American Council on Exercise, 68
American Heart Association, 54
American Physical Therapy Association, 149
American Society for Preventive Cardiology, 62
Amsterdam, Dina, 59–60, 62
Amsterdam, Ezra A., xv, 59–63
amygdala, 179
Ananda Marga sect, 176
antagonists, 99
antioxidants, 40
Anusara yoga, xxiii, 134
anxiety, reduction of, 99
Archives of General Psychiatry, 177
Archives of Neurology, 119
Ardha Matsyendrasana (Spinal Twist), 167, 167
arthritis, 42–43, 132, 143
asanas, 16
holding, 139, 171
redesign of, 131–33
in research studies, 60, 68
traditional, 58
X-Rated, 131
see also specific poses
Asanas (Gune), xxvii, 103
ascetics, 15–16
Ashtanga yoga, xxiii, 5, 48
and aerobics, 50, 74
and injuries, 123, 133–34
and Krishnamacharya, 30, 71, 99, 133
and Patanjali sutras, 58–59
Ashtanga yoga (cont.)
and Power Yoga, xxiii, 68
and research studies, 59, 71, 99, 133–34
and Sun Salutation, 30, 58, 94
and Vinyasa system, 58
atherosclerosis, 40
Autobiography of a Yogi (Yogananda), xxvii–xxviii, 34
autonomic nervous system, 89–90, 93–94, 96, 176, 177, 205
awareness, 106, 107, 108, 205
back injuries, 134
Bagchi, Basu Kumar, xv, xxviii, 34–36, 40, 45, 89, 158
basilar artery, 114, 116, 120
beauty-salon syndrome, 114–16, 127
Behanan, Kovoor T., xv, xxvii, 83–85, 202
and slow breathing, 87–88, 90, 158–59
Yoga: A Scientific Evaluation, xv, 83–84
Bellows Breath, 86
Bell Telephone Laboratories, 82
Benares, India, as heart of Hinduism, 20
Bengal Medical College, 19, 20
Benson, Herbert, xv, xxviii–xxix, 95–96
and hypometabolism, 96, 158
The Relaxation Response, 95, 177, 200
Bera, T. K., xv, 37, 45, 158
Bernardi, Luciano, 88
Better Sex Through Yoga (DVDs), 164
Bhajan, Yogi, 99
Bhastrika, 131, 158
and Breath of Fire, 86, 175
and hyperventilation, 87
and Kapalbhati, 182
and research studies, 168, 175, 178, 180, 182
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose), 115
see also Cobra
Bihar School, 169
Bikram Yoga, xxiii
and Choudhury, xv, 3, 47–48, 50, 103, 123, 124
as hot yoga, xxiii, 3, 50, 123, 124, 181
and injuries, 123–24
instructor training in, 135
and inversions, 133
and Kapalbhati Pranayama, 129, 183
and research studies, 69, 99
studio visit, 181–82
Bikram Yoga (Choudhury), 47–48, 124
biofeedback, 201
Biological Basis of Religion and Genius, The (Krishna), 195, 210
Biology of Kundalini (Dixon), 210
Black, Glenn, xv, 105–9, 135–36, 144
Blackburn, Elizabeth, 44
Blair, Tony, 159
blood pressure, 40, 44, 91–92, 95
blood sugar, 40
Body & Soul magazine, 123
bones, osteoporosis, 142, 143
Boston study, neurochemistry, 98–100, 202
Boston Symphony Orchestra, 101
Bow (Dhanurasana), 96, 168, 168, 183
Boyd, Bob, 189
brain:
blood flow to, 112–16, 120
hemispheric specialization, 203–6
left side, 203, 204
oxygen flow to, 178
right side, xxxi, 203–5, 207–8, 219
brain injuries, 111–16, 119–21, 134
and inversions, 119, 126
and the neck, 112, 113, 114–16, 118, 119
and strokes, see strokes
brain mapping, 190–91
brain scanning, 178–79
brain studies:
autonomic nervous system, 89–90
and creativity, 203–8
tracking GABA, 99–100
breathing:
and carbon dioxide, 21, 22, 28, 85–88
control of, 83, 89–90
deep, 28
and euphoria, 21
fast, xxx, xxxi, 6, 28, 86–87, 94, 129–30, 175, 179–81
and Hatha yoga, 52–53
Holotropic Breathwork, 201
