Long-Term Changes in Experienced Yoga Practitioners
Advances in Medical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care August 10, 2017 DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-2788-6.ch003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Transcendental Meditation |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that the state of Yoga during Transcendental Meditation meets three criteria for a higher state of consciousness: no content beyond self-awareness, an expanded sense of self marked by absence of time, space, and body sense, and distinct physiological patterns such as slower breath, autonomic orienting, and frontal alpha1 coherence. Proposes that integrating Yoga with waking, sleeping, and dreaming corresponds to Cosmic Consciousness in the Vedic tradition, and that growth of higher states of consciousness is the most important result of experiencing Yoga. |
Abstract
This chapter explores subjective and objective correlates of the state of Yoga during Transcendental Meditation practice. Yoga fits the three criteria of a higher state of consciousness: (1) Yoga has a different subject/object relationship than other states. In Yoga there is no content—only self-awareness. (2) Yoga involves a more expanded sense-of-self. Content analysis of descriptions of Yoga yielded three themes: the absence of time, absence of space and absence of body sense. Yoga is the most universal aspect of the individual. (3) Yoga is defined by distinct physiological patterns. Slowing of breath, autonomic orienting and frontal alpha1 brain coherence are reported during the state of Yoga. The integration of Yoga with waking, sleeping and dreaming also fits the criteria for being a higher state of consciousness, called Cosmic Consciousness in the Vedic tradition. The chapter ends with the conclusion that growth of higher states of consciousness is the most important result of experiencing the state of Yoga. Then, life is lived in freedom.
Citations in the library
Cites 27
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- Physiological Effects of Transcendental Meditation Science March 27, 1970
- Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation-related anxiety relief Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience April 24, 2013
- Stress Reduction and Preventing Hypertension: Preliminary Support for a Psychoneuroendocrine Mechanism The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine June 1, 1995
- Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Technique on Trait Anxiety: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine October 9, 2013
and 22 more in the library