanatory models are being offered. The models can explain one or more facets of yoga but do not offer a cohesive unified theory in a parsimonious way. Despite all efforts in research, it is still not exactly known how yoga works. There appears to be a missing link. This gap is subtly undermining the utility of yoga by precipitating problems at many levels. This article offers a hypothesis that might explain how yoga might work at its core. In doing so it draws from the ancient Sanskrit scriptures as well as from the modern research on the mechanism of action of yoga. It is proposed that ‘frequency of thoughts’ is the ultimate channeling variable through which yoga brings about its effect and the beneficial effects of yoga might be in inverse relationship with the frequency of thoughts. It is further hypothesized that a reduction in the frequency of thoughts changes the “initial conditions” in the networks of thought systems and subsequently cascades into the beneficial effects seen in the secondary systems of the body like humoral, metabolic or endocrine. Supportive evidence for the hypothesis is also discussed. Finally a note is added about the implications for various stakeholders and concluded that if the hypothesis is correct, it can facilitate a revision in the way yoga is understood, practiced, and evaluated.
Yoga Intelligence as a Concept of Mental Ability, Oct 5, 2016
The main factors comprising the background of the yoga intelligence concept development are prese... more The main factors comprising the background of the yoga intelligence concept development are presented in this paper. Yoga intelligence as a concept owes its existence to careful observations revealing that, in time, yoga practitioners develop unique abilities. This paper investigates yoga intelligence and hopes to assist in uncovering the benefits of its possible application.
Influence of Yoga and Diet control in managing the state of Obesity, Oct 3, 2016
Background: Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases. The prevalence rate of obesity is bein... more Background: Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases. The prevalence rate of obesity is being increasing. Yoga has been known to have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the metabolic parameters and to be uncomplicated therapy for obesity. The purpose of the present study was to observe the effect of 6 weeks yoga and diet change program in obese women. Material/Methods: A single group of 25 women were assessed on the first and last day of a yoga and diet change program, with 6 weeks of the intervention between assessments. The assessments were: body weight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels. Participants practiced yoga for 45 minutes every day and had a low fat, high fiber, vegetarian diet. First and last day data were compared using t-test. Results: Following the 6-week Yoga and diet control program, participants showed a decrease in bodyweight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels of the subjects. Conclusion: A 6-week yoga and diet change program decreased the bodyweight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels of the obese women. This suggests that a brief, intensive yoga program with a change in diet can pose certain risks.
Effects of Maharishi Yoga Asanas on Mood States, Happiness and Experiences during Meditation, Sep 16, 2016
This research replicated and expanded observed improvements on the Profile of Mood States as a re... more This research replicated and expanded observed improvements on the Profile of Mood States as a result of two-week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course. Thirteen college students taking part in a four weeks course on Maharishi Yoga Asanas were matched with 13 students taking other courses at the university. All students were given three psychological tests before and after their course: Profile of Mood States, Perception of Happiness and Meditation Depth questionnaires. Repeated measure MANOVA showed the four week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course resulted in significant increase in happiness during the day and significant improvements in 1) Sense of personal self, 2) Transpersonal qualities, and 3) Transpersonal Self during their Transcendental Meditation practice. This research shows that yoga practice affects more than body and mind. Rather it influences much deeper levels of one’s subjectivity including one’s transpersonal Self.
Developing a Small Theory of Treatment of Yoga, Dec 8, 2016
With a recent trend to medicalize yoga, it is important to ensure that its application for health... more With a recent trend to medicalize yoga, it is important to ensure that its application for health is evidence based and that efficacy or effectiveness of yoga is evaluated rigorously. The method of ‘theory based evaluation’ regarding health interventions has been in vogue since the 1970s. Although there is now substantial research to understand the mechanism of action of yoga that may point to a theory and sometimes even serve in its stead, it is not the same thing as a theory (of yoga). Currently there is no cogent theory of yoga, primarily because there is a missing link in the causal pathway that connects practice of yoga to its ultimate health effects and benefits. Along the lines of the 1993 groundbreaking work of Mark Lipsey, who suggested developing small theories of treatment for evaluation research, this article offers a hypothesis to elucidate the missing link for the development of a small theory of treatment of yoga and examines the implications of the absence of such a theory as well as the advantages such a theory offers.
