This unique breathing technique eliminates stress, fatigue and negative emotions such as anger, frustration and depression, leaving you calm yet energized, focused yet relaxed.īreath is a severely under-utilized yogic tool in mainstream yoga in the US. Sudarshan Kriya® incorporates specific natural rhythms of the breath which harmonize the body, mind and emotions. Here is where a technique like Sudarshan Kriya® comes and swoops you effortlessly, reminding us once more, about the power of breath. Sometimes it is even more difficult when practicing alone. A rushing mind could not create that space, and time, to sit and when it sits, it could not do so for long. To sit in meditation would still the mind, but the mind needs to be still and sit for meditation. This is like being in a meditation Catch-22. What kind of practice? One that is done with sincerity, continuously and without break for a long period of time. Patanjali says, the mind is managed by practice. Some of us try to meditate and either quickly give up, or continue shopping for the perfect fit. But more often than not it is a fantasy, something to happen in the future. A thought passes sometime yes it would be nice to meditate. Mats sprayed, cleaned rolled up, blocks set aside, we run to the next life event. And the next thought arises, ‘Is anyone looking?’ And finally, the 40 minute session is over. One moment you may think, ‘I am doing this posture well’. This posture is too long, the body hurts. The mind jumps from one thought to another. We rush into the yoga class, the asanas feel good and the sweat drips onto the mat.
In the business and busy-ness of life, we often miss this simple truth. Yet, you’re with friends, singing, your mind is joyful you are at peace. You are out camping, with little luxury, you’ve been rained on, you’re soaking wet. On the other hand, the external circumstances could be miserable. Yet, you just had a fight with a loved one and your mind is in complete agitation. All the external circumstances are perfect. Imagine for a moment, lying on a beautiful beach, in a luxury resort. The quality of our mind determines the quality of our life. But we can easily miss that the aim of yoga is not just great abs, butt, or even health benefits, but the stillness of the mind. Often at the end, of a yoga class we may experience some meditative rest. Yogah Chitta Vritti Nirodhah (Sanskrit) Yoga is the removal of the fluctuations of the mind Reduction in stress-hormone levels (cortisol and ACTH) along with BDI reductions possibly support a biological mechanism of SKY in producing beneficial effects.The Yoga Sutras, Patanjali’s seminal text on Yoga, starts off with this succinct definition. Results extend the antidepressant effects of SKY in alcohol dependence subjects. It is not known if this effect contributes to sustained abstinence. Reduction in BDI scores correlated with that in cortisol in SKY but not in control group.Īntidepressant effects of SKY were demonstrated in early abstinence that also had substantial spontaneous improvement.
Likewise, in both groups plasma cortisol as well as ACTH fell after two weeks but significantly more so in SKY group. In both groups reductions in BDI scores occurred but significantly more so in SKY group. Morning plasma cortisol, ACTH and prolactin too were measured before and at the end of two weeks. Subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after the two weeks of this intervention. SKY therapy included alternate day practice of specified breathing exercise under supervision of a trained therapist. SKY was tested for this effect in inpatients of alcohol dependence.įollowing a week of detoxification management consenting subjects (n=60) were equally randomized to receive SKY therapy or not (controls) for a two-week study. Sudarshana Kriya Yoga (SKY) has demonstrable antidepressant effects.