Healing minds and connecting worlds

By Anup Taneja

Based on scientific research, yog philosophy, which has spanned nearly 5,000 years, is not merely a set of asanas and pranayam techniques meant for physical fitness; it is much more than that. It is a potent tool for social bonding, cognitive empathy, and creating afeeling of trust among people and nations. Yog has the power to completely alter thought-patterns and transform an individual into a confident and dynamic personality full of positive energy.

Clinical studies such as the NIMHANS Schizophrenia Clinical Trials (2013) and Postpartum Maternal Health Trial (2024) have substantiated that yog can directly bring about a change in an individual’s brain chemistry, because of which one feels more connected to others. When practised systematically and regularly, yogic practices significantly increase plasma oxytocin levels.

Oxytocin is referred to as the ‘cuddle’ hormone – a powerful peptide hormone and neurotransmitter produced in the hypothalamus of brain and released into the bloodstream by posterior pituitary gland – which helps in reading emotions of other people, creating strong feelings of interpersonal trust, and in building relationship stability between romantic partners, friends and family members. Above all, it fosters prosocial behaviour.

Pranayam exercises contribute substantially to stimulating the vagus nerve, longest cranial nerve in the body. This helps shift the body from a ‘fight-or-flight’ stress state to a ‘rest-and-digest’ state, meaning that when the nerve pathways are activated through pranayam, brain chemistry is altered and the autonomic nervous system becomes well-regulated and calm. As a result, the heart slows down, blood pressure decreases, and digestion improves.

In view of the hyper-competitive academic environment, board exams, and high-stakes entrance tests, there is pressure on students, resulting in escalating mental health crises. Regular yog practice by youngsters can help in removing psychological and mental barriers and increasing their powers of concentration and retention. Breathing exercises such as Anulom-Vilom, alternate nostril breathing, and Sirshasan, the topsy-turvy pose, if practised regularly for about 10 minutes, help optimise the flow of oxygen to the brain, which, in turn, sharpens memory and directly reduces day-to-day distractions. It thus becomes easy for students to retain complex information and recall it during exams.
A landmark study – published in the International Journal of Yoga – was conducted in Jan 2009 to specifically track adolescent students over a 7-week yog module consisting of asans, pranayams, meditation, and a value orientation programme. The study demonstrated that students who practised yog showed a substantial reduction in stress levels, which, in turn, led to higher marks in core subjects such as Mathematics and Science compared to the non-yog control group. The study thus showed that short, structured yog interventions help students manage intense exam-related panic and repetitive negative thoughts.

In the present-day world, where there is a total lack of trust among nations and an atmosphere of fear and hostility prevails, yog philosophy, by promoting Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and breaking down the ‘us vs them’ mentality, can bring nations closer and make the world a much better place.

The writer is senior academic fellow, ICHR

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