A 21st-Century Yogasanalia, Celebrating the Integration of Yoga, Science, and Medicine

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A 21st-Century Yogasanalia: Celebrating the Integration of Yoga, Science, and Medicine is a modern-day Yogasanalia combining different aspects of yoga, medicine, and science in a timely and important effort to benefit both East and West, yogic and medical science. It is a culmination of twenty years of modern scientific research, often carried out in areas far removed from yoga as we otherwise know it. Working to expand beyond the physical principles of yogasana practice, author Mel Robin first researched both the yoga literature and the medical sciences as completely as possible, starting in 1998, then began juxtapositioning the two sciences in this ebook for the benefit of its readers. Because this handbook has more than two thousand pages of material integrating Iyengar yoga with the medical sciences, it is available only as an ebook. FRONTIS-THOUGHTS WELCOME TO THE PARTY ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ADDENDUM PROLOGUE Section Pro-A. In the Beginning Section Pro-B. e-Handbook Construction Section Pro-C. Scope Section Pro-D. Who Does Yoga Today; Why, and Why Not? CHAPTER 1. EASTERN YOGA AND WESTERN MEDICAL SCIENCE Section 1.A. East and West: Similarities and Differences Section 1.B. The Goals of Yogasana Practice Section 1.C. Yogasana, Transformation, and Heritability CHAPTER 2. NERVOUS SYSTEMS OF THE BODY Section 2.A. Nervous-System Function Section 2.B. The Central Nervous System Section 2.C. The Peripheral Nervous Systems Section 2.D. The Nervous Systems and Yogasana Action CHAPTER 3. NEURAL MECHANISMS Section 3.A. The Neuron, Basic Unit of the Nervous System Section 3.B. Neural Conduction Section 3.C. Neural Connections: Synapses Section 3.D. Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators Section 3.E. Mechanical and Field Effects on Neurons Section 3.F. Transduction of the Stimulus into the Sensory Signal Section 3.G. Neural Poetry CHAPTER 4. THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM Section 4.A. The Spinal Cord Section 4.B. The Brainstem Section 4.C. Within the Brain Section 4.D. Cerebral Hemispheric Laterality Section 4.E. Aspects of Brain Structure and Function Section 4.F. Memory Section 4.G. Teaching, Observing, Remembering, and Learning in Yogasana Practice Section 4.H. Brain Waves and the Electroencephalogram (EEG) CHAPTER 5. THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM Section 5.A. Introduction to the Autonomic Nervous System Section 5.B. The Hypothalamus Section 5.C. The Sympathetic Nervous System Section 5.D. The Parasympathetic Nervous System Section 5.E. Autonomic Balance: Stress and Yogasana Section 5.F. The Reciprocal Effects of Emotions, Attitudes, and Stress on One Another Section 5.G. Nadis, Chakras, and Prana CHAPTER 6. THE ENDOCRINE GLANDS AND HORMONES Section 6.A. General Features of Endocrine Glands and their Hormones Section 6.B. Specific Glands and their Hormones CHAPTER 7. THE BONES AND JOINTS Section 7.A. Bone Structure and Development Section 7.B. Bone Chemistry Section 7.C. Bone Repair and Remodeling Section 7.D. The Joints Section 7.E. Mechanoreceptors in the Joint Capsules and Ligaments Section 7.F. Bone-on-Bone Contact Section 7.G. Osteoporosis CHAPTER 8. THE SPINAL COLUMN IN MOTION Section 8.A. The Spinal Column Section 8.B. Ranges-of-Motion of the Spinal Column Section 8.C. The Intervertebral Discs CHAPTER 9. AXIAL APPENDAGES TO THE SPINE Section 9.A. The Skull Section 9.B. The Pelvis CHAPTER 10. THE SPINAL APPENDAGES Section 10.A. The Fingers, Arms, Shoulders, and Scapulae Section 10.B. The Legs, Feet, and Toes CHAPTER 11. THE SKELETAL MUSCLES Section 11.A. Structure and Function of Skeletal Muscle Section 11.B. Muscles Sensors: The Mechanoreceptors Section 11.C. Proprioception and Interoception Section 11.D. Reflex Actions Section 11.E. Microscopic Resistance to Muscle Stretching and Contraction Section 11.F. Macroscopic Resistance in Support of Muscle Stretching Section 11.G. Aspects of Muscle Training, Distress, and Injury Section 11.H. Rates and Statistics of Body Functions CHAPTER 12. CONNECTIVE AND SUPPORTING TISSUES Section 12.A. Connective Tissues Section 12.B. Fascia Section 12.C. Cartilage CHAPTER 13. THE SKIN Section 13.A. Properties of the Skin Section 13.B. Sensory Receptors in the Skin CHAPTER 14. PAIN AND PLEASURE Section 14.A. Introduction to Pain Section 14.B. The Physiology and Neuroanatomy of Pain Section 14.C. The Pain of Muscle Injury Section 14.D. The Chemistry of Pain Section 14.E. Pain over Time Section 14.F. The Psychology and Memory of Pain Section 14.G. Mental Actions for Intercepting and Extinguishing Pain Section 14.H. Physical and Medical Approaches to Diminishing Pain Section 14.I. Introduction to Pleasure Section 14.J. Dermatomes and Referred Pain CHAPTER 15. THE HEART AND CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Section 15.A. Structure and Function of the Heart Section 15.B. Blood Section 15.C. The Vascular System Section 15.D. Blood Pressure Section 15.E. Monitoring Blood Pressure with the Baroreceptors Section 15.F. Blood Pressure in Inverted Yogasanas Section 15.G. The Lymphatic System CHAPTER 16. RESPIRATION Section 16.A. Anatomy of the Respiratory Apparatus Section 16.B. The Three Breathing Modes Section 16.C. Mechanics of the Breath Section 16.D. Yogasana and the Breath Section 16.E. Nasal Laterality Section 16.F. Pranayama Section 16.G. The Senses of Olfaction and Taste CHAPTER 17. ILLNESS AND THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Section 17.A. Immunity Section 17.B. The Leukocytes Section 17.C. The Autonomic Nervous System and Immunity Section 17.D. Malfunctions of the Immune System Section 17.E. Yogasana, Immunity, Illness, and Intelligence Section 17.F. Apoptosis, Hormesis, Preconditioning, and Bacterial Priming CHAPTER 18. THE EYES AND VISION Section 18.A. Structure and Function of the Eyes Section 18.B. Vision and Neuroanatomy of the Retina Section 18.C. Blindness, Blindsight, and Perceptual Blindness Section 18.D. Stress, Vision, and Yogasana Practice Section 18.E. Vision and Cerebral Laterality Section 18.F. Color Therapy and Yogasana Practice CHAPTER 19. SOUND, HEARING, AND BALANCE Section 19.A. The Middle Ear Section 19.B. The Vestibular Organs of Balance CHAPTER 20. THE GASTROINTESTINAL ORGANS AND DIGESTION Section 20.A. Gastrointestinal Structure and Function Section 20.B. Digestive Disorders and the Effects of Stress on the Gastrointestinal Tract Section 20.C. Digestion and Metabolism CHAPTER 21. EXTERNAL SECRETIONS Section 21.A. Saliva Section 21.B. Mucus Section 21.C. Tears Section 21.D. Breast Milk Section 21.E. Sweat Glands Section 21.F. Hair and the Sebaceous Glands Section 21.G. Body Wastes CHAPTER 22. GYNECOLOGY, PREGNANCY, AND SEXUAL FUNCTION Section 22.A. Ovulation and Menstruation Section 22.B. Pregnancy Section 22.C. Menopause Section 22.D. Sexual Function CHAPTER 23. EMOTIONS, MOODS, AND MENTAL STATES Section 23.A. What We Look Like versus Who We Are Section 23.B. Depression Section 23.C. Mania and Bipolar Disorder Section 23.D. Anxiety Section 23.E. Other Emotional and Mood Disorders Section 23.F. Empathy, Love, and Self-Awareness Section 23.G. Delocalization of Mental States and Disorders Section 23.H. Dementia CHAPTER 24. TIME AND BODY RHYTHMS Section 24.A. The Innate Sense of Elapsed Time Section 24.B. Periodicity of Body Rhythms Section 24.C. Yogasana and Chronotherapy Section 24.D. The Sleep-Wake Cycle and Relaxation Section 24.E. Infradian Rhythms CHAPTER 25. AGING AND LONGEVITY Section 25.A. Physical Aging: Statistics Section 25.B. Mental Aging: Cognition and Meditative Practice Section 25.C. Maintaining Mental Competence into Old Age Section 25.D. Longevity Section 25.E. Yogasana, Sports, Exercise, and Aging Section 25.F. Telomeres EPILOGUE APPENDIX I. YOGASANA ILLUSTRATIONS APPENDIX II. INJURIES INCURRED BY IMPROPER YOGASANA PRACTICE Section II.A. Avoiding Injury to Oneself and to Others Section II.B. Specific Injuries Section II.C. Generalities in Regard to Inversion-Induced Injuries APPENDIX III. BODY SYMMETRY Section III.A. Symmetry, Beauty, and Health Section III.B. Symmetry, Asymmetry, and Yogasana Section III.C. Handedness APPENDIX IV. GRAVITY Section IV.A. The Gravitational Attraction between You and the Earth Section IV.B. Significance of the Center of Gravity Section IV.C. Gravitational Effects on Anatomy and Physiology Section IV.D. Gravitational Effects on Yogasana Postures APPENDIX V. BALANCING Section V.A. Balancing a Rigid Block Section V.B. Using the Body to Balance the Body Section V.C. The Four Balance Sensors Section V.D. Other Aids to Balance Section V.E. Coming into the Balancing Position Section V.F. Maintaining Balance in the Standing Yogasanas Section V.G. Balancing in the Inverted Yogasanas Section V.H. General Points on Keeping Your Balance APPENDIX VI. GENETIC AND EPIGENETIC FACTORS IN YOGASANA PRACTICE, HEALTH, AND ILLNESS Section VI.A. Epigenes, Epigenetics, and the Human Epigenome Section VI.B. Molecular Structure of the Epigenome Section VI.C. Stem Cells Section VI.D. Epigenetic Inheritance Section VI.E. Epigenetics and Health Section VI.F. External Factors Affecting the Epigenome Section VI.G. Acceptance and Compassion Section VI.H. Yogasana Practice, Exercise, and Athleticism Section VI.I. Real-Life Stories of Brain Tumors, Multiple Sclerosis, Hepatitis C, Epigenetics, and Yogasana Practice APPENDIX VII. IYENGAR YOGA AND WESTERN MEDICINE Section VII.A. The Postures Section VII.B. Sensations Section VII.C. Breathing Section VII.D. Physiology Section VII.E. Neuroscience Section VII.F. The Brain Section VII.G. Teaching and Learning Section VII.H. Balance Section VII.I. Metabolism Section VII.J. Aging Section VII.K. Iyengar and Einstein