O Yoga como mediador de aprendizagens para a promoção da saúde: entre cuidado, práticas e experiências de si / Yoga as a mediator of learning for health promotion: between care, practices and experiences of self

O interesse pelo Yoga tem aumentado nas últimas décadas. Na modernidade, esta prática se situa num campo de poder entre um discurso médico hegemônico e práticas de promoção da saúde que visam à invenção de novos modos de subjetivação. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o aprendizado dos praticantes de Yoga para a promoção da saúde. Partiu-se do pressuposto que o Yoga é uma prática educativa que possibilita uma relação do sujeito consigo mesmo e com isso os praticantes desenvolvem o cuidado de si. Foi realizada uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, tendo como cenário o núcleo de convivência da Associação dos Servidores Municipais da Prefeitura de Belo Horizonte (ASSEMP). Os dados foram obtidos por meio de 62 horas de observação das aulas de Yoga, entrevistas narrativas com 15 praticantes de Yoga da instituição e análise das cartas redigidas por eles, nas quais foi solicitado que aconselhassem um amigo sobre cuidado. Os dados foram trabalhados na perspectiva de uma analítica pós-crítica do discurso. Os resultados revelaram que o Yoga encontra-se num campo de transição entre os ideários de liberdade da promoção da saúde e, ao mesmo tempo, constitui-se um instrumento do biopoder, reproduzindo discursos hegemônicos no campo da saúde. Os participantes utilizam o Yoga para cuidar do corpo físico, emocional, mental e espiritual. Suas condutas também transitam entre práticas normativas e práticas de cuidado de si. O cuidado de si se revelou como portando os seguintes sentidos: encontro consigo e reconhecimento da necessidade da mudança; ser ativo em relação a si mesmo e à vida; equilíbrio - temperança; a questão da verdade; conhecimento de si; cuidado com o outro; reconexão corpo/alma/espírito. Aprende-se com Yoga a refletir sobre si e, neste refletir, a fazer a conexão consigo, a prestar atenção ao corpo e, neste prestar atenção, a cuidar de si. Há, portanto, diferentes dispositivos que parecem produzir a experiência de si...

The interest in yoga has increased in the last decades. In modernity, this practice lies in a field of power between a hegemonic medical discourse and health promotion practices aimed at the invention of new modes of subjectivation. The objective of the study was to analyze the learning of the practitioners of Yoga for health promotion. It was assumed that Yoga is an educational practice that allows a relation of the subject with himself and with this the practitioners develop the care of themselves. A qualitative research was carried out, taking as a scenario the core of the Association of Municipal Servants of Belo Horizonte (ASSEMP). The data were obtained through 62 hours of observation of the Yoga classes, interviews with 15 Yoga practitioners of the institution and analysis of the letters written by them in which they were asked to advise a friend about care. The data were worked from the perspective of a post-critical analytical discourse. The results revealed that Yoga is a field of transition between the ideas of freedom of health promotion and, at the same time, constitutes an instrument of biopower, reproducing hegemonic discourses in the field of health. Participants use Yoga to take care of their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. Their behaviors also transpose normative practices and practices of self-care. Self-care has revealed itself with the following meanings: Meet with you and recognize the need for change; Be active in relation to yourself and to life; Equilibrium - Temperance; The question of truth; Knowledge of self; Beware of each other; Reconnection body, soul / spirit. One learns with Yoga to reflect on oneself and in this one to reflect to make the connection with itself, to pay attention to the body and, in this one to pay attention, to take care of itself. There are different devices that seem to produce self-experience through Yoga.Yoga as the mediator of...

Indianidades: repertórios mobilizados pela ioga transnacionalizada nos fluxos turísticos Brasil-Índia / Indianness: repertories mobilized through transnationalized yoga in tourist flux Brazil-India / Indianidades: repertorios movilizados por el yoga transnacionalizado en los flujos turísticos Brasil-India