Yoga has been researched for almost a century now. Yoga’s mechanism of action has also been extensively investigated and many different explanatory models are being offered. The models can explain one or more facets of yoga but do not offer a cohesive unified theory in a parsimonious way. Despite all efforts in research, it is still not exactly known how yoga works. There appears to be a missing link. This gap is subtly undermining the utility of yoga by precipitating problems at many levels. This article offers a hypothesis that might explain how yoga might work at its core. In doing so it draws from the ancient Sanskrit scriptures as well as from the modern research on the mechanism of action of yoga. It is proposed that ‘frequency of thoughts’ is the ultimate channeling variable through which yoga brings about its effect and the beneficial effects of yoga might be in inverse relationship with the frequency of thoughts. It is further hypothesized that a reduction in the frequency of thoughts changes the “initial conditions” in the networks of thought systems and subsequently cascades into the beneficial effects seen in the secondary systems of the body like humoral, metabolic or endocrine. Supportive evidence for the hypothesis is also discussed. Finally a note is added about the implications for various stakeholders and concluded that if the hypothesis is correct, it can facilitate a revision in the way yoga is understood, practiced, and evaluated.
Yoga Intelligence as a Concept of Mental Ability, Oct 5, 2016
The main factors comprising the background of the yoga intelligence concept development are prese... more The main factors comprising the background of the yoga intelligence concept development are presented in this paper. Yoga intelligence as a concept owes its existence to careful observations revealing that, in time, yoga practitioners develop unique abilities. This paper investigates yoga intelligence and hopes to assist in uncovering the benefits of its possible application.
Influence of Yoga and Diet control in managing the state of Obesity, Oct 3, 2016
Background: Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases. The prevalence rate of obesity is bein... more Background: Obesity is a risk factor for several diseases. The prevalence rate of obesity is being increasing. Yoga has been known to have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the metabolic parameters and to be uncomplicated therapy for obesity. The purpose of the present study was to observe the effect of 6 weeks yoga and diet change program in obese women. Material/Methods: A single group of 25 women were assessed on the first and last day of a yoga and diet change program, with 6 weeks of the intervention between assessments. The assessments were: body weight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels. Participants practiced yoga for 45 minutes every day and had a low fat, high fiber, vegetarian diet. First and last day data were compared using t-test. Results: Following the 6-week Yoga and diet control program, participants showed a decrease in bodyweight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels of the subjects. Conclusion: A 6-week yoga and diet change program decreased the bodyweight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels of the obese women. This suggests that a brief, intensive yoga program with a change in diet can pose certain risks.
Effects of Maharishi Yoga Asanas on Mood States, Happiness and Experiences during Meditation, Sep 16, 2016
This research replicated and expanded observed improvements on the Profile of Mood States as a re... more This research replicated and expanded observed improvements on the Profile of Mood States as a result of two-week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course. Thirteen college students taking part in a four weeks course on Maharishi Yoga Asanas were matched with 13 students taking other courses at the university. All students were given three psychological tests before and after their course: Profile of Mood States, Perception of Happiness and Meditation Depth questionnaires. Repeated measure MANOVA showed the four week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course resulted in significant increase in happiness during the day and significant improvements in 1) Sense of personal self, 2) Transpersonal qualities, and 3) Transpersonal Self during their Transcendental Meditation practice. This research shows that yoga practice affects more than body and mind. Rather it influences much deeper levels of one’s subjectivity including one’s transpersonal Self.
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Papers by Andrea Fleming
Yoga has been researched for almost a century now. Yoga’s mechanism of action has also been extensively investigated and many different
explanatory models are being offered. The models can explain one or more facets of yoga but do not offer a cohesive unified theory in a
parsimonious way. Despite all efforts in research, it is still not exactly known how yoga works. There appears to be a missing link. This gap is
subtly undermining the utility of yoga by precipitating problems at many levels. This article offers a hypothesis that might explain how yoga
might work at its core. In doing so it draws from the ancient Sanskrit scriptures as well as from the modern research on the mechanism of
action of yoga. It is proposed that ‘frequency of thoughts’ is the ultimate channeling variable through which yoga brings about its effect and
the beneficial effects of yoga might be in inverse relationship with the frequency of thoughts. It is further hypothesized that a reduction in the
frequency of thoughts changes the “initial conditions” in the networks of thought systems and subsequently cascades into the beneficial effects
seen in the secondary systems of the body like humoral, metabolic or endocrine. Supportive evidence for the hypothesis is also discussed. Finally a note is added about the implications for various stakeholders and concluded that if the hypothesis is correct, it can facilitate a revision in the way yoga is understood, practiced, and evaluated.
a concept owes its existence to careful observations revealing that, in time, yoga practitioners develop unique abilities. This paper investigates
yoga intelligence and hopes to assist in uncovering the benefits of its possible application.
stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the metabolic parameters and to be uncomplicated therapy for obesity. The purpose of the present study was
to observe the effect of 6 weeks yoga and diet change program in obese women.
