What is Stress?

Stress is a state of Mind

Stress is a mind-body reaction/response to a situation To flight from/fight the situation

Why Stress Happens?

When a situation/condition is not Acceptable to usWhen we want to do/get something but are unableWhen ego is hurt (feedback, comments, criticism…) When we loose something which we feel as

important…Stress is mostly due to

Fear (of Future) Worry (about Past) And not so much due to Present Moment

It is always due to the perception of Mind Different people ‘feel’ different stress levels for the same

situations

What Happens when Stressed?

Psychology of Stress: Emotional impact Anxiety Fear Depression Anger Sadness …

Physiology of Stress Acidity Ulcers Heart ailments Blood Pressure Kidney problems Diabetes …

Chain Reaction of Stress: The Negative Spiral

Mind perceives threatTriggers animal instinct

of fight or flight

Adrenalin increases

to prepare the body

Heart beat increases to

supply more food & oxygen

to body parts

Blood pressure

increases

Breathing becomes

fast & shallow

Metabolism

increases

Stomach readies for

processing more food

Acidity* increases

Overloaded Excretory Systems

to clear the toxin

Imbalanced Endocrine Systems

the chemical factories of

hormones, enzymes

Imbalanced Emotions

Fear, Anxiety, Anger, Depression*…

Panic

Some Impacts of Sustained and Unmanaged Stress

Brain Continues to operate in higher Beta state (15 to 26 cycles per

second of electrical impulses (EEG)) Continues to trigger the rest of the body mechanism and create

stress Blood Pressure remains high

High blood pressures can lead to Heart failure, paralysis (due to breakdown of blood vessels in brain)…

Acidity, Ulcer and other digestive problems Diabetes Kidney problems due to overload on removing toxins from the

body Reduces immunity and makes body susceptible to diseases ….

Some More Impacts

Human body & mind are a highly complex and integrated system Each system impacts the other: either positively or

negatively

Stress and Mind induced effects on the body are far more harmful than the external pollution Internal Toxins are far more harmful than external

chemical/industrial pollution ISO 14000 needs significant change in the globalized

knowledge era!

Why Allopathic Medicines and Stimulants are not good for managing Stress

Allopathic medicines directly add chemical to the body and interfere with the internal chemical factories E.g. Taking Antacids for Acidity neutralizes the acid in the

stomach. Then body thinks that the acid is not sufficient and starts producing more.

E.g. Anti-depressants suppress the ability of brain cells to generate electric impulses People taking such drugs for prolonged time become dull

Stimulants like Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, Coco etc. temporarily trigger higher activities Subsequently body craves for more & more stimulants

Then how to manage stress?

Turn it into a Positive Spiral Break the negative cycle at each point

Some amount of Stress is healthy – it triggers and energizes the system

Managing Stress

Root Cause: Manage Mind Positive Thinking and Attitude Larger view of life Meditation

Build capability to face stressful situations and reduce the impact of stress at physiological level Yoga Pranayama

Healthy lifestyle and food habits

Have multiple positive energy sources Hobbies, interests

…

What does Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation do at Physiological level?...

Yogasanas Exercise different parts of the body Combine with breathing Postures: Stretch & hold, Compress & hold Creates flexibility and hollowness, lightness

Helps in flow of water, food, oxygen, electrical signals and flow of energy in the body

Isometric exercises As against Isotonic exercises of aerobics, gym exercises

which help to build muscles which reduce the flexibility & become blockers over a period

What does Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation do at Physiological level?...

Pranayama E.g. Ujjai breath: Increases absorption of oxygen into

the hemoglobin by creating inhale pressure in lungs for osmosis

E.g. Bastrika pranayama: Increases the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood plasma by creating exhale pressure in lungs for osmosis

Increases oxidation and liberation of energy in every cell of the body Air filter analogy in automobiles

Stimulates nerve tips in lungs which have connection to the brain area where Pituitary Gland is situated Pituitary Gland is the master gland in the endocrine system

and has a strong influence on rest of the endocrine glands

What does Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation do at Physiological level?

Meditation Takes the brain to Alpha state: electrical impulses of 8 to

14 cycles per second At deep meditation level (Samadhi state) brain goes to

Theta state: electrical impulses of 4 to 7 cycles per second Leads to deep relaxation

Sudarshana Kriya of Art of Living Takes the brain to higher beta state Then takes the brain to deep relaxation Thus exercises and expands the brain/mind capacity

Mind rules the body Mind Nervous system Endocrine system rest of the

body function

Importance of Endocrine System

Enzymes produced by Endocrine glands influence every cell, organ and function of the body

They regulate mood, growth, metabolism, tissue function, sexual & reproductive processes

Metabolism

Master glandControls all other

glands

Adrenalin: heart rate, blood pressure

Body rhythm

Insulin: blood sugar, energy

Immune system

Chain Reaction of Managing Stress: The Positive Spiral

Mind peaceful, joyfulTriggers hope, optimism,

Positive feelings

Adrenalin normal

to prepare the body

Heart beat normal to

supply normal food & oxygen

to body parts

Blood pressure

normal

Breathing becomes

slow & deep

Metabolism

normal

Stomach readies for

processing normal food

Acidity normal

Normal Excretory Systems

to clear the toxin

Balanced Endocrine Systems

the chemical factories of

hormones, enzymes

Balanced Emotions

Energetic, Enthusiastic, Positive…….