Pouco ainda se sabe sobre as paisagens da Índia negociadas no mercado turístico brasileiro. Viagens direcionadas às pessoas interessadas em ioga constituem um dos fluxos mais estáveis de turismo Brasil-Índia, as Yoga Journeys. Recorrendo à noção de repertórios interpretativos (Potter & Wetherell, 1987; Spink, 2003, 2010), este trabalho discute as maneiras de falar e de ver imageticamente a Índia que circulam no turismo brasileiro, fazendo-o por meio do estudo dos materiais de divulgação veiculados por agências nacionais de viagens que vendem pacotes turísticos à Índia voltados à prática da ioga. A essas maneiras de falar e ver a Índia nomeou-se indianidades, termo que busca escapar a essencializações fundadas em identidades nacionais. O corpus foi composto por materiais de divulgação utilizados por duas agências de viagens nos quais analisamos os informativos e páginas eletrônicas, sendo estudados os textos escritos, os roteiros de viagem e as imagens. Foram identificados três principais repertórios: exotismo, espiritualidade e bem-estar. Os primeiros se remetem à atemporalidade da Índia como país isolado e diferente do resto do mundo, e o último, ao movimento de aproximação entre as práticas antes consideradas espirituais e os serviços de saúde e lazer.

Little is known about the prospect of India trade in Brazilian tourism market. Using the notion of repertoires (Potter & Wetherell, 1987; Spink, 2003, 2010), this article aim to study the Indianness conveyed in India-Brazil tourism. The corpus was composed of two travel agencies, which we analyzed newsletters and web pages. In analyzed materials repertoires identified on India released in packages specialized tour. Tours directed peoples' interest in yoga as one of the most stable fluxes of tourism between Brazil and India, Yoga Journeys. We identified three main repertoires: exoticism, spirituality and wellness. The presence of those repertoires indicate that in the opposite direction of increasing modernization shows that the country is on the right track (Pinheiro, 2010), repertories associated with timelessness and spirituality resist and give space to fissures and ambivalences which mark the contemporary India.

Sabemos poco todavía sobre los paisajes de la India comercializados en el mercado turístico brasileño. Los viajes dirigidos a las personas interesadas en el yoga constituyen uno de los flujos más estables del turismo Brasil-India, los Yoga Journeys. Recurriendo a la noción de repertorios interpretativos (Potter & Wetherell, 1987; Spink, 2003, 2010), este trabajo tiene como objetivo estudiar las diversas maneras de hablar y de ver la manera imaginaria de la India que circula en el turismo brasileño a través del estudio de materiales de divulgación vehiculados por agencias nacionales de viajes que venden paquetes turísticos a la India dirigidos a la práctica del yoga. A esas maneras de hablar y de ver la India las llamaremos indianidades, término que intenta huir de las esencializaciones fundadas en las identidades nacionales. El corpus fue compuesto por materiales de divulgación utilizados por dos agencias de viajes en los que analizamos los informativos y páginas electrónicas, estudiando los textos escritos, los recorridos de los viajes y las imágenes. Se identificaron tres principales repertorios: exotismo, espiritualidad y bien estar. Los dos primeros remiten a la atemporalidad de la India como país aislado y diferente del resto del mundo, y el último, al movimiento de aproximación entre las prácticas anteriormente consideradas espirituales y los servicios de salud y ocio.

El chi-kung para el mejoramiento del aprendizaje en estudiantes de segundo año de medicina / Chi-kung for the improvement of learning in second year medical students

Se realizó una intervención educativa para modificar el nivel de atención, concentración y memoria en 14 estudiantes de segundo año de la carrera de medicina en el Policlínico Docente Universitario José Martí de Santiago de Cuba, mediante la utilización de técnicas de chi-kung, desde el 12 de octubre del 2008 hasta el 12 de junio del 2009. A los participantes se les caracterizó psicológicamente, de manera individual y con su consentimiento informado, para medir: coeficiente de inteligencia, nivel de atención, concentración y memoria, antes y después de la intervención, con lo cual se confirmó la utilidad de las técnicas de relajación y meditación en el mejoramiento del aprendizaje

An educational intervention was carried out to modify the level of attention, concentration and memory in 14 sophomores in the career of medicine at José Martí University Teaching Polyclinic in Santiago de Cuba, using techniques of chi-kung, from October 12th, 2008 to June 12th, 2009. Participants were characterized psychologically, individually and with their informed consent to measure their intelligence quotient, level of attention, concentration and memory, before and after the intervention, which confirmed the usefulness of relaxation and meditation techniques for the improvement of learning

Aplicación de yoga como método educativo no Formal para el mejoramiento de la satisfacción de vida en adultos mayores / Application of yoga as non-formal educational method for improving life satisfaction in older adults

