Behind-the-scenes story of yoga science popularization: a historical overview

Part 7: This section focused on the events from 1930' to 1960's to show how difficult it is to explore the unknown territory of Yoga and how confounding it was in the traditionally accepted medical knowledge.

The term "stress" has its roots in physics, where it refers to the force applied to an object. In the early 20th century, the word started to gain traction in the field of psychology, thanks to the work of Walter Cannon and Hans Selye.

Walter Cannon introduced the concept of the "fight-or-flight" response in the 1920s, describing the physiological reactions of the body to perceived threats or challenges. His work laid the foundation for understanding stress as a psychological construct.

Building upon Cannon's work, Hans Selye, an endocrinologist, further developed the concept of stress in the 1930s and 1940s. Selye coined the term "stressor" to refer to environmental stimuli that caused physiological responses in organisms, and he also described the "general adaptation syndrome" as a three-stage process of stress response (alarm, resistance, and exhaustion).

By the 1950s, the term "stress" had become more widely accepted within medical and health sciences, largely thanks to Selye's extensive research and publications on the topic. It was during this period that researchers and clinicians began exploring the connections between stress and various health conditions, as well as potential coping mechanisms and stress management techniques.

Hans Selye Syndrome, more commonly known as General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), is a concept introduced by Hans Selye in 1936. It describes the body's physiological response to stress in three distinct stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

The alarm stage occurs when the body initially reacts to a stressor, activating the fight-or-flight response. During this stage, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.

If the stressor persists, the body enters the resistance stage, during which it attempts to adapt to the ongoing stressor by maintaining elevated physiological responses. This stage is marked by the release of cortisol, a stress hormone, which helps the body maintain homeostasis and manage the stressor.

Finally, if the stressor continues for an extended period, the body reaches the exhaustion stage, where it can no longer maintain its heightened responses. In this stage, physical and mental exhaustion occur as the body's resources become depleted, potentially leading to negative health consequences.

Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome has been widely influential in understanding the body's response to stress and has contributed significantly to the field of stress research.

Persistent demands to perform beyond one's capacities can indeed lead to chronic stress in the industrialized and corporate world for employees. The constant pressure to meet deadlines, achieve targets, and handle the competitive work environment can create a state of ongoing stress.

Chronic stress in the workplace can result in employees experiencing symptoms related to Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). During the alarm stage, employees may experience increased anxiety, irritability, and decreased productivity as they struggle to cope with excessive demands. If the stressors are not alleviated, they may progress to the resistance stage, where their bodies attempt to adapt by maintaining elevated stress responses. Over time, this can lead to various health issues, such as high blood pressure, weakened immune system, and mental health problems.

In cases where employees face traumatic stress, they may experience more severe symptoms and be at higher risk of developing chronic stress-related conditions. In these situations, individuals may cycle through the stages of GAS repeatedly, leading to long-term physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.

It is important for employers and employees alike to recognize the potential consequences of chronic stress in the workplace and take steps to mitigate its effects. This may include implementing stress management programs, promoting a healthy work-life balance, and fostering a supportive and understanding work environment.

Shavasana, also known as the “corpse pose,” was incorporated into yoga routines following a series of prescribed poses, allowing the body to regain its homeostatic balance. During Shavasana, the practitioner lies flat on their back in a relaxed position, encouraging a deep state of rest and rejuvenation. This posture has been found to help lower blood pressure and pulse rate, contributing to a sense of tranquility and calmness.

While the term "stress management" was not yet widely used in this context, the underlying principles and benefits were recognized. The practice of Shavasana and Pratyahara offered an early insight into the value of relaxation techniques for counteracting the effects of stress and fostering overall well-being. Over time, these concepts would become increasingly important within the fields of yoga, meditation, and modern stress management practices.

Swami Kuvalayananda and his disciples practiced this technique daily and when needed to attain a state of tranquility. They included this in the Yoga routine they taught to the students of yoga both in the Marine Drive Branch of Kaivalyadhama and their Lonavla branch starting in 1924, through 1930's and beyond in the 20th century and is still routinely prescribed in Kaivalyadhama physical culture. This is not said to highlight Kaivalyadhama is unique in this respect but Swami ji was curious to know how it worked.