and lungs, 129–30
and metabolism, 22, 50, 90, 158
and moods, 83–89
and oxygenation, 52–53, 85, 157–59
pranayama, 21, 28, 51
rebreathing same air, 21
and relaxation, 84, 90
research on, 87, 178, 180–81
rhythmic, 201
Shining Skull Breath, 129, 175, 183
slow, 87–88, 89, 90, 130, 158–59
Valsalva maneuver, 236n
and vital capacity, 50–51
Breath of Fire, 86, 88, 129, 175
Breath of Joy, 80, 216
British Medical Journal, 114
Brosse, Thérèse, xv, 89
Brotto, Lori A., xv, 180–81
Buddhism, 185
cancer survivors, 219
carbon dioxide, 21, 22, 28, 85–88, 96
carbonic acid, 230–31n
cardiac arrest, 92
cardiovascular fitness, 58, 59, 74
cardiovascular health, 40, 170, 219, 220
carotid arteries, 92
central parietal lobes, 175
cerebellum, 114, 118
Certified Yoga Therapists, 152–53
chants, 88
Chaya, Mayasandra S., xv, 96, 98
Chest, 130
cholesterol, 40, 44
Choudhury, Bikram, xv, 73, 103
and Bikram Yoga, xv, 3, 47–48, 50, 99, 124
and hot yoga, xv, 3, 47–48, 88, 99, 123–24
and sex, 165
chronology, xxv–xxxi
Cicoria, Tony, 208–9, 212
Circulation, 35
circus performers, injuries of, 103
Clay, Carolyn C., xvi, 66–68
Clinical and Experimental Neurology, 120
Clinton, Bill, 159
Cobra (Bhujangasana), 115
and Gheranda Samhita, 171–72
and injuries, 115, 121, 122, 126
and research studies, xxx, 96, 167, 171–73, 183
and testosterone, xxx, 168, 172–73
Cole, Roger, 133
Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, 134–35, 143
Columbia Journalism Review, 122–23
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Yoga, The, 45, 88–89
Consumer Product Safety Commission, 121
Cooper, Kenneth H., xvi, 53–54, 64
Cope, Stephen, 101
Corby, James C., xvi, 176–77, 178, 221
Corpse Pose (Savasana), 81
and awareness, 205
and relaxation, 60, 71, 81, 96, 183, 199, 205
and research studies, 60, 71, 96, 183
corpus callosum, 203
cortex, 179
cortisol, 172
creativity, 195–214
and artistic lifestyle, 206–8
and brain studies, 203–8
and emotion, 200–201
and GABA, 202
and inspiration, 196–200
and kundalini, 195–96, 208–14
and music, 198–200, 204, 208–9
research into, 196–97, 201–2, 205–8, 213–14
and sex, 206–7, 208
/>
and the unconscious, 197–98, 201
cross training, 75–76
cryptogenic injuries, 116
Dalai Lama, 42, 219
Davis, Jeff, 200, 202
Degler, Teri, 212
depression, 79–80, 98–100, 220
Desikachar, T. K. V., 155, 235n
destiny, 165
Devi, Indra, xvi, 33–34, 198, 235n
Forever Young, Forever Healthy, xxviii, 34, 103
longevity of, 43
Dhanurasana (Bow pose), 96, 168, 168, 183
Dhikav, Vikas, xvi, 182–83
Dickinson, Emily, 200
Dixon, Jana, Biology of Kundalini, 210
DNA, 43
Dostálek, Ctibor, xvi, 173–75, 178, 183, 191
Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), 108, 108, 206
Duke University Medical Center, 55–57, 64, 67, 73, 75
Eco, Umberto, 159
Ecstasy of Saint Teresa (Bernini), 185
Edison, Thomas, 61
electromyograph, 141, 143
Eliade (historian of religion), 186
emotions, 78–79
and brain studies, 89–90
and relaxation, 95, 102
releasing, 200–201
energy flow, 90
epilepsy, 203
eroticism, see sex
Esalen Institute, 187–88
euphoria, 18, 21, 185
exercise:
aerobic, 49–50, 53–56
and fitness, 50–57; see also fitness
health benefits of, 54–55
and moods, 100
and oxygen consumption, 53
research on, 54, 59–64, 66–68, 100
walking, 100