El propósito del presente trabajo es comprobar si la práctica de yoga, especialmente adaptada para Adultos Mayores aplicada a ellos como método educativo no formal y herramienta de la gerontología, produce una mejora en su Satisfacción de Vida. Se tomó una muestra compuesta por 33 sujetos mayores de 50 años participantes sistemáticos de los cursos de gimnasia yoga en el periodo comprendido entre abril de 2002 y junio de 2004, quedando así una muestra heterogénea constituida por personas de ambos sexos, de distintas profesiones y prácticas sociales de la ciudad de Córdoba. La estrategia metodológica aplicada es de investigación descriptiva, adoptando un diseño de tipo observacional de series repetidas. Se aplicaron como instrumento de recolección de datos la escala LSIA - Life Satisfacción Index “A” -, creada por Neugarten, Havighurst y Tobin en la Universidad de Chicago, en EE. UU., en 1961, y modificada por Adams en 1969; una encuesta estructurada de trece preguntas cerradas y una ficha autoadministrada de siete preguntas cerradas y una abierta. Los resultados obtenidos de la cuantificación de la escala, ponen en evidencia un mejoramiento en el nivel de Satisfacción de Vida total y tres de sus subescalas (Deleite o gusto por la vida SD, Estado de ánimo SA y Congruencia entre objetivos y logros SC), tanto en general como en relación con las diferentes características de los sujetos.

Effect of Sahaj Yoga on neuro-cognitive functions in patients suffering from major depression.

Cognitive functions are impaired in Major Depression. Studies on the effects of Yoga on cognitive functions have shown improvement in memory, vigilance and anxiety levels. 30 patients suffering from Major depression (age 18 to 45 years) were randomly divided into two groups: Group 1: (10 males and 5 Females) Patients who practised Sahaj Yoga meditation and also received conventional anti-depressant medication. Group 2: (9 males and 6 Females) Patients who only received conventional antidepressant medication. Group 1 patients were administered Sahaj Yoga practice for 8 weeks. Neuro-cognitive test battery consisting of Letter cancellation test (LCT), Trail making test 'A' (TTA), Trail making test 'B' (TTB), Ruff figural fluency test (RFFT), Forward digit span (FDS) & Reverse digit span test (RDS) was used to assess following cognitive domains: Attention span, visuo-motor speed, short-term memory, working memory and executive functions. After 8 weeks, both Group 1 and Group 2 subjects showed significant improvement in LCT, TTA & TTB but improvement in LCT was more marked in Group 1 subjects. Also, there was significant improvement in RDS scores in only Group 1 subjects (P < 0.05). The results thereby, demonstrate that Sahaj Yoga practice in addition to the improvement in various other cognitive domains seen with conventional anti-depressants, can lead to additional improvement in executive functions like manipulation of information in the verbal working memory and added improvement in attention span and visuo-motor speed of the depressives.

Efficacy of yoga in pregnant women with abnormal Doppler study of umbilical and uterine arteries.

To study the efficacy of yoga on the outcome of complicated pregnancy, 121 women attending antenatal clinic at Gunasheela Surgical and Maternity Hospital (GSMH) in Bangalore, India, were enrolled between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy in a prospective, matched, observational study. Sixty-eight women were in the yoga group and 53 women in the control group. Women were matched for age, gravida and Doppler velocimetry scores of umbilical and uterine arteries. Yoga practices including physical postures, breathing and meditation were practised by the yoga group, one hour daily, from the date of entry into the study until delivery. The control group walked half an hour twice a day during the study period. Compliance in both the groups was ensured. In babies the birth-weight is significantly higher (P < 0.018) in the Yoga group (2.78 +/- 0.52 kg), compared to the control group (2.55 +/- 0.52 kg). Occurrence of complications of pregnancy (pregnancy-induced hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, pre-term delivery) shows lower trends in yoga group.

Spatial and verbal memory test scores following yoga and fine arts camps for school children.

The performance scores of children (aged 11 to 16 years) in verbal and spatial memory tests were compared for two groups (n = 30, each), one attending a yoga camp and the other a fine arts camp. Both groups were assessed on the memory tasks initially and after ten days of their respective interventions. A control group (n = 30) was similarly studied to assess the test-retest effect. At the final assessment the yoga group showed a significant increase of 43% in spatial memory scores (Multivariate analysis, Tukey test), while the fine arts and control groups showed no change. The results suggest that yoga practice, including physical postures, yoga breathing, meditation and guided relaxation improved delayed recall of spatial information.

