Dangers of Yoga

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2015-02-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

In Quebec, we only hear about the beneficial effects of yoga, meditation and qi gong. The public has little knowledge of the side effects of these practices and their religious roots. The individuals cannot benefit from accurate information which would enable him ou her to make an informed choice before engaging in such practices. This site aims to make this information available. This is the english version of the website "Danger yoga dans les écoles". Look at the articles on the menu on your right.

News

Yoga Made Safer: Experts Provide Do's and Don'ts . Live Science. January 23, 2012

Yoga can be harmful, instructor says. Post-gazette.com. January 23, 2012.

NBC Nightly News: Can yoga wreck your body? A doctor that says “I see a ton of yoga injuries.” Also, “There are no definitive numbers, but a Columbia University survey reveals injuries…” Fear-mongering is so hot right now. Can yoga wreck your body? NBC Nightly News: Jan. 11: A Yoga instructor warns about the potentially debilitating effects of practicing yoga while out of shape. NBC’s Chris Jansing reports.

The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards, published by Simon & Schuster, William J Broad. William. February 7, 2012. Website : williamjbroad.com

Strokes, retina damage and trapped nerves: Is yoga doing us more harm than good? Daily Mail. January 10, 2012.

Yoga May Not Be for Everyone, Could Cause Harm. WSET-TV Lynchburg. January 10, 2012.

Suhag A. Shukla, Esq.: Yoga Won't Wreck Your Body But May Make You More Hindu. The Huffington Post. January 10, 2012.

Yoga Gurus Go to War. The Daily Beast. January 10, 2012.

How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body. New York Times Magazine, January 8, 2012.
Is Yoga Ruining Your Body? The Hot Button, Friday, January 6, 2011.

“How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body,” The New York Times. January 5, 2012.

Hot Yoga Risks. Do Heated Rooms for Yoga Pose Risks? Suite 101.com. January 21, 2010.

Hindus want recognition of yoga's religious roots. The Press-Enterprise. January 19, 2011.

Spiritual Practices Can Trigger Psychosis. Suite 101.com. January 18, 2011.

Can the Arizona Shooting be Linked to Yoga?Examiner.com. January 14, 2011.

Neck Pain and Head Stands in Yoga, Inversion Dangers Suite 101.com. January 9, 2011.

Medical Risks of Yoga: Stroke, Vision, Heart, and More. Suite 101.com. October 24, 2010.

Yoga bad for your knees, Indian doctor warns. The Telegraph. December 23, 2010.

Yoga's holy wars. gardian.co. December 16, 2010.

MP seeks to make yoga compulsory in schools. Gulf Times. December 11, 2010.

Hindu Group Stirs a Debate Over Yoga’s Soul. New York Times. November 27, 2010. Voir Hindu American Foundation
A Hindu Mystic and Yoga Master Admits that Yoga is Not In Any Way Compatible with Christian Beliefs. The Huffington Post. Novembrer 9, 2010.

American pastor says yoga is 'demonic'. Telegraph.co.uk. October 19 2010.

New yoga combines exercise with Christianity. 9news.com. October 16, 2010. / A new trend in yoga combines the exercise with Christianity. 9NEWS reporter Corey Rose reports at 9p. 10-16-10.

The Subtle Body - Should Christians Practice Yoga - 20 septembre 2010.

Yoga poses dangers to guenuine Christian faith : Theologian - 13 septembre 2010.

Du yoga sous canabis, au Canada - 13 septembre 2010.

"Ganja Yoga" - Marijuana insused yoga class in Toronto - 9 septembre 2010 .

Ganja yoga combines marijuana and meditation - 8 septembre 2010.

KYW Conumer Report : Beware of Yoga's Dangers - 4 septembre 2010.

Mission

2010-07-13T19:47:00.000-07:00

The team of Dangeryoga.com works animated by the necessity to make known the secondary effects on the health that can result from practices such as yoga, meditation, transcendental meditation, and the qigong. Thus, by the means at our disposal, from the general public and health and education professionals :

Information :
■ The dangersofyoga.com website
■ Participate in media interviews
■ Writing of articles
■ Organizing conferences
■ Presentations of testimonies in written form or video-recorded during conferences
or received via the dangersofyoga.com

Research :
■ Compiling the available information (gathered form articles from the internet and other sources such as books, DVDs and videos, scientific articles).
■ Analysis and synthesis of the materials and production of documents.
■ Gathering testimonies of teachers (active or retired) and students that have experienced secondary effects from those practices and recording the interviews.
■ Schools and parents and experts that oppose the introduction of these practices in the school system.
■ Compilation of information's on the spiritual dangers and the religious objections.

DVD

■ We produced two DVD. One of testimonies (en french) of former teachers and students and the secondary effects on their health that resulted from those practices. And a second DVD presenting a critical analysis of the practices from a Christian world view and the spiritual dangers that are related.

Eventually...

■ We aim to form and make known an association of victims and citizens concerned by the dangers of these practices.

■ We would like to establish a documentation center and assistance to victims of yoga and other Eastern techniques.
For information's or for giving a testimony or for contacting our team : dangeryoga@yahoo.fr

Yoga and TM lead me to psychosis. A.M. May 15, 2010.

2010-05-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

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Hello,

I am an Eastern Orthodox Christian and until recently did not practice my faith regularly. I practiced hatha yoga, pranayama and mudras, as well as the five Tibetans (whose aim's to awaiken kundalini) for many years. I thought they will keep me young and spiritual. I practiced Transcendental Meditation (TM) for several years as well. It consists in silently repeating a word (mantra) twice a day for 20 minutes.

When I practiced TM I ended up having a psychosis, feeling as if there was a devil or several, a shadow, and who knows what else, inside me. I felt like I was fighting against becoming a witch and against some kind of sexual possession. I stopped the practice and gradually normalized. I dismissed what had happened as a mental health crisis from which I recovered without taking drugs.

I thought the exercises, pranayama and mudras are harmless. Many times I felt strange because of those practices, but did not pay attention to that and dismissed is as imagination or a psychotic mind, since I thought I had a purely mental health problem.

I found out on the web that the mantra was the name of a Hindu god and that I had participated in an initiation puja or some kind of Hindu devotion ritual, without knowing it, when the mantra was given to me (supposedly a calming nature sound).

I talked to a couple of priests who told me I should not fear yoga. This happened while I lived in America and one of them was a former Protestant pastor. Here in my country, a guide to confession had a warning against yoga practice as a transgression against the first commandment.

I think my mind was blinded. However, I recently did the Easter fast practiced by my church every year. While fasting, I suddenly could see/feel the mudras and asanas constantly happening inside me, not at the physical level but at a subtler one, despite my doing them rarely in a dark space within me. I suppose at the level of the soul. And that TM mantra and other Hindu mantras I happen to know emerged in my mind. I once again had that feeling of having some evil beings inside me and connection with the dead. Before I was not a serious Christian, went to church rarely, and rarely observed a short fast. Now that I did the full fast, I felt strong evil energy inside me (probably kundalini) after practicing the 5 Tibetans. Somehow I was able to see its color as red.

I started going to church regularly, confessed and took the communion, read the Bible and prayed and now I feel a lot of relief, but still am quite scared. I also felt as if I reconnected to Jesus. I am now convinced that yoga is against the first commandment and very dangerous to our salvation. After reading other testimonials on the web, I feel that through this practice we do connect to forces we as Christians should stay away from, and get possessed by them. I am, however, convinced in one thing - the name of Jesus and the Holy Trinity, and actually any priest, are more powerful than these forces. But I still feel very vulnerable to those mantras in my mind and feel that I still need to cleanse from the evil inside and worry about my salvation.

I read on the web articles about the occultist nature of yoga. Reading articles made me realize that I was not psychotic, but have the ability to see evil, as other Christian testimonials show similar experiences. I would recommend to people pestered by mantras and who have practiced mudras to repeat the name of Jesus Christ instead and do the sign of the cross with the thumb, index and third finger together and the anular and small finger tightly closed touching the inside of the palm like we do in the Orthodox church.

I decided to write this testimonial with the hope to help others an prevent more evil from happening.

Sincerely,

A.M.

Yoga Among New Offerings This School Year

2010-02-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

Department of Education
October 9, 2009 3:29 PM

The day of the lotus has arrived in school gyms, putting a new twist on the traditional physical education class.

Yoga, the ancient practice that develops both strength and flexibility, along with mental discipline, is now one of a number of new course options that fulfills Nova Scotia’s physical education requirement.

Physical education became a graduation requirement last year.

Yoga 11, successfully piloted in three school boards last year, has proven popular with students looking for a non-competitive alternative to the traditional phys-ed class. Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial will pilot the program in two schools this spring.

The course addresses the province's commitment to increasing the participation rate of female students, as well as males, in physical activity.

"It is essential that we continue to work at getting more of our youth engaged in healthy, active living," said Education Minister Marilyn More. "Part of that strategy is to develop physical education programs that will interest girls and young women and inspire more of our students to get and stay active over their lifetime.

"The Department of Education is also introducing two additional physical education options in English schools that will count toward the new phys-ed credit: Physically Active Lifestyles 11 and Fitness Leadership 11.

Fitness Leadership 11 is unique because it gives students an opportunity to earn certification as fitness leaders, providing them with the credentials they need to work as leaders in community physical activity programs.

This program develops leadership skills for young people so that they can take these new skills into the community, making them healthier places to live and work," said Ms. More.

CSAP is in the second year of implementing its new physical education courses in grades 10, 11 and 12. All schools now offer these phys ed programs, which contain a fitness leadership unit.

Also among the new and expanded programs in school this year are:

-- Grade 7 arts curriculum in English schools that includes band instruments, music and visual arts.

-- Family Studies curriculum for the English grade 7, with special focus on textile arts and design.

-- New Family studies curriculum for Grade 10, including Food Technology 10, that will count toward the mandatory technology credit.

-- Expanded co-operative education. Grants of $390,000 expanded the program by 39 schools, bringing the total number of schools in co-op to 74. CSAP this year has all 10 of its high schools now offering the co-op program.

-- Communications Technology 11 represents a new step in expanding the number of high-quality, tech education offerings. It offers students hands-on learning with digital photography, digital video, broadcasting, and a host of communication video.

-- Construction Trades 11 launches in six English schools across the province. The course builds on the material taught in Skilled Trades 10 and gives teens the opportunity to continue to work in a cutting-edge learning environment to further develop their skills through working like tradespersons at a construction site model.

-- Options and Opportunities, O2, the department's innovative program designed to re-engage students through more hands-on learning and workplace experiences, is also expanding with two more schools offering the program in the CSAP

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Yoga, expanded co-op education and revamped family studiesare among new course offerings this school year.

Yoga 11, which was successfully piloted in three schoolboards last year, along with Fitness Leadership 11 and PhysicallyActive Living 11 are being introduced as options to fulfill NovaScotia's phys ed graduation requirement.

Education Minister Marilyn More says Yoga is part ofgovernment's commitment to develop physical education programsthat interest girls and inspire them to get active.

The department is also expanding co-operative educationprogram, introducing new curriculum in family studies, the artsand construction trades. -30-Media Contact: Peter McLaughlin

Department of Education
902-424-8307
E-mail: mclaugpx@gov.ns.ca

Outlook - Islamics

2010-02-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

News

Yoga

Yoga is a part of holistic Islam (Comment). Thaindian News. February 8, 2009.

Indonesia bans Muslims from practising Hindu rituals during yoga. ICT. January 26, 2009.

Indonesian Muslims banned from practicing yoga. Asia/Pacific. Niniek Karmini. January 2009.

Malaysian edict against yoga to be announced Friday. ICT. November 2008.

Indon clerics looking into yoga. The Straits Times. October 8, 2008.

Television

Yoga is not Anti Isalam say's yoga guru suneel singh. January 31, 2009.

Outlook - Christian Yoga

2010-02-14T18:58:00.000-08:00

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Videos

Yoga

Many have faith In the Neweat Fitness Craze – Christian Yoga. Octobre 4, 2005.

Christian yoga sweeps the US. Jeremy Cooke reports from New York.

More on the CNN Debate "Does God Approve of Yoga?" Video Breaking News Videos from CNN.
Christoga - Christian Yoga

Yoga goes Christian amid criticism. NBC. November 07, 2005.

Western faiths begin to connect with yoga. Anita Wadhwani. Tennessean. January, 2007.

HAF protests christian appropriation of yoga. Letters to Editor of Time Magazine. Swaminathan Venkataraman & Mihir Meghani. Hindu American Foundation. September 5, 2005.

Christian yoga classes encourage poses and Prayer. Katie Zezima / New York Times. September 17, 2005. Christians get into a devil of a twist over yoga. The Indepent. October, 1997.

Stretching for Jesus. Time. August 29, 2005.
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Christian yoga ? Christian Research Service

Christian Yoga Satans Playground part1 of 2. mai 10, 2009.
Satans deceptive plan to decieving the flock into believeing theres nothing wrong with yoga repackaged into Christian yoga.

Christian Yoga Satans Playground part 2 of 2. mai 10, 2009.

Websites and articles

Yoga

Christian Yoga Certification. www.ehow.com

Yoga and Church: 'Is practiced by tens of thousands' in Finland. Examiner.com. September 20, 2009.

Can a pagan practice be “christianized ? – Yoga. Marsha West. NewsWithViews.com. January 25, 2008.

Yoga renamed is still Hindu. Subbhas R. Tiwari, teacher at Hindu University. Hinduis Today. January/February/March, 2006.

Christian Yoga C’mon ! Marsha West. NewsWithViews.com. December 23, 2006.

There is no Christian yoga. Yogi Baba, Vedavisharada, CYI, C.ay, C.va. conversionagenda.blogspot.com. October 23, 2006.

Can yogic practices be integrated with the Christian faith? Pastor Larry DeBruyn. Franklin Road Baptist Church. May 22, 2006.

Christian Yoga - The new appropriation Strategy of delinking yoga from Hinduism. June 02, 2005.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Christian yoga. Scripture yoga.

"Christian Yoga". OrthodoxePhoto.com. Christian Yoga: Oxymoron By Brian Flynn of One Truth Minsitries. Brian is a former New Ager.

Christian Yoga: Oxymoron By Brian Flynn of One Truth Minsitries. Brian is a former New Ager.

Can one Christianize Eastern religious practices? By Brian Flynn of One Truth Minsitries.

Kundalini

The Kundalini Effect and Contemplative Prayer. By Brian Flynn of One Truth Minsitries.

Outlook - Christians

2010-02-14T18:06:00.000-08:00

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Caryl Matrisciana. Angleterre.

Internet : http://www.carylmatrisciana.com/ Blog : Caryl’s Blog

Conferences
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Spiritual Warfare. Radio Liberty Seminar. 2007. http://www.radioliberty.com/ Interview

Cheryl Brodersen with Caryl. HisChannel.com. 2009.

Caryl Matrisciana on Eastern Mysticism. 2002.

DVD to order from her website Caryl Production

YOGA UNCOILED : From East to West A look into the practice of Yoga in the Church Many believe they can practice yoga postures, breathing, and focusing techniques devoid of yoga's spirituality, not realizing that yoga is an inherent part of Hindu philosophy which teaches man and nature are one with divinity. Today, yoga is experiencing a worldwide renaissance and in America has more than 70,000 yoga teachers working in 20,000 locations. Although viewed primarily as fitness instructors, these trainers are in reality the leading missionaries of eastern religion in the west. The twenty-seven billion dollar a year yoga industry is marketed to students, athletes, businessmen, pregnant women and senior citizens promising solutions for stress reduction, concentration problems, and issues of self confidence. Once viewed by Christians as a pagan import from the East, yoga has now become mainstream in the church through "Christ-centered yoga classes" designed to help improve spirituality and experience "the presence of God". But is yoga's mysticism compatible with historic Christianity? Video-journalist Caryl Matrisciana, who was born and raised in India, returns to her native land to search for truth among India's leading experts and examines what Christian Yoga practitioners in the West are saying about their Yoga participation. With critical discernment, this hard-hitting and informative DVD explores the ramifications of dismissing yoga's core spirituality, and blending Biblical terminology and precepts with eastern meditative techniques and practices.