Swami Kuvalayananda and his disciples incorporated the practice of Shavasana into their daily routine as a means to attain a state of tranquility. Understanding its benefits, they included this posture in the Yoga routines taught to students at both the Marine Drive and Lonavla branches of Kaivalyadhama, starting in 1924 and continuing throughout the 1930s and beyond as stated above. This relaxation technique has remained an integral part of the Kaivalyadhama physical culture well into the 20th century and is still routinely prescribed.

While this is not to claim that Kaivalyadhama is unique in its use of Shavasana, it is essential to recognize Swami Kuvalayananda's curiosity and determination to understand how the practice worked. His commitment to exploring the underlying mechanisms of Shavasana and other yoga techniques contributed to a deeper understanding of their therapeutic benefits and laid the groundwork for further scientific research in the field. Through his work and that of his disciples, Swami Kuvalayananda helped establish a strong foundation for the integration of yoga into modern stress management practices.

To appreciate the clinical research in this domain, it is crucial to acknowledge that the relaxation technique of Shavasana, as part of Pratyahara, has its roots in ancient yogic practices. Neither Swami Kuvalayananda nor Dr. Vinekar claimed to have discovered this method, recognizing instead its long-standing presence within the yoga tradition. However, conducting scientific research and clinical trials requires comparing experimental and control groups to demonstrate statistically significant improvements with any medication, therapy, or procedure, beyond chance or the placebo effect.

To lend credibility to their findings and ensure a rigorous scientific approach, it was necessary for Swami Kuvalayananda and Dr. Vinekar to collaborate with specialists in cardiovascular medicine. This collaboration allowed them to design and carry out clinical trials that met the high standards expected in the medical field. By examining the physiological effects of Shavasana on participants, they could investigate its potential benefits in managing stress and promoting cardiovascular health.

The integration of age-old yogic practices into the realm of modern scientific research, as exemplified by the work of Swami Kuvalayananda and Dr. Vinekar, underscores the importance of bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary methodologies. This approach not only validates the efficacy of ancient techniques but also encourages the broader acceptance and adoption of holistic stress management practices within the medical community.

In a remarkable turn of events, the research at Lonavla Kaivalyadhama's College of Yoga took an unexpected twist with the discovery of a student, Shri Upadhyaya, who possessed an extraordinary ability. Not only could he lower his heart rate voluntarily, but he also appeared to have conscious control over his autonomic nervous system. This remarkable feat enabled him to gradually slow his heart rate to the point of stopping it momentarily for a few seconds.

The evidence of this phenomenon was captured on an electrocardiogram (EKG), where the amplitude of the QRS complex diminished progressively as the heart rate slowed. The EKG tracings clearly showed the distance between heartbeats increasing before the heart came to a standstill. This visual representation of Upadhyaya's ability was irrefutable, providing indisputable evidence for those who were open to believing in this unique phenomenon or needed convincing.

Recognizing the extraordinary nature of this finding, it was essential to seek validation from an expert in cardiovascular medicine. Their professional opinion would lend further credibility to the already compelling evidence and help ensure that this unusual discovery was accurately understood within the broader context of cardiovascular research.

Seeking validation for the remarkable EKG results, Dr. Vinekar turned to his alma mater, the Seth G. S. Medical College of the University of Bombay, associated with K. E. M. Hospital. There, he consulted with Dr. K. K. Datey, a distinguished cardiologist and professor of Cardiology.

Dr. Datey reviewed the EKG data and confirmed that it indeed showed the extraordinary ability of Shri Upadhyaya to consciously control his heart rate. However, heavily influenced by the prevailing belief in Western medicine that the autonomic nervous system is strictly autonomous, Dr. Datey found it difficult to reconcile the evidence with the existing paradigm. Despite the compelling data, he held firm to the established view that conscious control over the autonomic nervous system was impossible.

While Dr. Datey's validation of the EKG results brought credibility to the findings, his adherence to conventional wisdom prevented him from advocating for further investigations. Suggestions for additional studies, such as fluoroscopy, which could provide real-time visualizations of Shri Upadhyaya's heart, were not pursued. The apparent contradiction between established medical principles and the extraordinary abilities demonstrated by Shri Upadhyaya would remain a topic of intrigue and debate within the medical community.