Beneficial effects of yoga lifestyle on reversibility of ischaemic heart disease: caring heart project of International Board of Yoga.

OBJECTIVES: Yoga based lifestyle modifications have been earlier shown to be beneficial in coronary artery disease in a small number of patients. We evaluated the role of lifestyle modification based on Yoga techniques, stress management and dietary modifications in retardation of coronary artery disease. METHODS: This prospective, controlled, open trial included angiographically proven coronary artery disease patients (71 patients in study group and 42 patients in control group). They were assessed clinically, by biochemical parameters, stress myocardial perfusion and function studies and coronary angiography and on psychological parameters. The study group patients were given a family based Yoga Programme which included, control of risk factors, dietary modifications and stress management for a period of one year. The patients were assessed at baseline, at frequent intervals and at the end of one year. RESULTS: At the end of one year of yoga training, statistical significant changes (P<0.05) were found in serum total cholesterol (reduction by 23.3% in study group patients as compared to 4.4% in controls); serum LDL cholesterol (reduction of 26% in study group patients as compared to 2.6% in the control group), regression of disease (43.7% of study group patients v/s 31% control group on MPI and 70.4% of study group v/s 28% of control group on angiography) arrest of progression (46.5% study group v/s 33.3% control group on MPI) and progression (9.9% of study group vs 35.7% of controls on MPI, 29.6% of study group v/s 60.0% of controls on angiography). At the end of the study improvement in anxiety scores was concordant with the improvement seen in the MPI. No untoward effects of the therapy were observed. CONCLUSION: Yoga based lifestyle modifications help in regression of coronary lesions and in improving myocardial perfusion. This is translated into clinical benefits and symptomatic improvement.

Improved performance in the Tower of London test following yoga.

Twenty girls between 10 and 13 years of age, studying at a residential school were randomly assigned to two groups. One group practiced yoga for one hour fifteen minutes per day, 7 days a week, while the other group was given physical training for the same time. Time for planning and for execution and the number of moves required to complete the Tower of London task were assessed for both groups at the beginning and end of a month. These three assessments were separately tested in increasingly complex tasks requiring 2-moves, 4-moves and 5-moves. The pre-post data were compared using the Wilcoxon paired signed ranks test. The yoga group showed a significant reduction in planning time for both 2-moves and 4-moves tasks (53.9 and 59.1 percent respectively), execution time in both 4-moves and 5-moves tasks (63.7 and 60.3 percent respectively), and in the number of moves in the 4-moves tasks (20.9 percent). The physical training group showed no change. Hence yoga training for a month reduced the planning and execution time in simple (2-moves) as well as complex tasks (4, 5-moves) and facilitated reaching the target with a smaller number of moves in a complex task (4-moves).

Effect of yogic exercises on physical and mental health of young fellowship course trainees.

A study was undertaken to observe any beneficial effect of yogic practices during training period on the young trainees. 54 trainees of 20-25 years age group were divided randomly in two groups i.e. yoga and control group. Yoga group (23 males and 5 females) was administered yogic practices for the first five months of the course while control group (21 males and 5 females) did not perform yogic exercises during this period. From the 6th to 10th month of training both the groups performed the yogic practices. Physiological parameters like heart rate, blood pressure, oral temperature, skin temperature in resting condition, responses to maximal and submaximal exercise, body flexibility were recorded. Psychological parameters like personality, learning, arithmetic and psychomotor ability, mental well being were also recorded. Various parameters were taken before and during the 5th and 10th month of training period. Initially there was relatively higher sympathetic activity in both the groups due to the new work/training environment but gradually it subsided. Later on at the 5th and 10th month, yoga group had relatively lower sympathetic activity than the control group. There was improvement in performance at submaximal level of exercise and in anaerobic threshold in the yoga group. Shoulder, hip, trunk and neck flexibility improved in the yoga group. There was improvement in various psychological parameters like reduction in anxiety and depression and a better mental function after yogic practices.

Effect of yogic practices on subjective well being.

Forty eight healthy volunteers who participated in the practice of yoga over a period of 4 months were assessed on Subjective Well Being Inventory (SUBI) before and after the course in order to evaluate the effect of practice of yoga on subjective feelings of well-being and quality of life. A significant improvement in 9 of the 11 factors of SUBI was observed at the end of 4 months, in these participants. The paper thus, reiterates the beneficial effects of regular practice of yoga on subjective well being.

Effect of yoga training on maze learning.

