Effect of Yoga on Physiological Functions and Therapeutic Potential of Yoga

Abstract

I joined JIPMER in March 1977 as Lecturer in Physiology. Apart from routine teaching, I started research work in right earnest using animals for my study. I soon realized that yoga has great potential not only to improve our physiological functions, but also to prevent and manage stress and a host of chronic diseases that defy modern medicine. Modern medicine (allopathy) is based on linear Newtonian physics. It is disease-oriented (pathy). Allopathic drugs have many undesirable “side effects” and adverse drug reactions (ADR) kill many patients. In contrast, the holistic science of yoga is health-oriented and yogic techniques have desirable “side benefits”.