“Sahaja Yoga Meditation benefits have been well-researched, documented and proven by the scientific communities in several countries”
1. Effects on Body
2. Effects on Anxiety
3. Effects on Depression
4. Effects on Drug Abuse
5. Effects on Personality
6. Effects on Immune System
1. Effects on Body
A series of studies conducted by Prof Rai from the Department of Physiology of the University of Delhi have shown that Sahaja Yoga Meditation elicits a reduction in stress-related physiological parameters which indicate an increase of the parasympathetic nervous system, important for rest and relaxation.
This included a reduction in heart, respiratory and pulse rates, of systolic blood pressure, and oxygen metabolism and may have a role in the prevention of respiratory, hypertensive of cardiovascular disease.
References
Rai, U.C., Seti, S., Singh, S.H., 1988. Some effects of Sahaja Yoga and its role in the prevention of stress disorders. Journal of International Medical Sciences, 19-23
2. Effects on Anxiety
A study conducted at the University of Vienna found significant beneficial effects of Sahaja Yoga Meditation on reducing *state anxiety in healthy adults. A group of 37 adults was taught Sahaja Yoga Meditation for 8 weeks and compared to a group of 32 adults who received no intervention and a group of 32 adults who had to listen to music of Mozart.
The group who received Meditation showed a significant reduction in their levels of state anxiety compared to both controls and to the group that listened to Mozart.
References
Hackl, W. (1995) Die Auswirkungen von Sahaja Yoga auf das Drogenkonsumverhalten (The effect of Sahaja Yoga on drug consumption). Doctoral thesis submitted to the University in Vienna, 1995.
*State Anxiety Inventory consists of number of questions on how a person feels now, and reflects situational factors that may influence anxiety levels (i.e. I feel nervous, confidence). Scores range from 20 to 80 and the higher the score the greater the level of anxiety.
3. Effects on Depression
A study conducted at the University of Exeter, UK, showed that Sahaja Yoga Meditation has a beneficial therapeutic effect on the symptoms of patients with depression. 24 patients with depression were divided into three groups: a group receiving Sahaja Yoga Meditation over 6 weeks, a group receiving the conventional behavioral treatment (CBT) for depression and a control group that received no treatment.
The group treated with Sahaja Yoga Meditation when compared to the non-treated group showed a statistically significant reduction in the symptoms of depression and general mental health. At a trend level the Sahaja Yoga Meditation group also showed improvements compared to the group treated with CBT.
References
Morgan A. (2001): Sahaja Yoga: An ancient path to modern mental health? Transpersonal Psychology. Transpersonal Psychology Review 4:41-49.
4. Effects on Drug Abuse
A study conducted at the University of Vienna by Dr Hackl showed highly significant effects of Sahaja Yoga Meditation on drug consumption (i.e. Nicotin, Alcohol). The study used a retrospective questionnaire in 501 Meditators of Sahaja Yoga of which 268 people had used drugs before starting with the meditative practice.
The retrospective questionnaire showed that 97% of chronic drug consumers stopped taking drugs, most of them at the beginning of the Meditation practice, i.e. 42% after the first week of meditation, 32% after the first months.
References
Hackl, W. The effect of Sahaja Yoga on drug consumption. Die Auswirkungen von Sahaja Yoga auf das Drogenkonsumverhalten. Doctoral thesis submitted to the University in Vienna, 1995.
5. Effects on Personality
A study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience compared 25 meditators of Sahaja Yoga to a group of 25 comparison subjects who did not practice Meditation on a range of trait personality measures.The long-term meditators scored significantly lower in personality features of anxiety, neuroticism, psychoticism, and depression and scored higher in emotion recognition and expression.
This suggests that long-term Meditation practice leads to higher psycho-emotional stability and better emotional skills.
References
Aftanas L, Golosheykin S. (2005): Impact of regular meditation practice on EEG activity at rest and during evoked negative emotions. International Journal of Neuroscience 115(6):893-909.
6. Effects on Immune System
A study conducted by Prof Ram Mishra at the McMaster’s University, in Toronto, showed that Sahaja Yoga Meditation elicited a significant increase of 70% in beta-endorphins as measured in the blood in males.Beta-endorphins are neuro-hormones, endogenous opioids that are released from the pituitary gland in the hypothalamus and have been associated to feelings of positive affect such as happiness and euphoria.
They are also released during high performance sports and when people are in love.They are thought to play an important role in homeostatic mechanisms, pain reduction and may even affect the immune system. A strengthening of the immune system through meditation could explain why some people improve in severe illnesses with Meditation.
References
Mishra R, Barlas C, Barone D. (1993): Plasma beta endorphin levels in humans: effect of Sahaja Yoga. Paper presented at the “Medical Aspects of Sahaja Yoga”, Medical conference, held in New Delhi India, 1993.