Yoga uncoiled. From East to West.

Youtube

Yoga uncoiled : From East to West part 1 (10 min).

Yoga uncoiled : From East to West part 2 (10-20min.)

Les Dieux du Nouvel age (God's of the New Age)

Youtube

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Can Believers in Jesus Christ Do Yoga and SWG? (2of3)

Can Believers in Jesus Christ Do Yoga and SWG? (3of3)

Can Believers in Jesus Christ Do Yoga and SWG?

Yoga: Gateway To Hinduism, New Age Religion And The Occult

Yoga uncoiled : From East to West part 2 (10-20 min.)

Vidéos. Caryl Matrisciana & Dave Hunt.

"Yoga as a form of meditation, as a way of living, as a way of improving is nothing but a deceptive way to deny Christ and accept the power of the demons! Any form of mediation comes from ancient India, and are ancient hindu waysof preparing the soul for death and nothing more. Guru have changed their traditional way to manipulate, convince and decept naive and fouls from the West with their demonic powers. A guru is considering himself greater than GOD because throughout him you can achieve illumination. Reincarnation is not real, is a pagan demonic form of possesion and as hindus say is a curse hard to bear. Yoga is a modern Pagan Religion and their ultimate purpose is (beside making the guru's very rich) to enslave all population through deception, in it's ultimate form: The New Age. Miraculous healings, powers, levitation, materialization of matter are forms of demonic manifestation and those exposed to it are in terrible danger."

Meditation. The path to deception / Meditatia, cale spre deceptie 1 of 5. August 03, 2009

Meditation. The path to deception / Meditatia, cale spre deceptie 2 of 5. August 01, 2009.

Meditation. Path to deception / Meditatia, cale spre deceptie 3 of 5. August 03, 2009.

Meditation. The path to deception / Meditatia, cale spre deceptie 4 of 5. August 03, 2009.

Meditation. The path to deception / Meditatia, cale spre deceptie 5 of 5. August 04, 2009.

Books

Matrisciana, Caryl. Gods of the New Age. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1985. amazoon.com

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Matrisciana, Caryl. Out of India: A True Story About The New Age Movement. carylmatrisciana.com

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Mike Shreve

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His website : http://www.thetruelight.net/about.htm

News

Former instructor warns of yoga's spiritual implications. OneNewsNow.com. February 2, 2007.

What really is “the kundalini”? Mike Shreve. thetruelight.net. Transcendantal Meditation.

Radio

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Christian Yoga Satans Playground part1 of 2
Christian Yoga Satans Playground part 2 of 2
Émission de sid Roth, It's Supernatural

Testomony

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Mike Shreve. The truelight.net. Ex teacher of kundalini yoga in four universities. (Yogi Bhajan).

Five main reasons why I no longer practice hatha yoga !

Former Kundalini Yoga Teacher Turns to Christianity.

Partie 1/8
Partie 2/8
Partie 3/8
Partie 4/8
Partie 5/8
Partie 6/8
Partie 7/8
Partie 8/8
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Vail Carruth

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Internet : Living-Light.Net http://www.living-light.net/cms/

Testimony

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Vail Carruth's Story. The truelight.net. Ex teacher of Transcendantal Meditation.

Books

TM wants you Authentic enlightenment
Authentic Enlightenment tells the story of Vail Carruth. She devoted herself intensely to Transcendental Meditation (also known as TM) seeking for answers in life. She studied directly under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and advanced to the point of teaching this practice. Then Vail received an experience of ultimate reality that changed the course of her life. In her own words, Vail Carruth explains,"Although it did seem to relax me, something didn't seem quite right. The peace I attained was one of emptiness rather than of fullness. My spiritual journey took a new direction when I began to call on the Name above all names. It was only then that I finally experienced a personal knowledge of God, the kiss of God." (traduction)

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Dave Hunt. Radio shows. United States.

Non-spiritual yoga (yoga in school)

Is Yoga Christian? Can Yoga Be Christianized.

Is Yoga A Religion?Can Yoga Be Purely Physical?

What If You Are Forced To Do Yoga?Is Yoga A 'Sacred Science?

Should Christians Meditate?Is yoga demonic ?Is yoga serpent worship ?

Can yoga be purely physical ?

Meditation and Yoga Can Lead to Demonic Possession

Books

Hunt, Dave. Yoga and the Body of Christ: What Position Should Christians Hold? 2007. [Extraits]

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Videos

The great danger in raising Kundalini. Le 3 novembre 2009.

Faith: Unique and Fruitful Effect of the New Birth. John Piper. February 17, 2008.

John Piper, noted Christian author and Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis gave an impassioned sermon warning Christians about what he called "mantra meditations" and Yoga. You may listen, watch or read his February 17, 2008 sermon.

Le yoga et l'acupuncture sont démoniaques. True2God.

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News

Pat Robertson not down with Yoga. He thinks it is praying to Hindu Gods and therefore should not be practised by Christians.

Is yoga un-Christian? "Prime News" viewers react to a pastor who says yoga hurts your faith. Erica Hill checks the in-box and answers e-mail. Prime News with Erica Hill.

No Yoga for Christian ? Somes says it’s dangerous for faith. Pulpit Magazine » Blog Archive » John MacArthur, Doug Pagitt, and Yoga Blog posting which has transcript of debate between John MacArthur and Doug Pagitt on Christian Yoga. Also, includes youtube link to broadcast clip.Chaire Magazine »Blog Archive» John MacArthur, Doug Pagitt et Yoga. Erica Hill. Prime News. CNN. 11-09-07.

Yoga

Yoga and horoscopes can lead to possession by Devil, claims Cardinal's exorcist. MailOnline. October 24, 2008.

HHR concerned about antihindu crusade by rightwing christians yoga ban. PR News Now. Septembre 7, 2007.

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"Yoga is not anti-christianity" Yoga Guru Suneel Singh.

Yoga's a tough sell at some churches. Jennifer Garza, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, USA. September 7, 2007.

British priests call yoga 'un-Christian'. The Asian Pacific Post. Thu, September 06 2007.

British Hindus upset by yoga ban at two English churches. Trevor Grundy. ENI. Septembre 04, 2009.

Indian gurus condemn banning of Yoga by British churches. Daily India, September 1, 2007.

Baptist minister bans toddlers from church hall because their yoga class is unchristian. Daily Mail. August 31, 2007.

Yoga Stretches Traditional Christian Boundaries. Alexandra Alter. Religion News Service. 2003.

Minister bans "un-Christian" yoga classes from church hall. AP Worldstream. August, 27, 2002.

New Age practices and yoga

Pope in 1989 – Eastern religion are « moral deviations ». Various news sources. April 14, 2005.

Vatican looks at New Age, issues appeal to discernment. National Catholic reporter. 21-02-03.
"The thesis is that many practices bundled under the heading of "New Age," whether tarot cards or astrology or channeling, reflect ideas "difficult to reconcile with Christian doctrine and spirituality."

Vatican sounds new age alert. BBC News World Edition. February 4, 2003.

Jesus Christ the bearer of the water of life. Council for the cluture pontifical council for interreligious dialogue. February 3th, 2003

Websites and articles

Yoga

The dangers of Yoga and its incompatibility with Christianity Blog de Brian Showalter. Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Étirer la vérité. Angeline Schellenberg, chroniqueuse à Christian Week. Le lien. Un regard chrétien sur la monde actuel. Janvier-Février 2009, Numéro 1.

Can a Christian Practice Yoga or Yoga Meditation? Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati.

Is it a sin to use a yoga DVD purely for it's physical exercise? Question to Bro. Ignatius Mary. allexperts.com. January 18, 2009.

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Why do the Catholic Churches not openly denounce yoga? Question to Francis. allexperts.com. September 26, 2006.

Praise Moves Welcome to PraiseMoves

The yoga boom : A call for Christian discernment. Part 1 : Yoga in its original Eastern context. Elliot Miller. Christian Research Journal, volume 31, number 2 (2008).

The yoga boom : A call for Christian discernment. Part 2 : Yoga in its contemporary western context. Toward a comprehensive christian response. Elliot Miller. Christian Research Journal, volume 31, number 3 (2008).

The yoga boom : A call for Christian discernment. Part 3 : Toward a comprehensive christian response. Elliot Miller. Christian Research Journal, volume 31, number 4 (2008).

Yoga : yokes, snakes, and gods. Marcia Montenegro. Christian answers for the New Age.

Yoga : From Hippies to hip. Marcia Montenegro. Christian answers for the New Age. February, 2004.

Spiritual Research Network. Yoga. All the things they failed to warn you about!

Chris Lawson's articles

Preventing deception : How do people define the term yoga?

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Christian yoga. Rooted in hindu occutlism_pt1.Christian yoga. Rooted in hindu occutlism_pt2.

Do america's pastors really need yoga.

Preventing deception. How do people define the term yoga

Kundalini energy : Yoga’s Power, Influence, and Occult Phenomena in the Church

Ankerberg Theological Research Institute. Ankerberg John Dr. & John Weldon Dr. Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, Harvest House, 1996.

Yoga. by Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon

Yoga Part 2. Yoga and Children.

Yoga Theory and Practice : Separable? Part 1.

Yoga theory and Practice: Separable? Part 2.

Innocent yoga.Yoga : Kundalini Yoga

"Yoga: The Occult?

At a glance ; Altered states of consciousness

- Dr. John Ankerberg & Dr. John Weldon - well researched paper with excerpts on thedangers and complications of yoga and meditation from noted guru's such as SriChinmoy and Gopi Krishna.

Metamorphose. Michael Prabhu. michaelprabhu@vsnl.net

What does the catholic church say about yoga. Metamorphose. Michael Prabhu. 4-5 April 2009.

Yoga. Metamorphose. Michael Prabhu. March 2007.

Yoga. A summary. Michael Prabhu. Metamorphose. January 2007.

Dangerous Meditations. What harm is there in achieving a higher state of consciousness through meditation? Douglas Groothuis. Christianity Today. November 2004, Vol. 48, No.11.

The Truth About Yoga. Holly Vicente Robaina. Today’s Christian Woman. March/April 2005, Vol. 27, No. 2, Page 40. Present the story of Christian speaker/author Laurette Willis.

Why a Christian ALTERNATIVE to Yoga?

The truth about the danger of doing yoga. 4hurthingchristians.com.

Is Yoga Really So Bad? The truth behind this exercise sensation. Sarah E. Pavlik . Today’s Christian Women. October 5, 2007.

Yoga : Exercice or Religion ? Brad Scott. The Watchman.

Yoga and the Christian Faith. Dr. Christine Mangala Frost.

What Yoga Really Is. Everything is Ashes. Johannes Aagaard. Dialogcentret. December 30, 1980.

What’s in a word ? Eddie Russell FMI.

Yoga. EarthHarvest

Yoga. Today's lifestyle for health. Let us reason ministries.

A Great compromise. Let us reason ministries.

Yoga is NOT for Christians. December 2, 2004.

Yoga. Relaxation or Occult? Biblical Discernment Ministries. Revised 2002.

Yoga and christianity : Are they compatible ? Michael Gleghorn. Probenet. Includes references to ancient Hindu texts. PDF Version

Yoga: Health or Stealth. Roman Catholic ministry.

The Cross and the Veil.Yoga is EVIL!!!!! bigdumbchimp.blogspot.com, december 20, 2007.

Yoga is Occult? Kimolsen. Wordpress.com. June 5, 2007.

Yoga Practice Grows at Unprecedented Rate in America Compiled By S. E. Ray.

Why is Yoga incompatible with Catholicism? Father John Hardon, S.J. 1998.

Yoga and T'ai Chi. Craig Branch, The Watchman Expositor, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1990.

Yoga - kundalini (serpent power) - union with demonic entities. Zenith Harris Merrill.

Kundalini

What really is “the kundalini”? Mike Shreve. thetruelight.net. Transcendantal Meditation.

The great danger in raising Kundalini. Le 3 novembre 2009.

Transcendantal Meditation

Is TM a Religion? Behind the TM facade.

Alternative therapies

Yoga dangers : yoga, kundalini awakening. Yogadangers.com.

Yoga articles on « A Christian Response ». Pastornet.

Yoga is "NOT" Christian. Eastern Regional Watch.

Yoga Exercise or Religion? The Apologetics Index.

Meditation

Ankerberg Theological Research Institute. Ankerberg John Dr. & John Weldon Dr. Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, Harvest House, 1996.

. Meditation. Info at Glance.

· Meditation – Part 1

· Meditation – Part 2.

· Meditation – Part 3.

· Meditation – part 4.

· Meditation – part 5.

· Meditation – part 6.

· Meditation – part 7. The occult nature of meditation.

· Meditation – part 8.

· Meditation –part 9.

· Can occult practices lead to psychiatric illness and related problems ?

· Eastern gurus · What eastern gurus say about occult practices – part 1.

· What eastern gurus say about occult practices – part 2.

· What eastern gurus say about occult practices – part 3.

· The worldview and practices of the occult – part 3.

· The influence of eastern mysticism. Dave Hunt, Occult Invasion, Harvest House, 1998.

· Eastern mysticis – part two. Dave Hunt, Occult Invasion, Harvest House, 1998.

· Eatern mysticism – part five. Dave Hunt.

Ankerberg, John & Weldon, John. The facts on hinduisme. Answers to the most frequently asked questions about reincarnation, yoga, enlightenment, meditation. Harvest House Publishers. August 1991. johnankerberg.org

Ankerberg, John & Weldon, John. Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs. 1996. johnankerberg.org

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Transcendantal Meditation

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The Basic Conflict Between Maharishi and Christianity - 1984 Pastoral statement of Cardinal Jaime Sin, Catholic Archbishop of Manila. Explains why Transcendental Meditation is unacceptable for Christians as a doctrine or a practice.

Martial arts

Q & A Can a Christian be involved in Martial Arts? A former Karate and Kung-fu practioner writes about his experiences. Martial Arts Part 1. carylmatrisciana.com. ici.

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Books

Maharaj, Rabi R. & Hunt, Dave. Death of a guru. A remarkable true story of one man’s search for thruth. Harvest House publisheurs, 1984. amazoon.com

Outlook - Eastern and New Ages

2010-02-14T17:54:00.000-08:00

Videos

Yoga

Eastern Religion: Hindu Yoga

What is Yoga; is it a religion? - Swami Rama

Yoga is Religion

Cours de YOGA par des jeunes filles. Vidéo Youtube.

Yoga Clip-1. www.Thruthseekers.ws

Yoga Clip - 2. www.Thruthseekers.ws

Yoga Clip - 3 www.Thruth seekers.ws

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois on Ashtanga Yoga

"Yoga Unveiled" Documentary Trailer

Questions and Answers. Part 18. The Dangers of Yoga

Questions and Answers. Part 21. Illnesses due to Yoga

Woodstock Education : Kundalini Yoga ou Hippies and DMT

Suzie Does Woodstock - Show her your Yoga moves (vidéo drôle)

Meditation Tutorial

News

Yoga

Missouri's yoga enthusiasts go to the mat over sales tax. Los Angeles Times. December 18, 2009.

Yoga - On your mat, Get set, go. There was a time when yoga was seen as something exotic, practised by counter-culture types in search of spiritual enlightenment. The Gazette. July 19, 2006.

Roots of yoga: educating christensen. blogspot.Shadow Warrior. A Hindu Nationalist Perspective. February 20, 2005.