X-Rated, 131
and yoga, 5–6, 49, 54, 55–57, 60, 63, 64–65, 67, 68
Extended Hand to Big Toe (Utthita Padangusthasana), 124, 125
Extended Side Angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana), 30, 31, 126, 131
eye impulses, 114
eye pressure, 132
fainting, 86, 87, 88, 92
Fantasia (film), 198
Feuerstein, Georg, xvi, 45, 151, 156–57
fibrinogen, 40
Fiery Muse (Degler), 212
fight-or-flight response, 90, 91, 167
FIND (Friends in New Directions), 211
Fishman, Loren, xvi, 137–50, 153, 216
and headstands, 141–42
and injuries, 143
and Iyengar, 137, 139, 140, 141
Relief Is in the Stretch, 139
and therapist credentials, 150, 160–61
Yoga for Arthritis, 143
yoga session with, 144–48
fitness, 47–76
and action-reaction cycle, 65–66
aerobic exercise, 49–50
and breathing, 50–51
cardiovascular, 58, 59, 74
cross training, 75–76
and outlook, 57
and oxygen consumption, 53
research on, 48–57, 63–64, 66–68, 72–73
and vital capacity, 50–51
YogaFit, 50, 64–65
floating state, 84
Flow, xxiii
Fonda, Jane, 97
Fong, Jason K. Y., xvi, 120
Forever Young, Forever Healthy (Devi), xxviii, 34, 103
Francina, Suza, Yoga and the Wisdom of Menopause, 150
Freud, Sigmund, 196, 207, 208
Friends in New Directions (FIND), 211
Frog, 61, 63, 241n
frontal lobe, 206
Full Lotus, 133, 167
functional MRI, 190–91
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), 99–100, 202
Gandhi, Mohandas K. “Mahatma,” 25, 29, 93, 98
Garbo, Greta, 33, 198, 199
Gates, Bill, 159
gestalt, 204
Gheranda Samhita, xxvi, 171–72, 173, 175
Gilbert, Elizabeth, 189
Gitananda, Swami, 103
Gokhale, V. B., 31
Gorakhnath, and Hatha yoga, xxv
Gore, Makrand M., xvi, 37, 45
Green, Alyce, 201–2, 203, 205
Green, Elmer, xvi, 201–2, 203, 205
Gune, Jagannath G., xvii, 24–30, 45
aging, 35–36
Asanas, xxvii, 103
ashram of, xxvii, 24–25, 26, 29, 30, 33, 35–37, 58, 83, 158, 173, 218, 219
background of, 25–26
and breathing, 52–53, 85
exaggerations of, 28, 41
as fund-raiser, 28–29
influence of, 29, 31, 33, 58, 83, 93, 98, 166, 216, 218
investigations instituted by, xxvii, 28
and live burials, xxviii, 36–37
promotions of, 29
slow, tranquil yoga of, 49–50
and vital index, 51
Yoga Mimansa, 103, 175
gupha (cave), 21–22
Hagins, Marshall, xvii, 70, 72
Halasana (Plow), 126, 126, 136, 168, 183
Hands to Feet (Padahastasana), 71, 71
Hannover Medical University, Germany, 170
Hanus, Steven H., xvii, 118–19
Hard Tail clothing, 3
Hatha yoga, xxiii, 33, 94
and breathing, 52–53
evolution of, 5, 49
globalization of, 5, 33, 34
and Light on Yoga, 37–39
New Age approach to, 17
and poses, 58, 96, 131
and research, 41, 63, 68, 99, 134, 170, 173
and Tantra, xxv, 16–17, 26, 49
Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Swatmarama), xxvi
health claims in, 17–18, 34, 41
and postural (Hatha) yoga, 16
and sex, 163, 172, 173, 175
Hauser, Gayelord, 198
Headstand (Sirsasana), xxvii, 27
and fight-or-flight response, 91
and healing, 38, 141–42
and injuries, 104–5, 107, 119–20, 126, 131–33, 136
in research studies, 26–28, 70
and sex, 168
Head to Knee (Janu Sirsasana), 206, 206
healing, 137–61
and abdomen, 147–48
and bones, 142, 143
and Fishman, 137–50, 153, 161
and inversions, 38, 141–42
and joints, 140–43
and medical licensure, 149–50, 154
and muscles, 141, 145
of the neck, 143
and nerves, 145
