200
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Scientists predict that we only observe and understand 4 percent of the
universe in which we live. Similarly, we are only on the frontiers of exploration
when it comes to the science of the human brain, mind, and consciousness,
which gets to the heart of yoga’s capacity for transformation.
ON THE FRONTIERS
OF SCIENCE
Bear in mind that
extraordinary
claims require
extraordinary
evidence.
Q
How do I know if a yoga study
is reliable?
Not all yoga research is created
equally, so it is good to approach
it critically. Some factors to
consider are:
What kind of study is it? The
hierarchy of scientific evidence (see
below) gives a good idea of how
reliable different kinds of studies
are. Evidence that is lower on the
pyramid is still valuable, but the
higher up, the more reliable. There
are increasing systematic reviews
and meta-analyses on key topics in
yoga, including mental health, heart
disease, chronic pain, and safety.
How large is the sample size?
From case reports of one to
randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
of 228 people, yoga studies tend
to be relatively small, especially
compared to pharmaceutical RCTs
with up to tens of thousands
of participants.
Is there a control group? If so,
what? Many yoga studies incorporate
a “usual care” control group. A few
higher-quality ones have an active
control, such as comparing yoga to
exercise or talk therapy.
What is the conclusion? Bear
in mind that extraordinary claims
require extraordinary evidence. This
is why many yoga researchers use
phrases such as “yoga may improve”
or “this suggests that yoga helps.
As interest in yoga research
increases, scientists will keep
questioning results.
Gold standard—
larger review of the
systematic reviews
Meta-
analysis
Systematic
review
Randomized
controlled trials
Studies without
controls and case reports
Expert advice
A review of all
the RCTs
Aims to limit bias
through randomization
and comparison
Usually preliminary
research and an
individual’s results
Such as blogs
or magazines
HIERARCHY OF EVIDENCE
You can use this pyramid to gauge
the reliability of different types of
scientific evidence.
Increases in reliability
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201
Q
Is there scientific evidence to
support yogic concepts, such as
prana and the chakras?
Yoga research tends to focus
on specific health conditions
and practical benefits, rather
than subtle energetics, as
prana and chakras represent
a way of knowing that doesn’t
necessarily translate directly
to a straightforward analysis
of biology. Some people, for
example, claim that the flow
of prana is in alignment with
the nerves, and the chakras
with the glands, but there
is no scientific evidence to
support this. It may be that
before dissection showed us
where these structures were,
yogis felt them working in their
bodies. It is also possible
that we are still limited by our
current instruments and will
one day have the tools to locate
and measure prana.
Q
How much research is there
into yoga?
Research into yoga is relatively
limited, albeit on the rise, and fast.
A bibliometric review of the relevant
research from 1967 to 2013, for
example, showed an exponential
growth in the number of studies
conducted from fewer than 25
publications from 1967–1973 to well
over 225 publications in 2009–2013,
correlating with the rise of
popularity of yoga.
The research also identifies that
the top four areas of research are:
mental health disorders
cardiovascular disease
respiratory diseases
musculoskeletal disorders.
CHAKRAS AND NADIS
Nadis are energy channels along
which the seven energy centers,
known as chakras, are located.
Ida nadi
Pingala nadi
Sushumna nadi is
the central channel
Muladhara chakra
corresponds to the
earth element
Svadhisthana chakra
corresponds to the sexual
organs and is dominated
by the water element
Manipura chakra is
the astral counterpart
of the solar plexus;
its element is fire
Anahata chakra
is dominated by
the air element
Vishuddha chakra
is a manifestation
of the element ether
Ajna chakra is
our third eye, or
intuitive center
Sahasrara chakra is
the gateway to Cosmic
Consciousness
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