Websites and articles

Yoga

Yoga in Transition. Jennipher Shaver. IDEA Health & Fitness, Volume 1, Number 1, 2009.

What is Yoga? Complementary Medicine. India. aarogya.com

Stretching the Boundaries of Consciousness. The True Nature of Yoga. Dr. Barbara Steinman. 22 January 2007.

Yoga renamed is still Hindu. Subbhas R. Tiwari, professeur à Hindu University. Hinduis Today. January/February/March, 2006.

About Yoga. Loyola Marymount University.

Classical yoga hindu academy

What is hatha yoga ?

Yoga / religion / Spirituality

The true facts about yoga

Hinduisim – The religion of yoga

Yoga is for everybody Yoga facts Answer of Swami Param of Classical Yoga Hindu Academy after a blog's article : Massena High School allows yoga, calls it 'Raider Relaxation'. The Associated Press, October 15, 2008. “From a Hindu point of view, please look at the facts that all of real Yoga is Hinduism”.

Kundalini Yoga. Frequently Asked Questions. Yoga Bhajan. Ph. D. Master of kundalini yoga.

Global Oneness
- Yoga: Special Spiritual Benefits of Yoga
- Yoga: Therapeutic Yoga by India Times
- Yoga Philosophy: Yoga - Beyond The Body And Mind by Meena Om
- Yoga and philosophy. A Tribute to Hinduism. : Thoughts and Wisdom spanning continents and time about India and her culture. Sushama Londhe. Published by Pragun Publications, New Delhi, India. Distributed by D.K. Publishers Distributors (P) Ltd.

Kundalini

Kundalini FAQ. Kundalini : Frequently asked questions and selected references. Kurt Keutzer. 2002.

Outside Quebec - Prohibition

2010-02-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

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State Board of Education. State Department of Education. Alabama. 290-040-040-.02 Certain Teaching Techniques. Since 1993 and based on the 1901 Alabama Constitution The Alabama Department of Education’s State Board of Education decided to prohibit meditation and yoga.
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“The State Board of Education specifically prohibits the use of hypnosis and dissociative mental states. School personnel shall be prohibited from using any techniques that involve the induction of hypnotic states, guided imagery, meditation or yoga”. “School personnel should also emphasize the consequences of conduct that is prohibited by law or that is highly likely to result in harmful consequences to the health of a person. Such conduct shall not be presented to students as legitimate options for their consideration”.

Teaching about religion. I-6. Mountain Brook Schools. Adopted: June 11, 1990.

“The following statements, which are essentially the Court's decision as to what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate study of religion in the schools, are also statements of policy of the Mountain Brook Board of Education regarding the study of religion”. “The school may sponsor the study of religion, but should not sponsor the practice of religion”. “Therefore, students in the Mountain Brook schools should not be requested, encouraged, or invited to participate in techniques such as progressive relaxation, guided imagery, deep breathing, meditation or any similar or related”. “It is the Board's position that activities described ... may be interpreted as religious activities and should therefore be subject to Board policies which prohibit the practice of religion in the school or the religious indoctrination of students in the school”.
Adopted: June 11, 1990

How should schools teach religion to students? The Freedom Forum's Charles Haynes and comparative religion teacher Jim Maechling respond to your questions. “…experimental methods like prayer, ritual, yoga and meditation…” “ Do you think these methods should be used in the classroom? No.

Dr. Charles C. Haynes, senior scholar at the First Amendment Center. (He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life). “No. It is unconstitutional for public school teachers to lead students in prayer, yoga, meditation or any other religious practice. Education, not spiritual awareness, is the mission of the public school. Faith formation (including spiritual awareness) is the responsibility of the family and faith communities, not the public school”. “Some teachers decide to "role play" meditation or introduce yoga to students as a way of "teaching about" various religions or exposing students to these practices. In my view, recreating religious practices or ceremonies through role-playing or any other method should not take place in a public school classroom. Such activities, no matter how carefully planned or well-intentioned, risk undermining the integrity of the faith involved.

The Michigan Model. State Senate Recommendation: Public schools should be vigilant and held accountable, so they do not endorse the religious teachings or practices of any religion (relaxation techniques, calm breathing, yoga and meditation). Warnings should be given to parents and research should be done about potential harmful effects.

“The New Age is there in the Michigan Model. It's there under the guise of something else: relaxation techniques, calm breathing, yoga and meditation”. “State Senate Recommendation: Public schools should be vigilant and held accountable, so they do not endorse the religious teachings or practices of any religion”. Full copies of the Senate Report can be obtained through Senator Gilbert DiNello's office, 26th District, PO Box 30036, Lansing Michigan 48909-7536 (phone:517-373-735) or by contacting Watchman Fellowship.

Quaterly Report. July – September 2000. ” The Court of Appeals found that SCI/TM is a religion because it concerns itself with the search for ultimate truth just like other religions. “When the government seeks to encourage this version of ultimate truth, and not others, an establishment clause problem arises.” Copy at 214. Kevin C. McDowell, General Counsel, at (317) 232-6676, kmcdowel@doe.state.in.us.

Who Took the "T" out of "TM"? Tom Forehand. A federal appeals court in 1979 called TM a form of religious teaching and ruled the practice could not be taught in New Jersey public schools. The decision is often cited as a precedent in religion-in-public-schools cases.

Separtion of Guru and State. Influence of the New Age Movement on Public Education. Francis J. Beckwith. PREMISE, Volume II, Number 4, April 27, 1995.

Outside Quebec - Objections

2010-02-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

Poll

Should yoga be taught in school - Poll result. WorldNetDaily.com.
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Videos

Meditation. Parents protest. North Carolina.
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Presentation

Yoga in Schools: The Ethical Concerns about its Religious Connection. Maureen A. Davin, Ed.D.
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News review

Surya Namaskar and yoga to be made compulsory in Educational Institution. Metaphore. Michael Prabhu. March-April 2007.
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News

Yoga

Court to BJP govt: Surya namaskar not be made mandatory for students. Christian Today. India. September 1, 2009.

Yoga at center of church-state debate. Deseret News (Salt Lake City), October 4, 2008.

Parents protest yoga classes in New York school. The financial express. October 10, 2008.

Yoga stresses out parents at school. Associated Press. Octobre 3, 2008.
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Critics say yoga at N.Y. high school tries to spread Hinduism. The Associated Press. June, 10, 2008.

Yoga controversy gaining attention. MASSENA HIGH SCHOOL: Suspended program sparking debate; board to get a demonstration. Lori Shull. Watertown Daily Times. October 7, 2008.

N.Y. parents in twist over yoga in schools. The Associated Press. October 5, 2008.

Yoga at school causes stress among some. Ties to Hinduism questioned by parents, religious leaders in N.Y. Associated Press. October 3, 2008.
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School in Massena suspends yoga after parents complain. The Post-Standard. October 2, 2008.

Yoga in school poses a problem for Christian mom. Petti Fong, The Globe and Mail, October 1, 2007. PDF
Un état Indien impose le yoga dans en classe. Madhya Pradesh, Indes. Alliance Presse. March 20, 2007. March 20, 2007.

Cong MLAs boycott Ramdev's yoga session. The Times of India. February 20, 2007.

Former instructor warns of yoga's spiritual implications. Jim BrownOneNewsNow.com. February 2, 2007.

Yoga causes controversy in public schools: Some parents say it violates the separation of church and state. Associated Press, January 28, 2007.

Debate in India: Is Rule on Yoga Constitutional ? Somini Sengupta, The New York Times, January 26, 2007.

Yoga part of school syllabi in MP. IBN Live. Jan 26, 2007.

Muslims challenge school yoga drill - Madhya Pradesh. Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent, The Australian News, January 26, 2007.

Madhya Pradesh unveils policy on yoga. Rediff India Abroad, January 25, 2007.

Court asks Madhya Pradesh to make surya namaskar voluntary. January 25, 2007.

Madhya Pradesh High Court on yoga programme. Advocate General Rabinandan Singh told the court that the government had already made it clear that the programme would be voluntary. The Hindu. January 25, 2007.

“Jabalpur: Amid a raging controversy over Madhya Pradesh Government's decision to organise "surya namaskar" and "pranayam" programme in schools on Thursday, the High Court on Wednesday ordered that the participation in it should be voluntary. No individual or institution should be forced to take part in the programme, a Division Bench of Chief Justice A.K. Patnayak and Justice R.S. Jha said in an interim order on petitions filed by some Muslim organisations against the Government's decision.”

M.P. Government to go ahead with yoga programme. Muslims seek Governor’s intervention to stop it. The Hindu. January 24, 2007.

Indian Church: rather than worship the sun, the government should deal with more pressing problems. AsianNews.it. India.January 23, 2007.

Surya namaskar in Madhya Pradesh faces more opposition. IANS. January 23, 2007.

Don’t impose religious practices, Indian archbishop says of yoga measure. Catholic Online www.catholic.org. January 16, 2007.

Muslims oppose 'surya namaskar' in MP schools. The times of India. January 14, 2007.

'Surya namaskar is against secularism'. The Times of India. January 13, 2007.

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Yoga in schools denounced as anti-Christian. Ethan Baron, CanWest News Service. January 10, 2007.

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B.C. school yoga classes slammed. CBC News. January 9, 2007.

Parents getting bent out of shape over yoga in schools. Why? Rachel Breitman, Columbia News Service, April 4, 2006.

School Yoga Fitness Programs May Be Unhealthy Alternative, Author Warns. Jim Brown, literary critic on the book “Super Sized Kids”, AgapePress, October 2005.

Yoga goes to school. Stripped of spiritualism, yoga stretches into public schools. Rachel Konrad. The Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO. July/August 2004 Volume 3/Number 4.

Yoga in Aspen Public Schools Draws Opposition. Mindy Sink. The New York Times. February 8, 2003.

Church angered by Croatia's school yoga plan. ABC News, July 16, 2003.

Slovakia's Christians Scuttle School Yoga. Hinduism Today. January/February/March, 2002.

Slovak Churches Applaud Decision To Drop Plan For Yoga In Schools « Christian culture would have been threatened by plan, leaders say. » Jonathan Luxmoore, Christianity Today, October 1, 2001.

Clergy Fight Yoga Instruction in Slovakian Schools. Boston Globe. October 1, 2001. Church: Yoga equals atheism. Martina Pisárová, New casus belli : Yoga plan for schools, July 30, 2001.

Ministry withdraws recommendation for teachers to take yoga classes after church's protest. July 16, 2003.

Transcendantale Meditation

Meditation in Public Schools? July 2007. Los Angeles Times. Opinion reply Thoughts on meditation July 27, 2007. Los Angeles Times. Reproduced in Rant & Reason BLOG Humanist perspectives.

No TM at California School - Filmmaker David Lynch pulls grant. Tad Whitaker. Marin Independent Journal, USA. October 19, 2006.

Marin school drops meditation club. Tad Whitaker. Marin Independent Journal, October 19, 2006.

California school loses funds over Transcendental Meditation controversy. Marcus Wholsen, AP, via the Mercury News, USA, October 18, 2006.

School needs to rethink use of TM. Marin Independent Journal, USA. October 16, 2006.

High School's Club Called 'Religion - Cult' By Parents. Califournia NBC11. October 13, 2006.

Parent storms stage to protest TM program at California school. Marin Independent Journal, USA. October 13, 2006.

California school cancels plans for transcendental meditation. Americans United for Separation of Church and State December 1, 2006.

Plans for meditation at Terra Linda High don't soothe everyone. Ted Whitaker. Marin-Independent Journal/October 11, 2006.

Board tells future school: Remove religion from lessons or lose charter. Christina Breen Bolling. Free Republic, September 4, 2004.

Charter school eyes Aug. opening. Gail Smith-Arrants. Charlotte Observer/May 6, 2004.

Meditation controversy. Joy Victory. The Journal News. May 05, 2004.

Transcendental Meditation activists eager to share school's success. Associated Press. November 5, 2004.

Time to reflect cc valled religion. Cristina Breen Bolling and Gail Smith-Arrants. The Charlotte Observer/March 28, 2004.
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Websites and articles

Yoga

Le caractère religieux de yoga. Peadar Somers et Florent Varak. Pour la commission d'éthique de la Fédération Évangélique de France.
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Yoga à l'école: religion et laicité. Peadar Somers & Florent Varak.

Is yoga a spiritual or religious practice ? Mindy Sink. Indolink.com.

Yoga for Kids: Yoga in Schools. Christian Research Institute. Yoga. Elliot Miller. by Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John WeldonYoga and Children. Ankerberg Theological Research Institute. Ankerberg John Dr. & John Weldon Dr. Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, Harvest House, 1996.
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Yoga News: NY school falls under pressure to remove yoga from curriculum. Examiner.com. August, 10, 2008.

Yoga - Conflicts With Religion. LifeDivine. November, 03, 2008.

Is yoga unconstitutional ? Dorf on Law. Mostly law-related musings by Columbia Professor Michael Dorf and some of his lawyer/professor friends. Friday, February 02, 2007.

Muslims to boycott 'surya namaskar' in MP. Indian Muslim News and Information. October 01, 2007.

Yoga in schools. What’s all the fuss about? Darlene d’Arezzo, Yogi Times, September 2007.

The Facts, the Dangers, the Photos, the WarningsSouthern Baptist 'Kids' Bowing To Yoga. Bud Press, Director, Christian Research Service, August 16th 2007. The Facts, the Dangers, the Photos, the Warnings.

BJP yoga is bad news for schools, UPA yoga is mandatory? Indian Express.com. New Delhi, March 03, 2007.

Muslim Board wants MP Govt to cancel Surya Namaskar order. Indianexpress.com. January 14, 2007.

Physical Exercise or Religious Practice? Posted by Timothy R. Butler. timothybutler.us Mar 15, 2006.

Yoga Ceremony in Indian Schools Protested by Christians and Muslims. Richard Bartholomew. January 24, 2007. Yoga for school children. Yoga & Health. April 2006.

We need teachers, not amateur therapists. Frank Furedi. Angleterre. 11 July, 2006.

Yoga Goes to School: It used to be one school at a time. Now it's district by district. Laura Shin. July/August 2004, Volume 3/Number 4.

Transcendantale Meditation

Om Schooling. V. Rev. James M. Deschene, Abbot. Christ the Saviour MonasteryProvidence, RI.

Meditation in School: What Can You Do ? Tom Forehand, The Watchman Expositor, Vol. 7, No. 7, 1990.

Transcendental Meditation in Our Schools? Timothy Burgin. Yoga Basic. November 21, 2007.

Qi gong

Stop Pseudoscience & The Occult in Public Schools. Letter and petition to California State Superintendent Jack O'Connell, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California State Board of Education, Monterey County School Board, Monterey Peninsula School Board.

New Age

New age in school – it continues. Craig Branch.

Outside Quebec - Promotion

2010-02-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

Press and literature

Yoga and teenagers. International Association of Yoga Therapists. April 27, 2006.

Yoga and education. International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) 2005. Compiled by: Trisha Lamb. Last Revised: April 27, 2006.

Yoga and teenagers. International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) 2005. Compiled by: Trisha Lamb.Last Revised: April 27, 2006.

News

Yoga

Scottish children doing yoga and chanting at school.The Huffington post. Mars 23, 2010.

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Children learn yoga at school. BBC News. March 17, 2010.
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Scottish children feel benefits of yoga. BBC Asian Network. Mars 18, 2010.

Yoga and art classes for school children to begin. Sungazette.com. February, 21 2010.

Yoga Among New Offerings This School Year. Department of Education. Nova Scotia. October 9, 2009. here

New phys-ed class getting girls engagedPark View one of six schools in Nova Scotia offering Yoga

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Yoga now part of high school curriculum. – The Weekly News. October 9, 2009.

