SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF KUNDALINI YOGA AND MEDITATION

“Kirtan Kriya” is one of the most outstanding and well-researched meditation exercises in Kundalini Yoga.

It has been investigated at top academic hospitals and institutions in various countries. When practised regularly over a period of eight weeks, it begins to improve a whole range of measures, from cognitive performance on memory testing all the way to cellular changes.

 

As “multi-sensory intervention” combining sound of basic syllables in mantra, dynamic pressure point stimulation in mudra, visualization and breath, Kirtan Kriya is a prime example of synchronising the rhythms of various aspects of interrelated dynamics in the human being with amazing effects on nerves, glands, memory, cognition and longevity.

 

To find the instruction of how to do Kirtan Kriya please read here.

 

Scientific research has shown these effects of practising Kirtan Kriya Meditation:
  • 1. Live longer, stay healthier, feel happier, think more clearly
  • 2. Enhances brain functioning and mental health
  • 3. Eases or reverses depression, anxiety, memory loss, cognitive impairment
  • 4. Prevents Alzheimer’s disease and geriatric depression
  • 5. Decreases mood aberration, improves mood
  • 6. Improves cerebral blood flow
  • 7. Increases brain connectivity
  • 8. Improves memory and ability to focus and multitask
  • 9. Improves visuospatial memory performance and verbal memory
  • 10. Increases activity in the frontal lobe (sharpens attention, concentration and focus)
  • 11. Replenishes vital neurotransmitters and brain chemicals, such as acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and dopamine (enhances general brain functioning)
  • 12. Increases energy levels
  • 13. Improves sleep quality, reduces stress (lower cortisol levels)
  • 14. Improves short- and long-term psychological health and spiritual well-being
  • 15. Reduction of PTSD symptomology

 

Kirtan Kriya Research Selection:

(1) The Incredible Power of Kirtan Kriya: A Conversation on Brain Health and Longevity with Dr. Chris Walling (in Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health):
https://kripalu.org/resources/incredible-power-kirtan-kriya-conversation-brain-health-and-longevity-dr-chris-walling
(2) Yoga and Kirtan Kriya Meditation Bolster Brain Functioning (Psychology Today):
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/prime-your-gray-cells/201606/yoga-and-kirtan-kriya-meditation-bolster-brain-functioning
(3) In a comparison of yoga vs. memory training, the clear winner is yoga (in UCLA Health):
https://connect.uclahealth.org/2017/01/20/in-a-comparison-of-yoga-vs-memory-training-the-clear-winner-is-yoga/
(4) To reduce pre-Alzheimer’s cognitive impairment, get to the yoga mat (in UCLS Newsroom):
https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/reduce-risk-alzheimers-skip-lumosity-get-onto-yoga-mat
(5) ARPF – Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation:
https://alzheimersprevention.org/research/
(6) A randomized controlled trial of Kundalini yoga in mild cognitive impairment (in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540331/
(7) A Yoga Intervention for Posttraumatic Stress: A Preliminary Randomized Control Trial (in Harvard Library):
https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/22856942
(8) Cerebral blood flow changes during chanting meditation (in Nuclear Medicine Communications):
http://www.staging.grdp.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Kirtan-Kriya-research-paper-1.pdf
(9) KABC Reports the Benefits of Kirtan Kriya Meditation for Caregivers (in UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior):
https://www.semel.ucla.edu/latelife/news/kabc-reports-benefits-kirtan-kriya-meditation-caregivers
(10) International Yoga Day 2020: Here’s how Kundalini Yoga and Kirtan Kriya can help reduce risk of dementia:
https://www.firstpost.com/health/international-yoga-day-2020-heres-how-kundalini-yoga-and-kirtan-kriya-can-help-reduce-risk-of-dementia-8506291.html

 

General Mental Health Research Selection:

(11) Nagendra, H-R., Telles, S. & Naureen, K.V. (2000) An integrated approach of Yoga Therapy for the management of schizophrenia.
(12) Xie, J. Lin Y-H & Gui C-R (2006) Study on influences of yoga on quality of life for schizophrenic inpatients. Journal of Nursing, China.
(13) Duraiswamy, G. Thirthalli. J., Negendra, H-R., & Gangadhar, B.N. (2007) Yoga Therapy as an add-on treatment in the management of schizophrenia – a randomised control trial. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 166 (3), 226-232.
(14) Behere, R.V et al (2011) Effect of Yoga Therapy on facial emotion recognition deficits, symptoms and functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 123 (2), 147-153.
(15) Kessler, R. C., Soukup, J., Davis, R. B., Foster, D. F., Wilkey, S. A., van Rompay, M.i., & Eisenberg, D. M. (2001) The use of complementary and alternative therapies to treat anxiety and depression in the United States. American Journal of Psychiatry
[all from https://themindedinstitute.com/yoga-for-schizophrenia/]

(16) Streeter, C. C., Whitfield, T. H., Owen, L., Rein, T., Karri, S. K., Yakhkind, A., & Jensen, J. E. (2010). Effects of yoga versus walking on mood, anxiety, and brain GABA levels: a randomized controlled MRS study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(11), 1145-1152.
(17) Smith, C., Hancock, H., Blake-Mortimer, J., & Eckert, K. (2007). A randomised comparative trial of yoga and relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety. Complementary therapies in medicine, 15(2), 77-83
(18) Brown, R. P., & Gerbarg, P. L. (2005). Sudarshan Kriya Yogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression: part II—clinical applications and guidelines. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 11(4), 711-717.
[all from https://themindedinstitute.com/yoga-for-anxiety/]

(19) Mulvihill, T., Bradbury, J., Grace, S., Doran, F. (2022). Trauma-informed yoga (online) for positive mental health: A pilot study. Advances in Integrative Medicine. [read here]

 

Yoga in NHS:

(20) NHS guide to yoga:
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/guide-to-yoga/
(21) Yoga in Healthcare Alliance:
https://www.yogainhealthcarealliance.com/
(22) All-Party Parliamentary Group on Yoga in Society:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/180606/yoga-in-society.htm
(23) Yoga can ease pressure on health service, says Prince Charles (The Telegraph): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2019/02/18/yoga-can-ease-pressure-health-service-says-prince-charles/
(24) Prince Charles says yoga for elderly can save expensive NHS resources (homecare.co.uk):
https://www.homecare.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/1605885/Prince-Charles-says-yoga-can-save-precious-and-expensive-NHS

 

Research on Yoga in Prisons:

(25) by Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Ph.D.
https://kundaliniresearchinstitute.org/research-on-yoga-in-prisons/

 

Article on Yoga can help reduce risk of dementia:

(26) International Yoga Day 2020: Here’s how Kundalini Yoga and Kirtan Kriya can help reduce risk of dementia:
https://www.firstpost.com/health/international-yoga-day-2020-heres-how-kundalini-yoga-and-kirtan-kriya-can-help-reduce-risk-of-dementia-8506291.html