The performance in a maze learning task was assessed in adults of either sex (n = 31) before and after 30 days of yoga training and in an age and gender matched control group of subjects who did not receive training in yoga. Subjects were blind folded and used the dominant hand to trace the path in a wooden pencil maze. At each assessment, subjects were given 5 trials, without a gap between them. Performance was based on the time taken to complete the maze and the number of blind alleys taken. The time and error scores of Trial 1 were significantly less after yoga (two-factor ANOVA, Tukey test). Repeating trials significantly decreased time scores at Trial 5 versus Trial 1, for both groups on Day 1 and for the control group on Day 30. Hence the yoga group showed improved performance in maze tracing at retest 30 days later, which may be related to this group being faster learners and also the effect of yoga itself. Yoga training did not influence maze learning, based on the performance in 5 repeat trials.

Factors influencing changes in tweezer dexterity scores following yoga training.

Yoga has already been shown to improve perceptual-motor skills, but the factors which influence its effects are not well defined. This study correlates age, gender, and motivation to learn yoga with the performance in a dexterity task following yoga. Tweezer dexterity was recorded in eighty subjects belonging to four groups. Two groups were given a month of yoga training. One group consisted of subjects who had volunteered to join for the training and the other group were deputed for the training as part of their job. The two remaining groups did not receive yoga training and were selected to match the respective groups receiving yoga, for age and sex, but not for their motivation to learn yoga. The test involved using a tweezer to place metal pins in evenly spaced holes in a metal plate within four minutes. Following yoga the scores of the volunteers who learnt yoga increased significantly, whereas there was no change in scores of deputed subjects and non-yoga groups. For reasons described in detail, factors such as age and gender did not appear to contribute to the difference in performance. Hence motivation to learn yoga appeared to influence the magnitude of increase.

Stress due to exams in medical students--role of yoga.

A student under optimal stress does bring out his or her best, However extremes of stress can result in stress induced disorders and deteriorating performance. Can yoga be of benefit in stress induced effects in medical students? The present study was conducted in first MBBS students (n = 50) to determine the benefit if any of yogic practices on anxiety status during routine activities and prior to examination. Feedback scores were assessed to determine how the students had benefited from the practices. Anxiety status as assessed by Spillberger's anxiety scale showed a statistically significant reduction following practice. In addition the anxiety score which rose prior to exams showed a statistically significant reduction on the day of exam after practice. These results point to the beneficial role of yoga in not only causing reduction in basal anxiety level but also attenuating the increase in anxiety score in stressful state such as exams. The results of the exam indicated a statistically significant reduction in number of failures in yoga group as compared to the control group. The improvement in various parameters such as better sense of well being, feeling of relaxation, improved concentration, self confidence, improved efficiency, good interpersonal relationship, increased attentiveness, lowered irritability levels, and an optimistic outlook in life were some of the beneficial effects enjoyed by the yoga group indicated by feedback score.

Recovery from stress in two different postures and in Shavasana--a yogic relaxation posture.

The recovery from induced physiological stress in Shavasana (a yogic relaxation posture) and two other postures (resting in chair and resting supine posture) was compared. Twenty one males and 6 females (age 21-30 yrs) were allowed to take rest in one of the above postures immediately after completing the scheduled treadmill running. The recovery was assessed in terms of Heart Rate (HR) and Blood pressure (BP). HR and BP were measured before and every two minutes after the treadmill running till they returned to the initial level. The results revealed that the effects of stress was reversed in significantly (P < 0.01) shorter time in Shavasana, compared to the resting posture in chair and a supine posture.

Effect of Sahaja yoga practice on stress management in patients of epilepsy.

An attempt was made to evaluate the effect of Sahaja yoga meditation in stress management in patients of epilepsy. The study was carried out on 32 patients of epilepsy who were rendomly divided into 3 groups: group I subjects practised Sahaja yoga meditation for 6 months, group II subjects practised postural exercises mimicking Sahaja yoga and group III served as the epileptic control group. Galvanic skin resistance (GSR), blood lactate and urinary vinyl mandelic acid (U-VMA) were recorded at 0, 3 and 6 months. There were significant changes at 3 & 6 months as compared to 0 month values in GSR, blood lactate and U-VMA levels in group I subjects, but not in group II and group III subjects. The results indicate that reduction in stress following Sahaja yoga practice may be responsible for clinical improvement which had been earlier reported in patients who practised Sahaja yoga.