Stars' Mantra: Get 1M Kids to Meditate. In Post-Beatles Era, Meditation Replaces Medication
for Stressed, Troubled Kids. ABC News. Susan Donaldson James. April 6, 2009.

Yoga to be Mandatory in Schools.Times of India. January 8, 2009.

Soon, yoga to be made compulsory in CBSE schools. The Times of India. April 06, 2009.
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New Zealand school introduces yoga for kids to beat exam stress. ICT. November 10th, 2008.

Class giving trouble? 10 minutes of pranayam, everyone. IANS. October 21, 2008.

Physical Ed Teachers to Bring Yoga to the Gym. DeKalb County School System. October 9, 2008.

First state-funded Hindu school in UK to train kids in yoga, meditation, prayers. ANI. September 15, 2008.

Ramadoss keen on introducing yoga in schools. Thaindian News. New Delhi. February 25, 2008.

School Students Practice Laughter Yoga to Overcome Stress. Alternative Medicine News. December 21, 2007.

Schools told to tackle teenage obesity crisis. Polly Curtis. The Guardian. Britain. October 15, 2007.

Kids use yoga to learn mythology, fight pre-test jitters. CNN.com. October 8, 2007.

Elementary schoolers do yoga for exercise, relaxation. Oakland Tribune, Oct 1, 2007.

Schools go to the mat for yoga. Students show a bent for exercise. Jeremy P. Meyer. Denver Post Staff Writer. September 27, 2007.

How yoga is changing the classroom. Julie Ferry. Independent. London. June 14, 2007.

In Lieu of Gym, school teach yoga. Brooklin, NY, March 8, 2007.

National Committee favours yoga in schools. The Hindu. March 5, 2007.

Yoga Tackles Teen Obesity. Fox News. March 03, 2007.

Youngsters sit quietly for yoga. Mark Hofmann. Daily Courier. November 12, 2006.

Not your father's gym class: PE tries yoga. Ray Parker. The Arizona Republic. Jan. 12, 2006.

International Education: Meditation helps students. The New York Times. Micucci February 15, 2005.

Yoga to help children de-stress. BBC News. 23 March, 2004.

Meditation

In the Classroom, a New Focus on Quieting the Mind. New York Times, Okland, Calif., June 12, 2007.

Meditate your way to success. Maggie Shiels. BBC News Online, San Francisco. May 15, 2002. Méditation transcendantale

The Transcendental Meditation program Maharishi University of Management. Fairfield, Iowa

Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy

National Education Conference on Transcendental Meditation In The Classroom Draws Huge Response From Media, Educators. Committee for Stress-Free Schools, March 22, 2004.

Yogic Flying Clubs for Students David Lynch tours schools; touts Transcendental Meditation. Glenn Gamboa.The Herald, Monterey County, CA, USA. May 3, 2008.

Fight school violence with meditation : David Lynch. AFP. May 1, 2007.

Transcendentale meditation : New school in bid to calm troubled teens. Louisa Gault. Sunday Star Times, New Zealand. July 15, 2007.

Filmmaker David Lynch is leading a meditation revival. Brooke Sopelsa. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. December 29, 2006.

Bob Roth : La méditation contre l’excès de stress dans les écoles. Providence Journal. 9 juin 2006.

Meditation In Schools? Eastern Philosophy Gains Acceptance In Bay State. The Boston Channel. June 5, 2006.

Conference promotes meditation in school. Cristina Silva. Boston Globe. May 6, 2006.

Transcendental Meditation: Stress-free new mantra for schools? Bill NemitzThe Portland Press Herald, USA, May 15, 2006.

Teachers get a lesson helping stressed teens know some ‘inner bliss’. The Providence Journal Co. May 5, 2006.

Clear Your Mind. NEA TODAY (The magazine of the National Education Association). May 2006.

Meditation enters schools. Patrick Condon. Deseret Morning News. October 30, 2004.

Meditation key to education, say school officials. Lori Higgins. Detroit Free Press. 2003.

“Meditation for Moppets: Stressed-out kids are finding relief in relaxation techniques such as TM”. Business Week. March 29, 2004.

Reference site

Southern Baptist Convention's 'List of Colleges and Universities' Contains Schools Promoting Yoga, New Age

Sites and articles

Yoga

Yoga in schools. (original in french) Interview with Micheline Flak. Specialist of School Yoga. Founder of Rye, Research on Yoga in Education. nouvellescles.com. See also adapted traditional yoga in schools. (original in french)

Yoga Ed

Yoga kids

For Infants and Teens – This Body/Mind Therapy Works Wonders. Sherry Leblanc. vitalitymagazine.com.

Yoga and the pupil. YOGA magazine. June 2008.

“The choice is simple. Either we as a society spearhead the introduction of a brief pause for yoga into physical education programmes in British schools or we turn a blind eye and allow our educational establishments to slip into chaos and anarchy; thereby robbing honest, hard-working youngsters of the chance to become honourable citizens.”

Latest Way to Cut Grade School Stress: Yoga. Patricia Leigh Brown, aaafengshuiandyoga.com, March 22, 2008.

Yoga And Obesity Solution. medicalnewstoday.com, March 07, 2007.

The traditional yoga adapted to the school. Mieux-apprendre.com. (original in french)

Zen School! April 20 2007. France. dejagrand.infobebes.com. (original in french)

Kids Yoga: A Solution to Global Obesity in Children. Paul M. Jerard Jr., lovemygym.com April 17, 2007.

India: Yoga against obesity. La Vanguardia, http://www.lavanguardia.es/, April 6-7 2007. La revue de Courrier International. (original in french)

Le yoga pour enfants. Birgit Engel, Hippocrate, 19 septembre 2006. (original in french)

Meet your children zen. Psychologies.com. septembre 2005. (original in french)

Meditation

Meditation seen promising as ADHD therapy. Reters. January 5, 2009.

Transcendantal Meditation

David Lynch To Host Second Annual National Student Weekend on Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity. davidlynchweekend.xanga.com.

Trend of meditation remedies grows on campuses. The Daily Collegian. December 9, 2005.

In Quebec - Hotline for complaints

2010-02-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

The school of your child offers yoga, meditation, qi gong or other spiritual practices and you disagree?

There are a resource to Quebec to assist parents in such situations.

Contact thier line complaints Coalition for Freedom in Education Dominicque by calling 514-387-9452 or by email plaintecle@gmail.com.

We encourage you to share your comments and objections with your principal, your school board or the parents committee.

In Quebec - Promotion

2010-02-14T08:17:00.000-08:00

Meditation transcendantale

Ok, kids, chill out. Children as young as 10 are picking up transcendental meditation, and they're not the only ones feeling good about it. Stéphanie Whittaker. The Gazette, January 13, 2007.

No positive effect - Scientific articles

2010-02-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

Therapeutic Value of Meditation Unproven, Says Study. University of Alberta. september 7, 2007. article ici

Read the complete study :

Ospina MB, Bond TK, Karkhaneh M, Tjosvold L, Vandermeer B, Liang Y, Bialy L, Hooton N, Buscemi N, Dryden DM, Klassen TP. Meditation Practices for Health: State of the Research. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 155. (Prepared by the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practie Center under Contract No. 290-02-0023.) AHRQ Publication No. 07-E010. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. June 2007.

La méditation ne guérit rien ? La Presse. Le 12 juillet 2007.

Benson, Herbert. Your innate asset for combating stress. Harvard Business Review, July-August 1974, pp49-60.

"A co-researcher with TM's Robert Keith Wallace in 1972, this controlled study by Dr. Benson (a non-meditator) using eighty subjects, showed no difference in the physiological correlates of stress reduction between the practice of TM and five other relaxation response techniques. The other techniques were autogenic training, progressive relaxation, Zen meditation, hypnosis, and yoga. This study has a useful historical appendix outlining ten different relaxation response methods that have proven effective over time." (résumé)

Desiraju, T. The Yoga and Consciousness Project. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience. Bangalore, India: Omni, Nov. 1990, pp84-88.

"Funded by the Indian government, a ten-year investigation by the yoga and consciousness team (headed by internationally recognized neurophysiologist T. Desiraju) was unable to identify any physiological standard for so-called enlightenment. Even meditation per se was hard to define at the Bangalore lab, claimed by Indian scientists to be the world's most sophisticated center for investigating the physiological correlates of mystical experiences."

"The Bangalore lab's controlled studies displayed measurements that stand in strong contrast to TM-movement sponsored research. For example, the studies showed heart rates are as likely to increase as decrease; breath rates and skin resistance were just as eccentric; TM subjects were drowsier than subjects using other forms of meditation; their EEG's showed weaker alpha and theta waves than other meditation techniques; physiological correlates were consistently unpredictable with TM showing great variability from session to session." (résumé)

Holmes, David S. Meditation and somatic arousal reduction. American Psychologist, January 1984, pp1-10. Ensuing discussion follows in four more issues: June 1985, pp717-731; June 1986, pp712-713; September 1986, pp1007-1009; September 1987, pp879-881.

"An exhaustive TM-research review and further controlled testing demonstrated that TM produces no more physical relaxation than just sitting with the eyes closed. His findings here stand in sharp contrast to widely held beliefs about the effects of TM, which are based on TM-movement-controlled experimental tests."

"Between meditation (TM) and just-resting subjects, no reliable differences were found by Holmes in plasma renin or aldosterone, plasma adrenaline, growth hormone, testosterone, norepinephrin or epinephrine, plasma lactate, theronine, serine, asparagine, glutamic, glutamine, glycine, alanine, cirtulline, valine, isoleucine, leucine, or tyrosine. Meditating subjects were found to have higher levels of phenylalanine that resting subjects, a finding which reflects high arousal in meditators." (résumé )

Kesterson, John and Noah F. Clinch. Metabolic rate, respiratory exchange ratio, and apneas during (TM) meditation. The American Journal of Physiology, March 1989. p637.

"A controlled, in-depth investigation into the effects of TM practice on respiration and metabolism, indicating that TM produces no deeper state of rest than from just sitting with eyes closed, even in advanced practitioners, and that the TM practice does not produce the hypometabolic state as claimed by MIU's Robert Keith Wallace."
"They also discovered a decrease in respiratory exchange ratio in meditators during TM not observed in controls (i.e., an increase of carbon dioxide). Although this research was conducted at MIU, Kesterson and Clinch maintained their objectivity. Unlike most work by TM-movement researchers, this particular study was published in a major journal. " (résumé )

Michaels, R.R., M.J. Huber and D.S. McCann. Science 192, 1976, pp1242-1243.

"A study of the concentration of plasma epinephrine, norephinephrine, as well as lactate. In comparing twelve TM practitioners and twelve subjects as controls who merely rested, they detected no statistically different results. The question is raised whether the benefits are due to TM or sleep. The study suggests that meditation does not induce a unique metabolic state but is seen biochemically as a resting state." (résumé )

Pagano, RR, R.M. Stivers and S. Warrenburg. Science 191, Jan. 21, 1976, p308.

"Study of EEG's of five TM practitioners noted that meditation involved some sleep and that it gives rise to quite different states from day to day and from practitioner to practitioner. They compared EEG records made during meditation with those made during naps taken at the same time of day. The range of states observed during meditation does not support the view that meditation produces a single unique state of consciousness. He questions whether the benefits are due to TM or simply sleep." (résumé )

Pagels, Heinz R. New York Academy of Sciences. An affidavit dated July 1, 1986. Dr. Pagels was Executive Director of the New York Academy of Sciences when he wrote this opinion:

"The views expressed in the [TM] literature that purport to find a connection between the recent ideas of theoretical physics and states of consciousness are false and profoundly misleading. No qualified physicist that I know would claim to find such a connection without knowingly committing fraud." "Although the word "science" is much abused, it continues to imply an adherent logic, the clear presentation of assumptions and deductions, and the experimental method. This [the Science of Creative Intelligence] is not science." (résumé )

Pollack, A.A., D.B. Case, M.A. Weber and J.H. Laragh. Limitations of transcendental meditation in the treatment of essential hypertension. Lancet 1(8002):71-3, January 8, 1977.

"Twenty hypertensive patients participating in a professionally supervised program of transcendental meditation showed no significant change in blood pressure after a 6-month study. Although there were small reductions in systolic blood pressure and in pulse rate early in the trial, these changes had disappeared by 6 months. At no time did the mean diastolic pressure fall significantly. Plasma- renin activity did not change during the study. It is concluded that while the general well being experience d by most patients may provide a useful adjunct to conventional treatments, it is unlikely that transcendental meditation contributes directly towards the lowering of blood pressure." (résumé )

Teb-ecis, A.K. A controlled study of the EEG during transcendental meditation: comparison with hypnosis. Folia Psychiatr Neruol, Japan 29(4):305-13, 1975.

A controlled, quantitative investigation of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and transcendental meditation (TM) revealed that EEG changes during TM were rarely as pronounced or consistent as previous reports suggest. There was considerable variation between subjects, some displaying no EEG changes at all during TM compared with an equal period of nonmeditation. Any changes that did occur in a particular individual were not necessarily repeated in a subsequent session. A comparison of mean EEG parameters of the experimental group revealed no consistent significant differences between meditation and nonmeditation. The EEG characteristics of the group of meditators were similar to those of a group of subjects experienced in self-hypnosis. (résumé )

Side effects - Other links

2010-02-14T07:54:00.000-08:00

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Yoga

Yoga dangers : yoga, kundalini awakening. Yogadangers.com.

Autres sites trouvé sur :
http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Opposing_Views/Yoga/ Adi Da/Adidam

Adi Da/Adidam - Archive of articles, most related to the 1985 lawsuit by a former member charging the sect with sexual abuse, involuntary servitude, and false imprisonment.

American Guru - William Yenner and other former students of guru Andrew Cohen present stories and information critical of Andrew Cohen and his community.

Ananda Awareness Network - Information about corruption and abuse connected with Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters), the Ananda Church and the Ananda communities.

Bad Moon Rising: A True Story of Washington Gone Mad - A nonfiction journalistic report on the Rev. Moon and his connections to U.S. neo-conservative politics.

BrahmaKumaris.info - A site set up for ex-members of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University, organizers of Raja Yoga centers.

Call for Government Action Against Sathya Sai Baba - A site detailing corruption and abuse in the Sathya Sai Baba organization.

The Case of Adi Da - Noted spirituality author Ken Wilber updates his position on the guru named Adi Da.

Critical Considerations Regarding Yoga As Spiritual Path Towards Transcendence - Surveys some basic inconsistencies in Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga.

Ex-Premie.Org - Presented by ex-followers of the ex-"Lord of the Universe," Maharaji. Information in English, French, and Spanish on Prem Rawat, Elan Vital, and the Divine Light Mission. Interviews, personal stories, news items.

eXSY - An ummoderated discussion group for former members of SYDA (Siddha Yoga), also open to current members.

Fascism and False Guru Sects - Information about fascism and authoritarianism in false guru sects.

Gentle Wind Project - Former Gentle Wind Project members tell insiders' stories of experiences and recovery.

The Guru Looked Good - A memoir of Marta Szabo's participation in Siddha Yoga with Gurumayi, and comments from readers.

Guruphiliac - An ever-changing, up to the minute weblog with critical news of various yoga and guru groups.

Kundalini Complications - An overview of the hazards of forcing a Kundalini awakening with real world examples.

Leaving Nityananda Institute - This site seeks to help former members of Ni recover from various levels of betrayal and abuse sustained while inside the Nityananda Institute and in the process of leaving the Nityananda Institute - an organized healing forum

Leaving Siddha Yoga - Information and testimonials from former members of Siddha Yoga (SYDA), describing sexual abuse and other kinds of corruption connected to Muktananda and Gurumayi.

Ma Jaya & Kashi Ashram Revealed - Critical articles exposing corruption and abuse in the Ma Jaya group.

