5 Top Take-Aways from The Medical Yoga Symposium at The Smithsonian in Washington D.C.

Siddha Pratima Yantra Western

India, dated 1333 (Samvat 1390)

Bronze, 21.9 x 13.1 x 8.9 cm

Freer Gallery of Art, F1997.33

Linda Lang of Greater Washington curated a 2-day symposium in conjunction with the exhibition of Yoga: The Art of Transformation at the Freer & Sackler Galleries.  The symposium showcased evidence based research on the elements of yoga therapy.  Here are five major take-away points of the symposium lectures and presentations.

1.  Dean Ornish, MD delivered the keynote speech on Day 1 and shared 4 lifestyle changes that can help reverse heart disease and early stages of prostate cancer.  He discussed the following four factors:

• Plant based diet
• Exercise
• Stress Management  (Yoga + Meditation)
• Love & Support *

2.  Richard Miller's iRest program of yoga nidra is a research based transformative practice which effectively reduces : PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Chronic Pain and Chemical Dependency. It is widely used with veterans, military hospitals and beyond.

3.  Sat Bir Singh Khalsa PhD, a Harvard professor and researcher presented data on  positive effects of the relaxation response.  The relaxation response enhances : energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, insulin secretion, telomere maintenance and reduces the expression of genes linked to inflammatory response and stress related pathways.

4.  Amrita McLanahan, MD, a holistic medical physician and keynote speaker of Day 2 shared that one yoga class releases oxytocin in the body. Oxytocin makes one feel : Belonging, Seen, Connected and Heard.

5. NIH and NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) are conducting research on the effects of yoga on health. If you are interested in research, please contact: info@nccam.nih.gov.