Calm

Confident

Composed

Clinical Research Results…

Ref: Art Of Living Research with AIIMS, NIMHANS

Increased alertness and deeper relaxation

of mind

Reduced tension and stress

Clinical Research Results

Improved immunity Increase in good cholesterol and

decrease in bad cholesterol Decreased depression

Beyond Physiology… The Energy System

Human Body as the Energy System

Modern Science & Medicine consider human body as merely electro-chemical, electro-mechanical and physical phenomena

Ancient Indian & Eastern Spiritual Sciences consider it as an Energy System Universal Cosmic Energy (everything is common at atomic

level) Yoga – union of body, mind and spirit Raja Yoga – Chakras Reiki (which means life force in Japanese; Started by Dr.

Mikao Usui a doctor and Buddhist monk during 1860s) Thai Chi, Acupressure, Acupuncture (originated in China) Homeopathy (Started by Dr. Hahnemann a doctor in

Germany during 1800s)

Chakras: Energy Centers

Chakras are situated near the key endocrine glands and nerve groups (plexus) Wireless connection to brain; Connection to Cosmic universal energy

Chakras and Naadis: Wireless Connection to Brain

World seen through the 5 sensors (wired connection) is narrow band: gross, inert, matter world

World seen through Chakras & Nadis (wireless connection) is broad band: subtle, dynamic, energy world

Science of Homeopathy: Medicine of Energy System

Basic principle: what causes disease cures the disease also when given in the potenticized form

Homeopathic medicine preparation Potencization through the process of tritration Transfer of atomic vibrations to the base substance. Not even a

single molecule of medicinal material will be present according to Avogadro number

Curing principle Right medicine creates energy vibrations in the human system

(resonance principle) This increase the energy level to improve the health conditions Typically causes initial aggravation and subsequently cures with

oscillations Cures inside-out: Mind Emotional level Physical level

Mind & Emotional symptoms are the key for diagnosis

So, to be “Successful”….

What is “Success”?

The definition I liked most: “The measure of Success is the number of joyful smiles per

day every day” – Shri Shri Ravishankar

Life is full of choices; The choices one makes determine one’s life – they are like cross-roads IQ < EQ < AQ < SQ : determine what choices one makes

Manage Mind Healthy mind FOR a healthy body It is mind, and not body, that differentiates the leader from

the rest Positive Energy is most fundamental to any Leader

The Vicious Cycle

People spend half of their life in making money and loose health in that process.

In the remaining half they spend that money trying to regain the health

Priority

1) Pursue money

2) Pursue fame

Loose health Loose joy Less creative

Less Accomplishment

Less RecognitionLess MoneyMore stress on the priorities

Make it a Virtuous Cycle

Pursue health (mind+body) and knowledge (universal knowledge) then money & fame will follow as a byproduct

Priority

1) Pursue health

2) Pursue knowledge

More joy More creative

More Accomplishment

More RecognitionMore MoneyContinue stress on the priorities

Don’t believe me…

Explore

Experiment

Experience

Modern Science (“Matter” Science) : Proof first, then belief/trust

Spiritual Science (“Energy” Science): Believe/trust first, then proof comes

… But do not wait for proof

Conclusion: The Simple Prescription

Practice Yoga & Pranayama (and Meditation) everyday* Life will change at the most fundamental level Art Of Living workshop is one of the best

Combines Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga (Service: Jesus), Bhakti Yoga (Devotion: Narada, Chaitanya…), Jnana Yoga

Practical for family & social life, professional life and spiritual life

Use Homeopathy for chronic or hereditary health problems to strengthen the positive spiral

Become better individuals and better leaders

Some references…

On Homeopathy and Physiology The Science of Homeopathy – by Dr. John Vikolthas Homeopathy Materia Medica – by Dr. Boericke Dr Padmanabhan padrdha@satyam.net.in Human Anatomy & Physiology – by Dr. David Le Vay

On Reiki Healing through Reiki – by MK Gupta

On Modern Science Scientific American – Mind Modern Physics – by Arthur Beiser

Some more references

On Ancient Indian Wisdom Art Of Living www.artofliving.org www.lifepositive.com Vedantha literature from Ramakrishna Mission Celebrating Silence – by Shri Shri Ravishankar Efficacy of Raja Yoga – Shri Ramachandra Mission Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga – Swami

Vivekananda Patanjali Yoga Sutra

At Behavioral level Stop Worrying and Start Living – by Dale Carneige Emotional Intelligence – by Daniel Goleman Power of Postive Thinking…… and so on