Prem Rawat aka Maharaji - An objective review of Prem Rawat, sometimes called Maharaji or Guru Maharaj Ji and his supporting organisations like TPRF, Elan Vital and Raj Vidya Kender.

Radhasoami, Sant Mat, & Shabd Yoga - Debates, essays, and reviews.

Sathya Sai Baba Deceptions Exposed - Site critical of Sathya Sai Baba.

Self-Realization Fellowship's Kriya Pledge - To learn kriya, you have to promise things over your head; to keep your pledge may be impossible.

SRF Walrus - Open forum for the discussion of Self-Realization Fellowship, its practices, goals, and relationship to members and monastics/employees.

Sri Chinmoy - Guru Sri Chinmoy, Chinmoy Kumar Ghose - information provided by former followers of Chinmoy regarding corruption and abuse in this group.

Sri Chinmoy Ex-Disciples Forum - Yahoo group for former members, with discussion, photos, and links. Registration required.

Stripping the Gurus - Critical information on various gurus.

Traumatic Abuse in Cults - An essay using Siddha Yoga (SYDA) as an example of an abusive group, exploring issues of trauma and recovery in cults.

Yogananda Rediscovered - Ananda members charge that Self-Realization Fellowship has changed the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.

Yogaville/Integral Yoga Institute - Features commentaries from former members and families, copies of legal threats from the group, and news and information about the group.

Sahaja Yoga

Historical Background of Sahaja Yoga - Research into the origins of Sahaja Yoga is presented with sources, rare photographs and a video clip.

Sahaja Yoga - Dangers of Sahaja Yoga, bibliography, an account of a picketer being threatened by violence from Sahaja Yogis, a "reality test" for Sahaja Yogis, the story of Shri Mataji's quest for the Nobel Peace Prize, and links.

Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji - A site which presents critical information about Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji.

Sahaja Yoga Cult - All about the cult of Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji Srivastava.

Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi's Sahaja Yoga: Second Coming? or Mother of all Cults? - Notes on Sahaja Yoga from a critical perspective.

Shri who must be obeyed - She's been hailed as a saint: a selfless distributor of goodness and light. But, on the eve of her appearance at the Royal Albert Hall, Shri Mataji is under attack.

Talk-About-Sahaja-Yoga - Mailing list can also be read on the web. Accepts posts from all perspectives on Sahaja Yoga.

WIPO Domain Name Dispute: Case D2001-0467 - Decision by WIPO arbitration panel dismisses complaint by Vishwa Nirmala Dharma (a.k.a. Sahaja Yoga) against Sahaja Yoga Ex-Members Network. The panel ruled that Sahaja Yoga is a generic mark and not the property of Nirmala Devi Srivastava's organization. (June 16, 2001)

Mataji Nirmala Devi & Her Kundalini Awakening - Says that Sahaja Yoga depends on blind faith. Its vaunted claim of spontaneous, en masse awakening of the kundalini power has not been proven effective for true seekers or skeptics. [Indian Skeptic] (June, 1990)
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Transcendantal Meditation

Meditation Information Network "Supporting critical examination of Transcendental Meditation and the programs associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi"

Behind the TM Facade Site démontrant les effets dangereux de la MT.

Research on harmful effects

TranceNet

Why I Believe The TM Org is Dangerous. John M. Knapp, cult counselor.

TM-EX Newsletters, 1990 – 1994. minet.org.

Negative and Inconclusive Research on the TM Program. minet.org.

Autres sites trouvé sur : http://www.dmoz.org/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Opposing_Views/Yoga/ Adi Da/Adidam

The Basic Conflict Between Maharishi and Christianity - 1984 Pastoral statement of Cardinal Jaime Sin, Catholic Archbishop of Manila. Explains why Transcendental Meditation is unacceptable for Christians as a doctrine or a practice.

Behind the TM Facade - A critical look at the scientific claims of Transcendental Meditation and related practices.

Falling Down the TM Rabbit Hole - Information and arguments recommending against involvement with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi or with any of his organizations.

Meditation Information Network - Supporting critical examination of the programs associated with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

The Skeptic's Dictionary: Transcendental Meditation (TM) - Analyses this "spiritual business whose proprietors claims it is a program that is scientifically validated."

Transcendental Meditation Information Pages - Critical analysis of TM, from a Christian perspective.

Side effects - Websites and articles

2010-02-14T04:36:00.000-08:00

Yoga

Contraindications of Yoga. Marie Carrico. IDEA Health & Fitness Source, Nov-Dec 1998, pp.34-43.

Yoga Journal. mai 1978. 64 pages. N° 20.

"The danger in working with an untrained yoga teacher lies in the unrecognized power of the practices to bring about the uncontrolled released of fears, illnesses, sexual attachment and terrifying archetypal formations from the unconscious, just like the opening of Pandora's box."

Kapalbhati Benefits and Dangers.

Yoga side effects. Yoga DVD guru. Yogadvdguru.com. mailto:info@yogadvdguru.com

"What is Yoga : The term Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yug’ which means ‘to join’. Its signify union between the individual soul (jivatma) and the universal soul (paramatma). Yoga is the Science that teaches the technique of joining the human spirit with God which is the Divine Science that separates the Jiva from the exceptional world of sense objects and relates him with the Ananta Ananda (Infinite Bliss), Parama Shanti (Supreme Peace), joy of an Akhanda character and Power that are intrinsic quality of the Absolute."

"The negative side effects of yoga are not always physical. Mental instability can also be a side effect of practicing too much yoga or practicing it incorrectly. Some negative, and severe, side effects can include pseudo death, pseudo psychosis, confusion, increased anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal patterns, depression, homicidal urges, and feelings to self-mutilate. Headaches, temporary blindness, sexual pains, and social issues may also arise. A combination of these symptoms when caused by yoga is typically what is known as Kundalini Syndrome, which stems from performing Kundalini yoga poses incorrectly or too often."

Yoga not for children. American Yoga Association. Référé dans Hindu Samaj Critiques dans Yoga - Conflicts With Religion. LifeDivine. November 03, 2008.

"Yoga exercises are not recommended for children under 16 because their bodies’ nervous and glandular systems are still growing, and the effect of Yoga exercises on these systems may interfere with natural growth."

Religion Journal; Yoga in Aspen Public Schools Draws Opposition. Mindy Sink, New York Times, Saturday, February 8, 2003.

“Officials with the American Yoga Association said they were less concerned with philosophy and religion than physiology and cautioned against allowing children under 16 to practice yoga because they believe that their growth may be affected.”

Hatha yoga danger of injuries. Charles MacInerney. Yogateacher.com.
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General benefits, cautions and contraindications of yoga. Julie Lusk. 2006.
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Yoga Meditation in Severe Psychosis & Autism. 7 août 2010.

"A caution from one alternative medicine site warns that meditation instruction can cause physiological or psychological harm - such as: mania, psychosis, hallucination, depression and suicidal tendency, nervous breakdown, sudden surge of of heart rates, chronic pain, and split personalities. Yoga is implicated - as are, certain religious types of meditation and incorrect hypnosis. (link)"

Mahabir, Deolal. Yoga: Hints and cautions.

Includes cautions regarding 1) postures that increase abdominal pressures, 2) inverted postures, 3) hypertension, and 4) low back problems.

Lasater, Judith. Yogi beware: Hidden dangers can lurk within even the most familiar pose. YogaJournal, Jan/Feb 2005, pp. 110-119.*

Nespor, Karel. (2000). Yoga and Health. A Course for Swedish Yoga Teachers, Hruba Skala, 12. - 16.6. (Nespor, Karel M. D., Ph. D. (Swaroop Murti)).

Contraindications of Yoga practices - general principles

Physically demanding exercises and pranayama with long internal breath retention should be avoided in most generalised acute conditions, e.g. infectious diseases.
Inverted asanas including Padahastasana should be avoided in glaucoma, inflammatory diseases in the head region and severe hypertension.
Forward bending asanas can be harmful for people with serious problems in the lumbar spine. Twisting asanas (especially in upright position, such as Ardha Matsyendrasana)should be performed carefully or omitted in people with spinal problems.
Joints which are not healthy should not be weighted down or burdened. Even Surya Namaskar may be too much for somebody with knee problems, not to speak about Sirshasana in people with weak or injured cervical spine.
The pressure in the abdomen should not be increased in cases of inflammatory and other acute abdominal diseases.
Long periods of meditation and Yoga Nidra are not without risk for same people with severe mental problems such as schizophrenia or persons disturbed after the abuse of hallucinogenic and stimulant drugs or cannabis.
The therapeutic effects of Yoga should not be overemphasised in health problems which can be treated by a physician in a safe and effective way.

Physical yoga can be dangerous. Shakti Karma. Bhakti Yoga International Society.

Yoga done wrong can be dangerous and can cause adverse effects on your overall health. Some of these side effects as are follows: Adversely effecting your muscles and cause heavy pain and internal bleeding. Some yoga poses can even lead to fracture or ruptures of delicate bones. This case is especially true if you have delicate or brittle bones. Ruptures like these can take months to heal and might sometimes even need surgical intervention. Some yoga poses can even lead to adverse gastric problems in some individuals. Most people complain gastric symptoms to be associated with hatha yoga postures. This is especially true if you do not perform all yoga asanas in a particular sequence. Some of the yoga poses are so complex that even experts don't understand them properly. For instance the kundalini yoga. Yoga poses like these done wrong can have adverse effect on you mentally. This is known as the kundalini syndrome. The possible side effects on kundalini syndrome are pseudo death, psychosis, pseudo psychosis, confusion, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sadness, suicidal thoughts, urges to self-mutilate, homicidal urges, arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), exacerbation of prior or current mental illness, insomnia, inability to hold a job, inability to talk, inability to drive, sexual pains, temporary blindness, and headaches. Even if you practise yoga under a instructor, chances are that he or she is not fully aware of the techniques and might give you wrong instructions. So you need to be super careful if you even consider attempting these advanced yoga forms.

Religion and psychosis. Johannes Aagaard. May, 1994.

“It is an established fact that yoga – at least in the form that has become pervasive today, viz. Hatha yoga and Kundalini yoga – may release and possibly create psychotic states in the mind of the practitioner, withdrawing his or her interest from the outer world in ways reminiscent of the kind of psychosis called autism.”

“Hot” Yoga: Physiological concerns while exercising in the heat. Leslie Funk. Yoga World, Apr-Jun 2001.

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Insight from injury: If the practice of hatha yoga was meant to heal,Why are so many yogis getting hurt? Carol Krucoff. Yoga Journal, May/June 2003, pp. 120-124, 203.

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McCall, Timothy. Doctor’s call: Should you discuss your yoga routine with your physician? Yoga Journal, Jan/Feb 2004, p. 30.

Discusses a lot of contraindications for Yoga and the possible restriction of movement that may be necessary following injury.

Is kundalini yoga dangerous to practice? Q&A with Goswami Kriyananda. Yogachicago.com, September–October 2000.

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It's own-up time: I'm a hardcore yoga fan. Health. Telegraph, 6 May 2005.

"...one doctor from the Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York who, earlier this year, told a British journalist that he saw up to five Bikram-related injuries a week, a result, apparently, of stretching muscles too far beyond their resting lengths."

McGonigal, Kelly. Nursing an injury or illness.

“It’s the reality of living in a physical body in a complex world: sometimes we hurt, and sometimes we are ill. Maybe your yoga practice has reduced the frequency of everyday aches or illnesses, but even the most dedicated yogis get injured or sick sometimes. Sometimes, the practice of yoga produces an injury. A yoga injury can seem like a betrayal: How could something so good have hurt us? Whether you have a mild injury caused by carelessness or ambition in your yoga practice, or are recovering from an illness that makes your regular strenuous yoga practice seem like torture, write yourself an individualized yoga prescription . . .”

“No pain, no gain” mantra won’t work with yoga: Injuries on the rise as practice goes mainstream. Christopher Heredia. San Francisco Chronicle , August 3, 2003.

Dr. James G. Garrick, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the Center for Sports Medicine at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco, said his clinic saw 39 patients with yoga injuries in 2002, up from 11 in 2001. Most of the injuries patients suffered were to the knee, followed by lower back and shoulder. The injuries result from people trying to stretch their bodies into difficult poses that are beyond their physical limitations. "The last couple of years we've been seeing a dramatic increase in the number of people injured doing yoga," Garrick said. "It's frightened us."

Palkhivala, Aadil. How to teach peace. My Yoga Mentor, Nov 2004, no. 12.

“. . . as teachers, we must be very careful with certain pranayama practices. Bhastrika pranayama (often known as ‘Breath of Fire’) can damage or even destroy the nervous system. I’ll never forget a woman who came to me for legal advice when I was practicing law. She was extremely agitated, constantly distracted, and couldn’t finish a thought or a sentence. I learned that her nervous system was burnt out from years of practicing pranayama improperly, specifically bhastrika and kapalabhati (Skull-shining breath). When an excess of pranic energy floods the nervous system, it is like a balloon that’s filled with more air than it has the strength to contain. The nervous system is shattered and severe mental trauma can result. The body must be properly prepared with years of asana (especially backbends) to safely receive and contain the power of prana.

“And there are other ways to harm our students with the practice. For instance, the nervous system is agitated by jerky movements. This includes trembling during a pose by working too hard. Remind your students that there is no virtue in holding poses too long, for the benefits quickly unravel and turn into detriments. I have heard some teachers say to their students, ‘Shake it out!’ and encourage their students to shake themselves after intense poses to release tension. This misses the point. It is far better to be still and melt the tension with awareness.”

Yoshikawa, Yoko. When not to invert. Yoga Journal, Sep/Oct 2000, pp. 98, 174-177.

Discomfort. You should come down from Sirsasana (Headstand) or Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) if there is pressure or discomfort in your head, eyes, ears, neck, or throat.
Cervical spondylitis. Characterized by reduced disc space between the cervical vertebrae, bony spur formations, a loss of the lordotic (normal) curve of the cervical spine, and numbness and tingling in the hands or feet due to nerve compression.
Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and/or excess weight. According to Ralph Laforge, static inverted poses can pose problems for those with coronary disease because they "place undue pressure on the chambers and valves of the heart, which in turn places undue stress on the already compromised coronary circulation." If you have high blood pressure, the baroreceptor mechanism which protects the brain from an excessive surge of blood may possibly be compromised in inversions.
Diabetes and/or insulin resistance. According to Laforge, virtually every adult with type II diabetes has coronary disease, or "silent ischemia." The internal pressure on the arterial walls from blood volume changes can result in cardiovascular complications.
Glaucoma, detachment of the retina, or extreme nearsightedness (retinal detachment is more common if one is extremely nearsighted). Unlike the brain, the retinal veins of the eyes might not be protected from a sudden onrush of blood by inverting. If your eyes become repeatedly bloodshot from inverting, you should consult a teacher or medical professional.
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Discharge or infections of the ear, sinus infections, and the flu (although inversions are recommended to hasten recovery from the common cold).
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Pregnancy past the first trimester, although this can vary greatly depending on your familiarity and ease with inversions. Some women find that supported Shoulderstand with a chair or Viparita Karani can be of benefit well into pregnancy.

Kundalini Yoga - Awakening the kundalini energy. ABC-of-yoga.com.

"Of the above mentioned methods, the last one is said to be the most important. Trying to awaken your Kundalini by force and without the aid of a guru can be dangerous. This can result in some symptoms such as: mental confusion, headache or the feeling of something heavy in your head, psychosis, intense mood swings, epilepsy or other involuntary body movements, stress, depression, irregular breathing, immoral behavior. "

Kundalini yoga. Indopedia

The possibility of adverse effects
"According to many teachers of meditation, and the school of Transpersonal Psychology, it is not considered wise to engage in contemplative practices, such as Kundalini yoga, without the guidance of a credible teacher, or without thorough foreknowledge of the chosen spiritual path. Many spiritual teachers and psychologists consider any intense contemplative or spiritual practice without the support of a cultural context, or without the support of thorough psychological and physical preparation, to be unfortunate, or even dangerous. Both Bogart (1991) and Lukoff (1998) notes the growing occurrence of meditation-related problems in western contemplative life (for more information on this particular topic see the section on adverse effects of Meditation)."

