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THE JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
Volume 11, Number 1, 2005, pp. 189-201

Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety,
and Depression: Part I-Neurophysiologic Model

RICHARD P. BROWN, M.D. AND PATRICIA L. GERBARG, M.D.

ABSTRACT
Mind-body interventions are beneficial in stress-related mental and physical disorders. Current research is finding associations between emotional disorders and vagal tone as indicated by heart rate variability. A neuro-physiologic model of yogic breathing proposes to integrate research on yoga with polyvagal theory, vagal stimulation, hyperventilation, and clinical observations.

Yogic breathing is a unique method for balancing the autonomic nervous system and influencing psychologic and stress-related disorders. Many studies demonstrate effects of yogic breathing on brain function and physiologic parameters, but the mechanisms have not been clarified.

Sudarshan Kriya* yoga (SKY), a sequence of specific breathing techniques can alleviate anxiety, depression, everyday stress, post-traumatic stress, and stress-related medical illnesses.  Mechanisms contributing to a state of calm alertness include increased parasympathetic drive, calming of stress response systems, neuroendocrine release of hormones, and thalamic generators. This model has heuristic value, research implications, and clinical applications.
CONCLUSION
The stress response system and the parasympathetic nervous system respond like an orchestra to the breath rhythms set by SKY. By taking the nervous system through its paces, similar to practicing musical scales, SKY provides a kind of autonomic/endocrine training exercise that ultimately may strengthen, stabilize, and enhance the flexibility of the system. This model may be of heuristic value in identifying areas for future clinical research. For further clinical discussion of this model, see Brown et al., (2003) and Part II of this series.

Note:
*Sudarshan Kriya breathing practice (SKY) is the primary tool taught on the Warrior Breath Workshop.
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