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Yoga Dissertations by MSc Students

Part I: Nadis and Meridians – A Correlation.
Part II: Effect of Yoga on the Visual Memory in School Children
By
Shruddha S Kamat

Abstract
Part I: Nadis and Meridians – A Correlation.
The present study is done to have a comprehensive view of the concepts of nadis and Meridians in the ancient Indian scriptures and the ancient Chinese medicine respectively. The word nadi comes from the Samskrta root nad, meaning movement. In the Rgveda, it means stream. In yoga, nadis are the channels of Kundalini energy. Ayurveda mentions 72,000 different nadis. Tantra yoga identifies 14 principle nadis of which the following three anmely ida, pingala, and the susumna nadi are important. Chinese medicine proposes that there are currents of energy in the body, called meridians that are modulated by the effects of yin and yang, and influenced by environmental and emotional effects. There were correlations found between nadis and meridians in regard to various aspects. Energy as Qi and prana is found in writing of ancient medical guide such as “ Yellow emperor’s Guide” in Chinese, and Ayurvedic system in India. The Chinese mode is more synthetic, it tends to see how different phenomena are interconnected, in Chinese thought, man has never been separated from nature, he is an inseparable part of his environment, the idea is conveyed that human beings are an integral part of his environment, the idea is conveyed that human beings are an integral part of nature, but only a small part. The goal is not to dominate nature, but to do live in harmony with it. Hence, a relation is found between ancient Indian scriptures and ancient Chinese medicine and hence an overall view of most of the concepts of nadis and meridians are outlined in the study. Further research may be done on the details of the diagnosis of disease based on nadis and Meridians.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

*    The present study is done to have a comprehensive view of the concepts of näòis and meridians in the ancient Indian scriptures and the ancient Chinese medicine respectively. The word näòi comes from the Saàskåta root NAD, meaning movement. In yoga, näòis are the channels of Kuëòaliné   energy. The concept of näòis is based on the understanding that they are channels; any channel through which anything flows is a näòi. There are two types of näòis, Subtle, non material, invisible channels of subtle energy called yoga näòis. Gross channels of subtle energy, visible as cords, vessels, or tubes. The concept of näòis is told according to various Indian scriptures such as Äyurveda, Haöha Yoga, Tantra yoga Kaöhopaniñat, Praçnopaniñat, Varähopaniñat, Gheränòa saàhita, Çiva swarodaya Çiva Saàhita.
  * Chinese Medicine refers to Traditional Chinese Medicine (Chinese Medicine). It is an ancient system of medicine and health care the oldest, continually practiced, literate medicine in the world that is based on the concept of balanced Qi or vital energy that flows throughout the body. The ancient Chinese described an essential life-force or vital-energy called Qi, which is present throughout the cosmos and in every living creature. These meridians link the vital organs inside with the skin and muscles on the body surface, as well as form the channels of communication between the vital organs and accessory organs of the body. As long as Qi flows freely throughout the meridians, health is maintained. Disruption of the flow of Qi through the meridians results in pain and illness. The use of acupuncture can correct such disruption by shunting Qi to those areas where it is deficient and draining it from areas where it is excess. These meridians form an invisible network that carries chi to every tissue in the body. Five Element theory postulates the Qi (Ki, Chi) which constitutes the universe can be subdivided into five different phases, namely Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The human body contains all five of these qualities. The pulse system is highly developed in Chinese medicine, and consists of six positions on each wrist, and the trained practitioner can determine various pulse beats. According to Traditional Chinese medical text, the pulse corresponds to different organ networks, areas of the body, meridians or energy channels, and physiological processes like breathing, digestion and elimination.
 *   Indian traditional medicine, and especially one of its most prominent representatives, Swara yoga, is also acquainted with an energy system analogous to the Chinese acupuncture system in Indian terminology the qi is called is called Präëä, and meridians as näòis (14 of them being basic, like in acupuncture, although three of them being of special medical and spiritual significance: Iòä, Pingalä, and Suñumnä).  The Zang/Fu is closely linked in all physiological and pathological activities.  The heart is the most important of all the Zang organs. All consciousness and every thought belong to the heart. Praëa is also been described in the Upaniñads, where in the heart is the important vital organ for the Präëä (Kaöhopaniñat). The ancient Chinese knew that by living in harmony with nature and seasons, they could live long healthy lives. Even in our ancient scriptures, they recognized the importance of living in harmony with nature. The five corresponding seasons are spring, summer, late summer, fall and winter, they had important correspondences of organs, emotions, health issues and foods oft each element and of seasons. These seasons may be related to the seasons talked about in äyurveda (ritucharya). In acupuncture there is a meridian, called the Governor Vessel meridian which has some correspondence with the suçumnä. In general, acupuncture meridians may be equated with the näòis that carry pranic energy.

Part II: Effect of Yoga on the Visual Memory in School Children

The present study assessed the visual memory in school children following general yoga practices. Children (n=297 whose ages ranged from 10-12 years ) were randomly assigned 3 groups. Each group practiced a specific yoga module (Physical stamina= Dynamic practices; Creativity = artwork, crafts, skits; IQ=Special quiz, debate). These techniques were practiced and visual memory was assessed initially and after 9 days. There were 277 children who were got after dropouts and checking for abnormal in visual memory (p<0.001, paired sample t-test ) but physical stamina showed a higher increase (27.73% change ) than other two groups. The left or right dominant yoga modules have influenced the visual memory more than physical and balancing effects of yoga modules.

SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

1.    The present study is done to assess the efficacy of ‘Integrated yoga module (IYM) with the use of three different yoga modules on visual memory.
2.     The present study was also done to examine whether the creativity group (yoga module) showed much improvement in the visual memory in school children. The present study was also done to check whether gender had an effect on the changes in memory scores.
 3.    In this study, school children (n=297, age range = 10 to12 years) were randomly assigned to three groups namely IQG, CRG, and PSG.
             4.    The groups had interventions of IYM to enhance CRG, IQG and PSG. The number of students in each group during analysis was IQG (n=86), CRG (n=92), PSG (n=99).
   5.    The assessments for visual reproduction (visual memory) were taken on the 1st and 9th day of the course. The subjects were told that the memory test were for their self-assessment to understand the benefits derived from the course. The necessary conditions for the test namely, the seating arrangement, timing was strictly adhered to.
             6.    The scoring done for the test was based on Wechsler’s memory scale for children.  The intervention for the study included yoga practices, which were very specific for the three yoga modules.
    7.    The analysis of data was done after checking for elimination of abnormal data and attrition of data. The normality test showed that the groups were not of normal distribution. The ‘f’ test showed that the groups were homogenous. The Paired’t’ test indicated that all the three groups showed improvement. The Wilcoxon test done also showed improvement in the group’s .The Multiple comparison Tukey test showed that there was significant difference between groups. It showed that the IQ group showed more significance than the other two groups. The scores showed results with regard to gender too. The total males between groups showed significant difference. (p=0.000) The total females did not show significant difference between groups. (p=0.067).

Keywords:Nadis,meridians,children.