Yoga : kundalini Yoga – Techniques and Pitfalls. Dipankar Khanna. Yogafarm.org.

"When Kundalini awakening happens to people who are not on a spiritual path, the experience can leave them fragile and fragmented." "While the enormous changes associated with a spiritual awakening may demand psychological and social adjustments, they are not in themselves necessarily indicative of illness." (see the list of symptoms)

Kundalini yoga. Wikipedia. October 04 2009.

"Inability to follow strict instructions of the Master, or practicing of methods without a living and self-realized master, can lead to a series of psychic disturbances and sometimes even mental damage. The conditions are known in psychiatric circles as Kundalini Syndrome."

Kundalini syndrome. Wikipedia.

Symptomatology. "Researchers affiliated with the fields of transpersonal psychology and near-death studies (see references below) have suggested some common criteria that describe Kundalini problems, of which the most prominent feature is a feeling of energy or heat rushing up the spine [17][18]. Other sensory and motor symptoms may include: the feeling of cranial pressures[19], the perception of inner sounds [17],
experiences of inner lights [17][20], vibrating or tickling sensations in the lower back [17], tachycardia (rapid heart rate)[21], changes in breathing[22], spontaneous bodily movements [22], sensations of heat or cold moving through the body [20], localized bodily pain that starts and stops abruptly[20], vibrations and itching under the skin[20], and unusual, or intense, sexual sensations [23].
Mental and affective symptoms include: fear [24], anxiety [24], depersonalization [20], intense positive or negative emotions [20], spontaneous slowing or speeding of thoughts [20], spontaneous trance states[24], experiencing oneself as larger than the physical body [20], and experiences of paranormal consciousness [25]."
"Summary of known problems: Death, pseudo death, psychosis, pseudo psychosis, confusion, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sadness, suicidal thoughts, urges to self-mutilate, homicidal urges, arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), exacerbation of prior or current mental illness, insomnia, inability to hold a job, inability to talk, inability to drive, sexual pains, temporary blindness, uticaria or rash, and headaches [26] [27] [28][29][30]"

Kundalini. Yoga Religion Facts

"Kundalini teachers commonly caution those interested in kundalini yoga to practice only under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Uncontrolled kundalini awakening has been reported to produce symptoms such as the following : mental confusion, psychosis, gastrointestianal disordersitching, burning, or involuntary twitching, sexual dysfunction, severe mood swings, egotism, ringing or hissing sounds in ears, paranormal activity, immoral behavior.

How To Prevent Kundalini Yoga Dangers? YogaMax.net.

"Practicing kundalini may be dangerous for those who start learning it abruptly without any guidance from the yoga master or are not serious in doing it. This will surely put them in trouble and they may face very serious problems of heart attack, dehydration or sometimes torn cartilage." "The negative problems are just like ghosts that keep on disturbing the mind of the seekers. These kinds of problem are always tormenting our unconscious mind which is very dangerous for the yoga performers. The energy in the unconscious mind try to empower the ways to come out strongly which should be checked properly."

Kundalini

Kundalini. Psych Central. Dr John Grohol’s.
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Symptoms of kundalini awakening. Indiatimes Spirituality.
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Exploring the symptoms. Biology of kundalini.
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Shared transformation. El Collie.
· Kundalini signs and symptoms.
· Shared Transformation Misdiagnosis.

Warning and disclaimer and Types of awakening kundalini-teacher.com. January 26, 2008.

"....I would be remiss if I did not sound a warning concerning the dangers associated with a radical change of consciousness. Just at the time when you are ready to move toward the new way of being, the terror often strikes." "Triggers for awakening vary; many people take Yoga classes for health, not realizing that they can lead to awakened Kundalini."

Symptoms List. Biology of Kundalini by Jana Dixon.

"The spontaneous symptoms of kundalini awakening can be arranged into the various practices of yoga."

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Kundalini Syndrome. Ellie Crystal. crystalinks.com.

Kundalini Syndrome. Ellie Crystal. crystalinks.com.
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Kundalini Short Circuits – Risks & Information. Marja Savola.
· Typical kundalini symptoms.
· Investigation and diagnosis of 76 of kundalini arousal.
· Public letter to Mr. Deepak Chopra.
· Pitfalls on the spiritual road.
· Kundalini & Liberating breathing or Rebirthing.

Kundalini Experiences and Comments. Realization.org December 1999 - January 2000 - February 2000 - March 2000 - June-October 2000 -

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Kundalini Awakening. life-enthusiast.com.
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Kundalini: The Reawakening of the Serpent. Pignatelli, Diego
Real world Kundalini. Bob Boyd.

Kundalini Survival & Support. - Kundalini Complications. Bob Boyd. kundalini-support.com

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Helpful Measures in Dealing with Kundalini Emergencies. George A. Boyd. 2004. Mudrashram Institute of Spiritual Studies.
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Talk Given At Babaji's Parliament of Yoga and World Religions. George A. Boyd. December 19, 1992. Mudrashram Institute of Spiritual Studies.

Meditation
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Can Meditation Be Bad for You? Mary Garden The Humanist a magazine of critical inquiry and social concern. Published in the Humanist, September/October 2007.

The Dalai Lama has said that Eastern forms of meditation have to be handled carefully: "Westerners who proceed too quickly to deep meditation should learn more about Eastern traditions and get better training than they usually do. Otherwise, certain physical or mental difficulties appear."

"Dr. Solomon Snyder, head of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, warns that during meditation the brain releases serotonin. This may help those with mild depression but too much serotonin can cause, in some, a paradoxical relaxation-induced anxiety. Instead of relaxing during meditation, these people become distressed and may even have panic attacks. Snyder says that in some cases of schizophrenia, meditation can launch a person straight into psychosis."

The physical and psychological effects of meditation. Micheal Murphy et Steven Donovan.
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Risks of mediation. Katinka Hesselink. katinkahesselink.net. 2006.
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Does meditation have detrimental effects ? A thread in the Meditation in Psychotherapy online forum.
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The safety of Heat Rhythm Meditation. Energize your hearth. http://www.appliedmeditation/

Transcendantale meditation
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Transcendental meditation in our school. Timothy Burgin. yogabasics-blog. November 11, 2007.
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A sceptical view of transcendental meditation & the late Maharishi. TM Free blog.
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Why I believe the transcendental meditation org is dangerous. John M. Knapp. Knapp Family Counseling.
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Qi gong
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Culture-Bound Syndromes. . Qi gong Wikipedia

"The orthodox practitioners warn that improperly supervised practice can cause unbalanced circulation of inner energies that can eventually lead to unbalanced effects on the various systems of the body, both mental and physical. Stories of unguided practitioners or inexpertly guided students developing chronic mental and physical health problems as a result of such training are not uncommon.[9] The term
"Qi Gong-Induced Psychosis" was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, of the American Psychiatric Association in the late 1990s,[10] and is described as a culturally bound disorder with painful psychosomatic symptoms.[11] Dr. Arthur Kleinman and Dr. Sing Lee from Harvard Medical School, researchers on variouspsychiatric topics in China, suggest that in international psychiatry this illness would be recognized as “…a specific type of brief reactive psychosis or as the precipitation of an underlying mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder.”[12] Lee and Kleinman both claim to have had experience with patients suffering from the condition. "Many kinds of qigong share certain similarities, such as the attainment of a trance state, patterned bodily posture or movement…, the practice of which could induce mental illnesses in some of its practitioners."

Qi gong. Indopedia.

"Stories are told of people gradually developing chronic mental and physical health problems as a result of such training. A common term used by English speaking practitioners for one example of this is "Qigong Psychosis" (Now included in the DSM-IV as a culture-bound syndrome: Qi-Gong Psychotic Reaction: DSM-IV General Information: Appendix I, Outline for Cultural Formulation and Glossary of Culture-Bound Syndromes)." "This recent popularity has also led to increased attention for quasi-religious groups teaching styles of qigong in an atmosphere of New Age-like spirituality. As mentioned above, qigong has been associated in China with Taoist and Buddhist meditation practices for two thousand years, and this association has been exploited, according to traditionalists, by many would be cult leaders. Perhaps the parade example of a group promoting a synthesis of overt religiosity with their qigong is the Falun Gong, whose worldwide popularity grew to the point that the People's Republic of China government banned their practice outright in 1999."

Qigong Disease: What It Is & What to Do about It. Bob Flaws, Dipl. Ac. & C.H. FNAAOM.
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Qi-Gong Psychotic Reaction. Timothy McCajor Hall, MD PhD.
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Chu J. H. K. Risk of Qigong. From a Chinese Medical Doctor who is a qigong teacher in San Francisco.

"What is the risk of doing qigong?

Institutions that teach qigong have been sued by people who are taking qigong (chi kung, chi gong) lessons from them, alleging that the training had caused everything from emotional damage to psychotic breakdowns to suicide. .
About 20 years ago, there was an institution and its instructors that taught qigong were sued by more than 470 people who claimed they had suffered physical and emotional damages, according to a San Francisco newspaper, San Francisco Examiner. (...)
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The problems can show up like mania, psychotic, hallucination, depressed and suicidal, nervous breakdowns, sudden surge of of heart rates, chronic pain, and split personalities. This problem also can happen from incorrect training in certain types of yoga (resulted in kundalini syndrome), certain religious types of meditation and incorrect hypnosis. (...)"

International Institute of Médical Qi gong.
· Medical Qigong Dao Yin Therapy and Rectifying Qi Deviations.
· Introduction to Chinese Energetic Alchemy
· Medical Qigong Treatment of Spiritual Disorders

Kundalini Short Circuits – Risks & Information. Marja Savola.
Articles about Qigong and Tai Chi disease
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Side Effects,Causes & Answers. http://www.chikung-unlimited.com/.
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Spiritual crisis
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Common difficulties. Common experiences. Kaia Nightingale.
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Spiritual crisis network. England.

“What causes spiritual crisis? The phenomenon of spiritual crisis appears to be on the increase. There are many possible different triggers for spiritual crisis. The following are some of the more common ones: the intense use of spiritual practices such as, for example, prayer or meditation, yoga, tai chi, and other similar techniques, particularly if practiced intensely…”

Spiritual Detective. Hazel Courteney, Spirit & Destiny magazine, October 2005, p.99.
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Spiritual emergence, spiritual emergency, and psychospiritual healing. Feuerstein, Georg. Ph.D.
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Spiritual Crisis and Youth Work: Interrogating Holism. Skott-Myhre, Hans. The internationale child an youth care network. Issue 98, March 2007.
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A Question of Schizophrenia or Spiritual Emergence. Mental Illness or Psychic Awakening?
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Spiritual Emergence or Psychosis? Selene Vega.

Side effects - Videos

2010-02-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

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Yoga

Siddha yoga and kundalini. Inde.

Different types of yogic movements occur through Siddha yoga. Inde.

World's one and only Real Yoga, not "Artificial" physical exercise, its "Automatic" Guru Siyag's Siddha yoga "Shaktipaat" program. 15 Jan 2009, Neeru Park, Katar Gaum, Surat, Gujarat, India.

Kundalini

Automatic yogic movements induced by kundalini power. Inde. 2005. (long version)
Automatic yogic movements induced by kundalini power. Inde. 2005. (short version)

Kundalini with symptoms listed.

Kundalini personal journey with.

Dangers of awakening the kundalini serpent energy power. www.themindwizard.com

Side effects - News

2010-02-12T20:01:00.001-08:00

Yoga Made Safer: Experts Provide Do's and Don'ts . Live Science. January 23, 2012
Yoga can be harmful, instructor says. Post-gazette.com. January 23, 2012.
NBC Nightly News: Can yoga wreck your body? A doctor that says “I see a ton of yoga injuries.” Also, “There are no definitive numbers, but a Columbia University survey reveals injuries…” Fear-mongering is so hot right now.
Can yoga wreck your body? NBC Nightly News: Jan. 11: A Yoga instructor warns about the potentially debilitating effects of practicing yoga while out of shape. NBC’s Chris Jansing reports.
The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards, published by Simon & Schuster, William J Broad. William. February 7, 2012. Website : williamjbroad.com
Strokes, retina damage and trapped nerves: Is yoga doing us more harm than good? Daily Mail. January 10, 2012.
Yoga May Not Be for Everyone, Could Cause Harm. WSET-TV Lynchburg. January 10, 2012.
Suhag A. Shukla, Esq.: Yoga Won't Wreck Your Body But May Make You More Hindu. The Huffington Post. January 10, 2012.
Yoga Gurus Go to War. The Daily Beast. January 10, 2012.
How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body. New York Times Magazine, January 8, 2012.
Is Yoga Ruining Your Body? The Hot Button, Friday, January 6, 2011.
“How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body,” The New York Times. January 5, 2012.
Hot Yoga Risks. Do Heated Rooms for Yoga Pose Risks? Suite 101.com. January 21, 2010.
Hindus want recognition of yoga's religious roots. The Press-Enterprise. January 19, 2011.
Spiritual Practices Can Trigger Psychosis. Suite 101.com. January 18, 2011.
Neck Pain and Head Stands in Yoga, Inversion Dangers Suite 101.com. January 9, 2011.
Medical Risks of Yoga: Stroke, Vision, Heart, and More. Suite 101.com. October 24, 2010.
Yoga bad for your knees, Indian doctor warns. The Telegraph. December 23, 2010.
Yoga's holy wars. gardian.co. December 16, 2010.
MP seeks to make yoga compulsory in schools. Gulf Times. December 11, 2010.
Hindu Group Stirs a Debate Over Yoga’s Soul. New York Times. November 27, 2010.
KYW Conumer Report : Beware of Yoga's Dangers - 4 septembre 2010.
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Celebrity power yoga: the new craze from over there causing bad karma over here. Andrew Johnson and Richards Marged. The Independent. (U. K.) Sunday, 30 January 2005.

Doctor: Hot yoga may be harmul. The Washington Times, 30 mars 2004.

"U.S. doctors are beginning to question the potential for injury among those who practice Bikram yoga, the New York Times reported Tuesday. Participants typically spend 90 minutes doing 26 yoga postures - positions that some physicians worry are harmful-in a very hot room."

""Heat increases one's metabolic rate, and by warming you up, it allows you to stretch more.' said Dr. Robert Gotlin, director of orthopedic and sports rehabilitation at the Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan."

"But once you stretch a muscle beyond 20 or 25 percent of its resting lenght you begin to damage a muscle."

"Each week, he sees as many as five yoga-related injuries to the knees or the lower back. Postures that require extreme bending of the knees-squats and sittingbackward on folded legs, for exeample-are the likely to cause tears in knee cartilage."

"In Bikram yoga, students practice the "toe stand pose" a single-legged sqaut and the 'fixed firm pose, ' sitting backward with bent knees."

Power yoga can cause powerful aches, pains. Ira Dreyfuss. Los Angles Times, 13 december 1998, Bulldog Edition, Section : Part A, p. A-10.

"Aging baby boomers sometimes find that the popular workout is too strenuous.
Experts say instructors should spot potential problems and novices should go
slow. Newcomers to yoga may find an unexpected twist-instead of growing stronger
and more flexible, they get hurt. As yoga grows in popularity, instructors and
students should watch out for positions that can get the student hurt, an expert
warns."

Bend it like the stars and risk wrecking your health., Campbell, Denis. The Observer, 8 September 2002. Email de l’auteur : denis.campbell@observer.co.uk.

