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

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