Material/Methods: A single group of 25 women were assessed on the first and last day of a yoga and diet change program, with 6 weeks
of the intervention between assessments. The assessments were: body weight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels. Participants practiced
yoga for 45 minutes every day and had a low fat, high fiber, vegetarian diet. First and last day data were compared using t-test.
Results: Following the 6-week Yoga and diet control program, participants showed a decrease in bodyweight, skin fold thickness and
cholesterol levels of the subjects.
Conclusion: A 6-week yoga and diet change program decreased the bodyweight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels of the obese
women. This suggests that a brief, intensive yoga program with a change in diet can pose certain risks.
course. Thirteen college students taking part in a four weeks course on Maharishi Yoga Asanas were matched with 13 students taking other
courses at the university. All students were given three psychological tests before and after their course: Profile of Mood States, Perception of
Happiness and Meditation Depth questionnaires. Repeated measure MANOVA showed the four week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course resulted in
significant increase in happiness during the day and significant improvements in 1) Sense of personal self, 2) Transpersonal qualities, and 3)
Transpersonal Self during their Transcendental Meditation practice. This research shows that yoga practice affects more than body and mind.
Rather it influences much deeper levels of one’s subjectivity including one’s transpersonal Self.
Yoga has been researched for almost a century now. Yoga’s mechanism of action has also been extensively investigated and many different
explanatory models are being offered. The models can explain one or more facets of yoga but do not offer a cohesive unified theory in a
parsimonious way. Despite all efforts in research, it is still not exactly known how yoga works. There appears to be a missing link. This gap is
subtly undermining the utility of yoga by precipitating problems at many levels. This article offers a hypothesis that might explain how yoga
might work at its core. In doing so it draws from the ancient Sanskrit scriptures as well as from the modern research on the mechanism of
action of yoga. It is proposed that ‘frequency of thoughts’ is the ultimate channeling variable through which yoga brings about its effect and
the beneficial effects of yoga might be in inverse relationship with the frequency of thoughts. It is further hypothesized that a reduction in the
frequency of thoughts changes the “initial conditions” in the networks of thought systems and subsequently cascades into the beneficial effects
seen in the secondary systems of the body like humoral, metabolic or endocrine. Supportive evidence for the hypothesis is also discussed. Finally a note is added about the implications for various stakeholders and concluded that if the hypothesis is correct, it can facilitate a revision in the way yoga is understood, practiced, and evaluated.
a concept owes its existence to careful observations revealing that, in time, yoga practitioners develop unique abilities. This paper investigates
yoga intelligence and hopes to assist in uncovering the benefits of its possible application.
stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the metabolic parameters and to be uncomplicated therapy for obesity. The purpose of the present study was
to observe the effect of 6 weeks yoga and diet change program in obese women.
Material/Methods: A single group of 25 women were assessed on the first and last day of a yoga and diet change program, with 6 weeks
of the intervention between assessments. The assessments were: body weight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels. Participants practiced
yoga for 45 minutes every day and had a low fat, high fiber, vegetarian diet. First and last day data were compared using t-test.
Results: Following the 6-week Yoga and diet control program, participants showed a decrease in bodyweight, skin fold thickness and
cholesterol levels of the subjects.
Conclusion: A 6-week yoga and diet change program decreased the bodyweight, skin fold thickness and cholesterol levels of the obese
women. This suggests that a brief, intensive yoga program with a change in diet can pose certain risks.
course. Thirteen college students taking part in a four weeks course on Maharishi Yoga Asanas were matched with 13 students taking other
courses at the university. All students were given three psychological tests before and after their course: Profile of Mood States, Perception of
Happiness and Meditation Depth questionnaires. Repeated measure MANOVA showed the four week Maharishi Yoga Asanas course resulted in
significant increase in happiness during the day and significant improvements in 1) Sense of personal self, 2) Transpersonal qualities, and 3)
Transpersonal Self during their Transcendental Meditation practice. This research shows that yoga practice affects more than body and mind.
Rather it influences much deeper levels of one’s subjectivity including one’s transpersonal Self.