"An increasing number of yoga's army of converts are finding that contorting themselves into complicated positions can hurt their backs and knees, damage their groins, make them faint, bring on splitting headaches and tear muscles and ligaments. One even ruptured his cruciate (knee) ligament from attempting one of yoga's simpler poses." "Devotees will be horrified to learn that many of yoga's most popular positions, such as the cobra, the plough and even touching your toes, are among those likeliest to cause injury."
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“Doctors and physiotherapists report seeing a sudden upsurge in patients suffering pain who thought yoga would make them strong and flexible like the celebrities whose endorsement of yoga has sent its popularity soaring…”

Former instructor warns of yoga's spiritual implications. Jim Brown OneNewsNow.com. February 2, 2007. [Traduction] Un ancien maître yogi avertit des implications spirituelles.

Dangerous yoga. Sharmila Ganesan. TNN. The times of India. July 2, 2007.

"Orthopaedician Dr Nandu Lad of Mumbai has come across many cases of cervical spondylitis (pain in the shoulder blade) resulting from the improper practice of yoga. Knee pains and backaches, he says, are the most common side-effects." "Patients with high blood pressure, hypertension and heart diseases are advised against performing headstands and other asanas that could aggravate their problem. Some postures may also cause internal bleeding in those with ulcers."

In over their heads: Americans' competitive nature and a dearth of seasoned instructors mean more injuries on the yoga mat. Jameson, Marnell. Los Angeles Times, 13 August 2001.

When Yoga Hurts. Times, October 4, 2007.

"But with more than 14 million people practicing yoga or tai chi nationwide, up 136% since 2000, orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and chiropractors across the country are dealing with the increasing fallout from yoga gone awry. Over the past three years, 13,000 Americans were treated in an emergency room or a doctor's office for yoga-related injuries, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission."

Indian Gurus and unsafe yoga practice. By Indian Foundation for Scientific Yoga. Free-Press-Release.com. January 28, 2006.

"Are all yoga exercises safe to teach through the TV media and can the same exercise be taught to all people with various health conditions? This is the question which requires deeper digging into the subject of yoga itself otherwise the consequences of doing yoga practice could be more dangerous than beneficial said Subodh Gupta, Yoga expert from India." "This exercise (kapalabhati breathing technique) even though having tremendous benefits, can be equally dangerous if somebody has heart disease or problem related to hernia said Subodh." "Similarly there are number of other yoga postures which require great precautions."

Letter to the editor on the negative aspects of breath-holding from a conventional point of view. Bill Dandy. Yoga Today, February 1981, 5(10):31.

School Yoga Fitness Programs May Be Unhealthy Alternative, Author Warns. Jim Brown, literary critic on the book “Super Sized Kids”, AgapePress, October 2005.

"An award-winning medical journalist and Christian author is expressing concern that some American schools are introducing students to yoga, a practice that he maintains has spiritual as well as physical implications. "Yoga has spiritual roots," Larimore points out, noting its integral connection to Hindu religion and its popularity among many proponents of New Age spirituality. "Adherents of yoga claim that it leads to spiritual enlightenment and union with the divine," he explains. "In fact, the pinnacle of that is called Kundalini arousal; and I've got some real concerns about the spiritual roots – especially when yoga is being sold to people and those roots are hidden." The author also says intense involvement with Eastern spiritual practices is known to cause psychological and emotional problems in some people. And since yoga has religious roots, he adds, one could argue that promoting it in schools violates the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, or the so-called separation of church and state."

Stretching has its limits: Injuries are on the rise as newcomers take up yoga. Alice Dembner. The Boston Globe, 8 january, 2003.*

Prisoners take a nasty turn after yoga trial backfires Elizabeth Davies. Independent Newspapers UK Limited, August 5, 2005.

"On the negative side, Mr Hagen said, learning the ancient Indian routine – designed to harmonise mind, body and spirit – had provoked “strong reactions: agitation, aggression, irritability, trouble sleeping and mental confusion”.

"Staff at Ringerike say the deep-breathing exercises – an integral part of yoga – made some of the prisoners more dangerous by unblocking their psychological barriers and unleashing otherwise repressed emotions, such as anger, irritation or depression."

Rosen, Ellen. Trying a new sport? Sign a waiver, then hope for the best. The New York Times, 13 Aug 2005.

“A sample release, found at the Web site for the Yoga Alliance, states that the individual practicing yoga understands certain poses may in fact pose some risks." The waiver offers this instruction: ‘If I experience any pain or discomfort, I will listen to my body, adjust the posture and ask for support from the teacher. I will continue to breathe smoothly . . .’”

Sims, Amy C. Treading into fitness trends with care. 22 Oct 2002. New York: Fox News.

"But the rush in popularity has led to some cases of novice instructors teaching the masses, according to Leslie Kaminoff, a yoga therapist who has treated many injured yoga enthusiasts." "And as people push themselves to keep up with advanced classes, they get hurt. ‘I’ve had clients who’ve been injured by domino effect,’ he said, which happens when students fall into each otherwhile doing inverted positions like headstands.

Yoga classes 'provoke' prisoners. BBC News Wednesday, August 3, 2005.

Doctor: ‘Hot’ yoga may be harmful. The New York Times, 30 Mars 2004.

"U.S. doctors are beginning to question the potential for injury among those who practice Bikram yoga, the New York Times reported Tuesday."

Yoga injuries increasing. BBC News World Edition, 9 Sep 2002.

“. . . doctors and physiotherapists are reporting an upsurge in the number of inexperienced studients getting injuries after straining to get into difficult positions. “The British Wheel of Yoga, the governing body in the UK, has blamed a lack of properly trained instructors."

“The most common yoga injuries are caused by repetitive strain or overstretching and occur at the wrists, shoulders, neck, along the spine, and at the sacroiliac joint (which links the spinal column and pelvis), hamstrings, and knees . . .

Yoga should heal, not hurt, says ACSM expert. Medical News Today, 8 Aug 2005.

"Yoga should heal, not hurt, according to Roger Cole, Ph.D. In his presentation at the ninthannual American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition, Cole reviewed the injuries most often suffered by yoga practitioners and recommended ways to avoid them."

""Many injuries-such as those to the knees, back, neck, shoulders, wrists and ankles-occur when practitioners try to force themselves into difficult postures," Cole said. ‘The first rule of safety is to avoid forcing your body. Instead, practice with awareness, common sense and self-respect. Yoga is supposed to teach us not to compete or show off, but to use focused attention, conscious effort and rela xation to achieve results."

"Cole also emphasized the importance of learning proper technique to keep safe in yoga. ‘Specific poses carry the risk of injury if you do them incorrectly. It’s easy to avoid problems if you know what you are doing. For example, forcing the lotus position can damage cartilage in the knees, but you can prevent this by learning ways to redirect the force away from the knees to the hips, where it is needed."

"In addition to the knees, bodily sites most prone to yoga injuries include the lower back, hamstring and sacroiliac, according to Cole. While the latter two are more commonly injured, problems with the knees and lower back tend to be more serious."
""Many common yoga injuries occur during straight-leg forward bends from a standing or seated position," said Cole. He recommends stretching moderately in such poses; bending from the hip joints and elongating the spine, and taking days off from these postures."

Watt, Laura. As temps rise, so do yoga injuries, medical experts say. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 6 May 2004.*

When Does Flexible Become Harmful? 'Hot' Yoga Draws Fire. Lorraine Kreahling. The NewYork Times. March 30, 2004.

"Each week, Dr. Gotlin said, he sees as many as five yoga-related injuries to
the knees or the lower back. Postures that require extreme bending of the knees
-- squats and sitting backward on folded legs, for example -- are the most
likely to cause tears in knee cartilage. In Bikram yoga, students practice the
''toe stand pose,'' a single-legged squat and the ''fixed firm pose,'' sitting
backward with bent knees."

Meditation

Bad VibesWarning : Meditating may be hazardous to your health. Sandy Brundage. SF Weekly. August 28, 2002.

"Usually described as a technique for self-improvement and even healing,
meditation is generally presented as suitable for everyone. Just as some people
are allergic to penicillin, however, somepeople react badly to meditation. These
harmful effects are not limited to one form of meditation,or to long retreats
rather than short sessions, and have been known for 30 years. Adverse
healtheffects include psychologic and physical problems ranging from muscle
spasms to hallucinations, facial tics, insomnia, spacing out, anxiety, and even
psychotic breakdowns. These effects havenow been shown to have a physiologic
basis, as blood flow to the brain is redistributed and brainneurotransmitter
release alters . . .”

Karen Long (a pseudonym), in her mid-20s, turned to meditation as a way to feel connected." "Then I began hearing voices," she says. ... Long quit meditating. The voices stopped." "Long's experience isn't unique. Researchers have known for 30 years that meditating can have adverse health effects on some people, inducing psychological and physical problems ranging from muscle spasms to hallucinations. But around the Bay Area, eyes seem closed to the data. "A lot of people do experience negative side effects," says Dr. Maggie Phillips, the director of the California Institute of Clinical Hypnosis and a licensed psychologist in Oakland..."

"The harmful effects aren't limited to one specific technique or even long retreats." "Those effects can include facial tics, insomnia, spacing out, and even psychotic breakdowns. Dr. Margaret Singer, clinical psychologist emeritus at Berkeley, with research partner Dr. Janja Lalich, collected case histories from 70 clients seeking treatment for problems that began during meditation practice. Their research presents several examples of these symptoms and notes that prior to meditating, none of the patients had individual or family histories of mental disorders."

"Dr. Michael Persinger, a psychologist at Laurentian University in Canada, found in 1993 that meditation induces epilepsylike brain seizures in some people. His study of 1,081 students showed that the 221 meditators among them had a higher rate of hallucinating floating spots of light, hearing voices, and even feeling the floor shake.

Other studies reported that meditators complained of feeling emotionally dead and seeing the environment as unreal, two-dimensional, amorphous."

Honebrink, Andrea. Meditation: Hazardous to your health? Don’t overlook the side effects of this powerful transformative technique. Utne Reader, Mar/Apr 1994, p. 26.*

Transcendantal Meditation

Meditate, don't mediate. Jerusalem Post (Israel), 16 Auoût 2002, p. 11. par Barry Davis.

Transcendantal meditation : Dissociative bliss becomes addictive. Edmonton Sun, Canada. Apr. 17, 2006.

Steven Alan Hassan, cult counselor and mind control expert is a Nationally Certified Counselor and licensed Mental Health Counselor and has developed a breakthrough approach to help loved ones rescue cult mind control victims.

"A compendium of 75 studies of TM technique in 2000 found that 63% of practitioners suffered long-term negative mental health consequences from the repeated dissociation – or disconnection – with reality caused by going into a trance-like state."

Side effects - Scientific articles

2010-02-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

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Scientific articles and expert's books

Aetna InteliHealth.

Potential Dangers
"(...) The following have been rarely reported : Nerve or vertebral disc damage — Caused by prolonged postures, sometimes involving the legsEye damage and blurred vision, including worsening of glaucoma — Caused by increased eye pressure with headstandsStroke or blood vessel blockage — Caused by decreased blood flow to the brain or other body parts from postures.
There is a case report of a woman who presented with pneumothorax (potentially dangerous air around the lung) caused by a yoga-breathing technique called Kapalabhati pranayama. There is another report of a teen-age girl who died of obstructed breathing associated with mouth-to-mouth yoga (in which one person breathes into another person's mouth using yoga breathing techniques).
However, a long-acting barbiturate (which can cause decreased breathing) may have been partially at fault. Chronic cheilitis (inflammation of the lips) and persistent reflux have been reported in yoga instructors with unclear relationship to this modality.
People with disc disease, fragile or atherosclerotic neck arteries, a risk of blood clots, extremely high or low blood pressure, glaucoma, retinal detachment, ear problems, severe osteoporosis or cervical spondylitis should avoid some yoga poses. Certain yoga breathing techniques should be avoided in people with heart or lung disease.
Some experts advise caution in people with a history of psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia), because there is a risk of worsening symptoms, although this has not been clearly shown in studies."

Baskaran M, Raman K, Ramani KK, Roy J, Vijaya L, Badrinath SS. (2006). Intraocular pressure changes and ocular biometry during Sirsasana (headstand posture) in yoga practitioners. Ophthalmology. 2006 Aug;113(8):1327-32. Epub Jun 27.[PubMed]
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Bertschinger DR, Mendrinos E, Dosso A. (2007). Yoga can be dangerous-glaucomatous visual field defect worsening due to postural yoga. Br J Ophthalmol, Oct;91(10):1413-4 * [MEDLINE]

Corrigan, G. E. (1969). Fatal air embolism after Yoga breathing exercices. Journal of the American Medical Association, 8 december, 210(10);1923.*
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Del Pe. (2006). Hidden dangers of meditation and yoga. Jaico Publishing. (Indiaclub.com) (Amazon.com)*

Dominguez, Richard. (1982). A surgeon’s warning: Don’t do these stretches. Executive Fitness, 29 May , 13(11):2-3. *

Duval EL, Van Coster R, Verstraeten K. (1998). Acute traumatic stroke: a case of bow hunter's stroke in a child. European Journal Emergency Medecine, Jun, 5(2):259-63. Department of Paediatrics, University of Ghent, Belgium.* [PubMed]
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Eliaz, Isaac, M.D., M.S., L.Ac. (2008). Children and Yoga. 21 August.

Fong, K.Y., Cheung, R.T. Yu, Y.L. Lai, C.W. and Chang, C.M. (1993). Basilar artery occlusion following yoga exercise: A case report. Clin Exp Neurol (Australia), 30:104-109.*
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Gallardo MJ, Aggarwal N, Cavanagh HD, Whitson JT. (2006). Progression of glaucoma associated with the Sirsasana (headstand) yoga posture. Adv Ther, Nov-Dec;23(6):921-5.* [PubMed]

Hanus SH, Homer TD, Harter DH. (1977). Vertebral artery occlusion complicating yoga exercises. Arch Neurol., Sep;34(9):574-5.* [PubMed]

"Vertebral artery occlusion developed in a young adult shortly after he had performed neck manipulations during yoga movements. Yoga exercises are a rare cause of acute medullary or cerebellar infarction."

Ikemi, Y., Ishikawa, H. Goyeche, J. R. and Sasaki, Y. (1978).“Positive” and “negative” aspects of the “altered states of consciousness” induced by autogenic training, Zen and yoga. Psychother Psychosom (Switzerland), 30(3-4):170-178
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Injuries from Yoga and contraindications. (2005). International Association of Yoga Therapist. 30 p. [Texte complet]

Johnson DB, Tierney MJ, Sadighi, PJ. (2004). Kapalabhati pranayama: breath of fire or cause of pneumothorax? Chest. May; 125(5):1951-2. (Comments in Chest, 2005, May;127(5):1863.)*
[PubMed]

Kashyap, AS, Anand, KP & Kashyap, S. (2007). Complications of yoga. Emergency Medicine Journal, 24(3): 231. * [PubMed]
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Katz, Steven. (2003). Rebuttal to a surgeon’s warnings. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, no. 13: 43-44.*
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Kennedy, R.B. (1976). Self-Induced Depersonalization Syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 133(11): 1326-1328. [Am J Psychiatry] [Commentaires]

Kugler, J. (1972). Neurologische Storungen nach Yogaubungen. Neurologic disorders following yoga exercises. Med Klin. (West Germany), 15 Sep, 67(37):1195. *[En Allemand]
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Lu, Jessica S. & Pierre, Joseph M. (2007). Psychotic Episode Associated With Bikram Yoga. Am J Psychiatry, 164 : 1761, November. [Texte complet]

Machander, A.R. (1982). Comments on the increase of intrathoracic pressure in the practice of pranayama. Jógová Cvicení, pp. 65-70. * [In Czechoslovakian.]