Dr. Datey could have remained noncommittal by saying it is unique and indeed he did not have an explanation. However, his words have caused a confounding twist in the history of Yoga research. Dr. Datey's written opinion was that it was not conscious control over the autonomic nervous system but Shri Upadhaya was twisting his heart in the thoracic space kinking his aorta which causes the heart to stop. He did not explain the gradual electrophysiological changes occurring in the heart as related to a mechanical event in the chest.

In the 1950s, Dr. Datey was not alone among Western-trained physicians in his skepticism regarding the potential for conscious control over the autonomic nervous system. A noteworthy anecdote, which should be approached with due consideration for its anecdotal nature, highlights the historical context of these events and the conflicting perspectives within the medical community.

Dr. Vinekar, seeking insight from esteemed professionals in the field, pursued a meeting with the renowned Dr. Hans Selye in Toronto during the late 1950s. Successful in his endeavor, Dr. Vinekar shared the details of his research at Kaivalyadhama, including the remarkable EKG findings related to Shri Upadhyaya's ability to manipulate his heart rate.

In response, Dr. Selye exhibited his characteristic authoritative demeanor, firmly admonishing Dr. Vinekar on the fundamentals of medicine. Emphasizing the established view of the autonomic nervous system as strictly autonomous, Dr. Selye dismissed the notion of any potential conscious control over its functions. Though courteous in his delivery, his rejection of Dr. Vinekar's propositions underscored the predominant medical belief of the era.

This encounter between Drs. Vinekar and Selye serves as a microcosm of the broader tensions between traditional medical understanding and the emerging potential of alternative practices, such as yoga, to influence physiological processes previously considered beyond conscious control.

In 1972, a significant event took place when Yogi Rama paid a personal visit to the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, marking a turning point in the Western scientific community's acceptance of the notion that yogis could develop conscious control over their autonomic functions. The researchers at Kaivalyadhama had already accumulated substantial evidence supporting this assertion as early as the 1950s. Remember, Dr. Wenger had stayed in the Ashram to study many yoga practitioners in late 1930's and published his findings in 1942 demonstrating that their practices shifted their autonomic balance to parasympathetic predominance.

Yogi Rama's demonstration of his abilities, in conjunction with his willingness to participate in scientific studies, provided the much-needed catalyst for researchers at the Menninger Clinic and other institutions to investigate the potential of yoga in influencing physiological processes. This marked a shift away from the previously held belief that the autonomic nervous system was strictly autonomous and could not be consciously controlled. This work fueled development of a new technology called "Bio-feedback" which we shall discuss in future sections.

As researchers began to embrace the idea that conscious control over autonomic functions was possible through disciplined yoga practice, the stage was set for further exploration of the therapeutic benefits of yoga and meditation. This development ultimately contributed to the integration of mind-body practices into contemporary stress management techniques and opened new avenues for research into the potential applications of yoga in healthcare.

The story takes an unexpected turn as Dr. Datey's perspective seemingly shifts over time. Despite his initial reluctance to acknowledge the potential implications of Shri Upadhyaya's abilities, Dr. Datey eventually sought out Dr. Vinekar for private yoga lessons. In contrast to the stringent privacy regulations of modern-day healthcare, such as HIPAA, the circumstances surrounding Dr. Datey's request remained unquestioned, as the potential value of this relationship was evident to Dr. Vinekar.

After many months of learning yoga from Dr. Vinekar, Dr. Datey finally revealed the underlying reason for his sudden curiosity. He had been struggling with high blood pressure himself and found relief through the yoga techniques he had learned. This personal experience led Dr. Datey to invite Dr. Vinekar to join the Department of Cardiology at K E M Hospital as an Associate Honorary physician and launch a clinical research study (1962-1967) on the benefits of Shavasana for patients suffering from hypertension.

The study by Datey, et. al. which included Dr. Vinekar as a co-author, yielded encouraging results, demonstrating the positive effects of Shavasana on patients with high blood pressure. The findings were published in the Journal "Angiology" and later also in the Journal of Biofeedback and Mind Control. This remarkable work apparently did not catch attention of the researchers on stress management who started publishing benefits of meditation in the very late 1960's and in early 1970's, when the words "stress management" became more popular, acceptable in traditional allopathic medicine, and even fashionable.

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