and Payne, 154–61
and realignment, 146
and relaxation, 139
of the spine, 144
and stretching, 139, 142, 143
and weight management, 160
and Yoga for Dummies, 157–59
and Yoga Rx, 159–60
and yoga therapist credentials, 150–53, 154–57, 160–61
health care:
costs of, 220
global crisis in, 217
HealthCentral.com, 74–75
Health magazine, 133
heart:
effects of yoga on, 59, 94–95
size of, 52, 53
heart disease, 40, 54, 59–60
hedonism, 189–90
hemoglobin, 85
hibernation, 22
Hill, Archibald V., 51–53
Hinduism, 185
Hindu nationalism, 24, 25, 26, 29, 39
hippocampus, 209
Holotropic Breathwork, 201
homeostasis, 221
homunculus, 175
hormones, 167–69
Horner’s syndrome, 118, 119
Hotel Management and Operations, 74
hot yoga, 3, 47–48, 50, 88, 99, 123–24, 181
Hu, Frank, 54
Human Sexual Response (Masters and Johnson), 178
humerus, 140
hypermetabolism, 177
hypersexuality, 221
hypertension, xxxi, 40, 92, 219
hyperventilation, 86–87, 178, 180
–81
hypometabolism, 96, 158, 177
hypothalamus, 114, 179, 205
immune system, 42
incest, 16
India:
independence of, 33
maharajahs of, 28–29
inflammation, 42
injuries, 103–36
and age, 130–31
to the back, 134
beauty-salon syndrome, 114–16, 127
and Black, 105–9, 135–36
to the brain, 111–16, 119–21, 126, 127, 134
cryptogenic, 116
and death, 127–28
and Hanus, 118–19
Horner’s syndrome, 118, 119
and inexperienced teachers, 104, 109, 135, 153
and inversions, 104–5, 107, 116, 118–20, 123, 126, 128, 131–33, 136
to joints, 122, 134
to ligaments, 123–24
to the lungs, 129–30
media stories of, 122–24, 130
and Nagler, 116–18, 119
to the neck, xxviii, 112–19, 122, 126–28, 133, 134, 143
nerve damage, 110–11
and rapid breathing, 129–30, 178
and redesign of poses, 131–33
and Robin, 104–5, 131
safety first, 104, 105, 107, 124, 128, 131
silence/denial about, 103, 104, 106, 108, 109, 130
surveys of, 104, 105, 109–12, 121–22, 133–35, 143
teacher training regulations, 128–29, 135
thoracic outlet syndrome, 132
at vacation venues, 104
and weakness, 107
whiplash, 112
X-Rated Exercises, 131
and Yoga Journal, 109, 124–28, 132, 133
zero evidence of, 127
insanity, 213
inspiration, 196–200
Institute for Consciousness Research, 196, 210–13
International Association of Yoga Centenarians, 215
International Association of Yoga Therapists, 134, 151, 153, 154, 156, 157, 160
International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 130, 134, 151
inversions, 27–28, 27, 29
and blood pressure, 91–92, 95
and healing, 38, 141–42
and injuries, 104–5, 107, 116, 118–20, 123, 126, 128, 131–33, 136
and metabolism, 97–98
and moods, 91–95, 97–98
Isvari (goddess), 186
Iyengar, B. K.S., xvii, 31–33, 90, 161, 235n
on destiny, 165
and Fishman, 137, 139, 140, 141
influence of, 137, 199, 216
and injuries, 115, 116, 118, 126, 133
Light on Pranayama, 86
Light on Yoga, xxviii, 37–39, 103, 115, 132, 133, 137, 172, 199, 219
and New Age yoga, 229n
on sexual retentive power, 39
Iyengar yoga, xxiii, 5, 48, 94
and inversions, 91, 105
Iyengar yoga (cont.)
and research studies, 99, 100, 134, 206
and teacher training, 135
Jacobson, Edmund, xvii, xxvii, 81–82, 84, 141
James, William, 81
Janu Sirsasana (Head to Knee), 206, 206
Jesus of Nazareth, 17
jogging, 54
The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards Page 36