Margo, C. E., Rowda, J. and Barletta, J. (1992). Bilateral conjunctival varix thromboses associated with habitual headstanding. American Journal of Ophthalmology, Jun 15;113(6):726-7.* [PubMed]

Mattio, T. G., T. Nishida, and M. M. Minieka. (1992). Lotus neuropathy: Report of a case. Neurology, 42:1636.*[PubMed]
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Mikkonen J, Pedersen P & McCarthy PW. (2008). A survey of musculoskeletal injury among Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga practitioners. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 18: 59–64.*

Moulinjeune (sans date, probablement dans les années 1960). Les véritables dangers du Yoga. Conférence polycopiée par la F.N.P.Y.
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Nath, Samir. (1998). Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Buddhism. Vol. 1. Sarup & Sons. New Delhi.

Naveen, KV, Teiles, Shirley. (2003). Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation. Yoga and Psychosis : Risks and Therapeutic Potential. Journal of Indian Psychology. Vol. 21 (1).

“There is a strong interest in the correlation between yoga (especially meditation) and psychosis. Some reports have described : (1) appearance of psychotic symptoms for the first time after meditation, (2) precipitation of acute psychotic episodes in those with history of psychosis, after meditation…”
“Meditation has been gaining popularity as a psychotherapeutic intervention (Frith, Stevens, Johnstone & Crow, 1979). However adverse effects of meditation have also been reported, viz. depersonalization, altered reality testing, and the appearance of previously repressed, highly changed memories and conflicts (Glueck & Stroebel, 1976 ; Kennedy, 1976). Similar responses were reported in a single subject several weeks after initiation into Transcendental Meditation (French, Schmid & Ingalls, 1975). Another report described how acute psychotic episodes were precipitated by intensive meditation in patients with a history of schizophrenia (Lazarus, 1976). A subsequent study attempted to analyze the correlation between contemplation and psychosis (Chan-Ob & Boonyanaruthee, 1999). Observations were made in three patients who presented psychotic symptoms subsequent to practice of meditation. In two of them sleep loss following a “wrong doing” of meditation was found to be the main cause and drug withdrawal was the principal factor in the third case. Also, in the case of Qigong, a Chinese meditation, a series of psychological and physiological disturbances followed inappropriate training (Xu, 1994). Some patients experienced a range of physical and mental symptoms which came to be called “Qigong deviation syndrome” which disappeared after the exercise was stopped. In traditional yoga texts, it has been mentioned that “by a mistaken course of yoga the yogi brings upon himself all diseases” (Hatha Yoga Pradipika (2:16). Ayuktabhyasa yogena sarvaroga samudbhavaha. Vishnudevananda, 1999).”

Robin, Mel. (2002). Injuries incurred by improper yogasana practice. In Mel Robin, A Physiological Handbook for Teachers of Yogasana. Tucson, Ariz.: Fenestra Books, pp. 511-518.

Russell, W.R. (1972). Yoga and the vertebral arteries. British Medical Journal, 1:685.* [PubMed][Texte complet]

Shakti - kundalini yoga. John F Kennedy University. Fall 2006. Bibliographie d’un cours. [Texte complet]

Kundalini

Descamps, Marc-Alain. (2005). L’éveil de la kundalini. Éditions Alphée.

De Gracia. (2005). Do psychedelic drugs mimic awakened kundalini. [Texte complet]

Greyson, Bruce. (1993). The physio-kundalini syndrome and mental Illness. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 25(1). [Texte complet]

Greyson, Bruce. (2000). Some neuropsychological correlates of the physio-kundalini syndrome. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Vol. 32(2): 123–134.

Hansen G. (1995). Schizophrenia or spiritual crisis? On « raising the kundalini » an its diagnostic classification, Weekly Journal of The Danish Medical Association, July. * [PubMed] [en Danois].
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House, Richard (2001). Psychopathology, psychosis and the kundalini: postmodern perpectives on unusual subjective experience. Chapter 7 in Isabel Clarke (ed.) Psychosis and Spirituality Exploring the New Frontier, Whurr Publishers, London, 2001, pp. 107-25. [Texte complet]
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Kason, Yvonne. (2000). Farther Shores: Exploring How Near-Death, Kundalini and Mystical Experiences Can Transform Ordinary Lives. Toronto: Harper Collins Publishers, Revised edition.
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Le Fanu, J.A. (2002). A clutch of new syndromes ? Journal of the Royal Society of Medecine, 95: 118-125. [Texte complet]

Lukoff, David Ph. D. Spiritual Competency Resource Center.

Talk at Santa Rosa JC on Spiritual Emergence Pt I Spiritual emergency type - Kundalini awakening
Lesson 3.1 Spiritual Emergence. Kundalini

Sannella, Lee. (1992). The Kundalini Experience: Psychosis or Transcendence? Lower Lake: Integral Publishing. [Texte complet]

Scotton, Bruce (1996) The phenomenology and treatment of kundalini. in Chinen, Scotton and Battista (Editors). Textbook of transpersonal psychiatry and psychology. (pp.261–270). New York: Basic Books, Inc. *
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Sovatsky, Stuart (1998). Words from the Soul: Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative. New York: State University of New York Press.*

Meditation

Aetna InteliHealth

Potential Dangers
"Most types of meditation are believed to be safe in healthy individuals. However, the safety of meditation is not well studied. People with underlying psychiatric disorders should speak with a mental health provider before beginning meditation because there have been rare reports of mania or worsening of other symptoms. Some publications warn that intensive meditation can cause anxiety, depression or confusion, although this is not well studied.
Meditation should be used with caution in patients with underlying psychiatric conditions such as mood disorders, personality disorders, seizures, or psychotic conditions.
The use of meditation should not delay the time it takes to see a health care provider for diagnosis or treatment with more proven techniques or therapies. Meditation should not be used as the sole approach to illness."

Side effects. Site "Meditation research" http://www.researchingmeditation.org/

Bad Vibes. Warning : Meditating may be hazardous to your health. Cultic Studies Review Vol. 2, No. 1, 2003.

Meditation. Indiopedia.

Castillo, R.J. (1990). Depersonalization and Meditation. Psychiatry, 53: 158-168. [Extraits] [PubMed]

Castillo, R.J. (1991). Culture, Trance and Mental Illness: Divided Consciousness in South Asia. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.*
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Castillo, R.J. (1991). Divided consciousness and enlightenment in Hindu yogis. Anthropology of Counsciousness, 2(3-4): 1-6.*
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Castillo, R.J. (1995). Culture, trance and the mind-brain. Anthropology of Conciousness, 6: 17-34.*
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Castillo, R.J. (1997). Dissociation. In W. S. Tseng and J. Streltzer, eds., Culture and Psychopathology: A Guide to Clinical Assessment (pp. 101-23). Brunner/Mazel. *
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Castillo, R.J. (2001). Lessons from folk healing practices. In W. S. Tseng and J. Streltzer, eds., Culture and Psychotherapy: A Guide to Clinical Practice (pp.81-101). American Psychiatric Press.*

Castillo R.J. (2003). Trance, functional psychosis and culture. Psychiatry. 66(1), 9–21. [PubMed] [Extraits]

Chan-Ob T, Boonyanaruthee V. (1999). Meditation in association with psychosis. Journal of Medical Association of Thailand, 82(9): 925–930. [PubMed]

Craven, J.L. (1989). Meditation and psychotherapy, Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 34: 648-653.

Deikman, Arthur J. (1963). Experimental meditation, Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 136: 329-43.*

Deikman, Arthur J. (1966). Implications of experimentally induced contemplative meditation. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 142: 101-116. Also in Psychedelics. B. Aronson and H. Oamond (eds.) (New York: Doubleday) 1970, pp. 296-320.*

Epstein M.D., & Lieff J.D. (1981). Psychiatric complications of meditation practice. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 13(2): 137-47.

Fenwick, Peter. (1980). Can we still recommend meditation. British Medical Journal, 287, 1401, November 1983. [Texte complet]

Hansen W. (1980). Psychoses and meditation. Ugeskr Laeger, Dec 29;143(1): 20-22. [en Danois] * [PubMed] Hassett, J. (1978). Caution: Meditation can hurt. Psychology Today, November 125-126. *
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Heide, F.J. & Borkovec, T.D. (1984). Relaxation-induced anxiety: Mechanism and theoretical implications. Behavioral Research Therapy, 22: 1-12.

Jaseja H. (2005). Meditation may predispose to epilepsy : an insight into alteration in brain environment induced by meditation. Med Hypotheses, 64(3): 464-7. [PubMed]

Kugler, J. (1972). Neurologische Storungen nach Yogaubungen. [Neurologic disorders following yoga exercises]. Med Klin. (West Germany), 15 Sep , 67(37): 1195. [In German.] * [PubMed]
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Krisanaprakornkit, T., Sriraj, W., Piyavhatkul, N., Laopaiboon, M. (2009). (Meditation therapy for anxiety disorders (Review). The Cochrane Library, Issue 4.

Kuijpers, H.J.H, van der Heijden, F.M.M.A., Tuinier, S. & Verhoeven, W.M.A. (2007). Meditation-Induced Psychosis. Psychopathology, 40(6): 461-464. [Psychopathology]

Kutz, I., Burysenko, J.K. & Benson, H. (1985a). Meditation and psychotherapy: a rationale for the integration of dynamic psychotherapy, the relaxation response and mindfulness meditation, American Journal of Psychiatry, 142: 1-8.*

Lazarus, A.A. & Mayne, T.J. (1990). Relaxation: some limitations, side effects and proposed solutions. Psychotherapy, 27: 261-266.
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Levinson, P. (1973). Religious delusions in counter-culture patients. Amer. J. Psychiatry, 130, 1265-69.*

Mangla, Divay. Meditation is not free from side-effects. Article available from Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, ICYER, yognat2001@yahoo.com. *

Murphy, Michael, and Steven Donovan. (1997). Negative experiences. In Michael Murphy and Steven Donovan, The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Meditation: A Review of Contemporary Research with a Comprehensive Bibliography 1931-1996. 2d ed. Sausalito, Calif.: The Institute of Noetic Sciences, pp. 143-145 [Texte complet]

Perez-De-Albeniz, Alberto & Holmes, Jeremy. (2000). Meditation: Concepts, effects and uses in therapy. International Journal of Psychotherapy, March 2000, Vol. 5 Issue 1, p49, 10p. [Texte complet]

Persinger. M.A. (1992). Enhanced incidence of 'the sensed presence' in people who have learned to meditate: Support for the right hemispheric intrusion hypothesis. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 75: 1308-1310. * [PubMed]

Saraydarian, H. (1971). The dangers of meditation. In H. Saraydarian, The Science of Meditation. Agoura, Calif.: The Aquarian Educational Group, pp. 198-239. (On the wrong use of meditation.)

Sethi S., Bhargava. (2003). Relationship of meditation and psychosis: case studies. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 37(3): 382. [wkhealth]

Shapiro, Deane H., Jr. (1981). Adverse effects and contraindications. In the article by Deane H. Shapiro, Jr., “Overview: Clinical and physiological comparison of meditation with other selfcontrol strategies,” American Journal of Psychiatry, Mar, 139(3): 270-271.
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Shapiro, Deane H., Jr. (1992). Adverse effects of meditation: A preliminary investigation of long-term meditators. International Journal of Psychosomatics, 39: 62-67.

Shapiro, Deane H., Jr. (2008). Meditation: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives. Aldine Transaction. (Amazoon)

Walsh R, Roche L. (1979). Precipitation of acute psychotic episodes by intensive meditation in individuals with a history of schizophrenia. American Psychiatry Association, August, 136(8): 1085-6. [PubMed]

West, MA. (1980). The psychosomatics of meditation, 24(5):265-73. [PubMed]

Transcendantal Meditation

TranceNet présente les résultats de diverses recherches.

Why I believe the transcendental meditation org is dangerous. Knapp Family Counseling.
http://knappfamilycounseling.com/tmdangers.html

Glueck, Bernard and Charles F. Stroebel. (1984). Meditation in the treatment of psychiatric illness. Meditation: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives (722 pages), edited by Deane Shapiro and Roger Walsh. New York: Alden Publications, p150.

Heide, Frederick J. and T.D. Borkovec. (1983). Relaxation-induced anxiety enhancement due to relaxation training. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, p171. *

Heide, Frederick J. and T.D. Borkovec. (1984)"Relaxation-induced anxiety: mechanism and theoretical implications." Behavioral Research Therapy, pp1-12. *

The Various Implications Arising from the Practice of Transcendental Meditation: An empirical analysis of pathogenic structures as an aid in counseling. Bensheim, Germany: (Institut fur Jugend Und Gesellschaft, Ernst-Ludwig-Strasse 45, 6140.) Institute for Youth and Society, 1980 (188 p.). [Full text] [Resume]

Chapter 4. EFFECTS OF T.M. ON THE MEDITATORS

French, Alfred, P., Schmid, A.C. & Ingalls, E. (1975). Transcendental Meditation, Altered Reality Testing, and Behavioral Change: A Case Report. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 161 (1): 55-58. [PubMed]

Lansky EP, St Louis EK. (2006). Transcendental meditation: a double-edged sword in epilepsy? Epilepsy Behav. Nov;9(3):394-400.
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Lazarus, A.A. (1976). Psychiatric Problems Precipitated by Transcendental Meditation. Psychological Reports, 39, 601-602. [PubMed]
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Lazarus, Arnold A. (1984). Meditation: the problems of any unimodal technique. Meditation: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives (722 pages). Edited by Deane Shapiro and Roger Walsh. New York: Aldin Publications, p691. *

Lansky EP & St Louis EK. (2006). Transcendental meditation: A double-edged sword in epilepsy? Epilepsy & Behavior. Nov;9(3):394-400.
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Otis, L.S. (1974). The facts on Transcendantale Meditation: Part III. If well-integrated but anxious, try TM. Psychology Today, 45-46, April.

Otis. L.S. (1984). Adverse Effects of Transcendental Meditation, in D. Shapiro and R. Walsh (eds.), Meditation: Classic and Contemporary Perspectives (New York: Alden). [Article]

Persinger, Michael A, Norman J. Carrey and Lynn A. Suess. (1980). TM and Cult Mania (198 pages). North Quincy, Massachusetts: Christopher Publishing House.*

Persinger, Michael A. (1992). Enhanced incidence of 'the sensed presence' in people who have learned to meditate; support for the right hemispheric intrusion hypothesis. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 75: 1308-1310. *

Persinger, M.A. (1993). Transcendental Meditation and general meditation are associated with enhanced complex partial epileptic-like signs: evidence for 'cognitive' kindling? Perceptual and Motor Skills, 76: 80-82.* [Extraits] [cat.inist.fr]

Qi gong

Qi gong psychotic reaction. DSM-IV-TR. American Psychiatric Association. Masson, Paris, 2003, ISBN : 2-294-00663-1.

Qigong deviation syndrome. CCTM-2. DSM.

Aetna InteliHealth

Potential Dangers
Qi Gong is generally believed to be to be safe in most people when practiced according to standard moderate principles and when learned under the guidance of a qualified teacher. Unguided exercises may worsen symptoms in some patients with psychiatric disorders. There is one report of an allergic skin reaction in Qi Gong trainees, although the exact cause is not clear. Qi Gong should not be used as the sole treatment for severe illnesses in place of more proven therapies. Use of Qi Gong should not delay consultation with a qualified health care provider for such conditions.

Beng-Yeong, Ng. (1999). Qigong-induced mental disorders: a review. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 33 (2), 197–206.* [cat.inist.fr]

Chan HH, Yan HJ, Xu SH, Zhang MD, Fan B. (1992). A controlled comparaison of hysteria-like episodes induced by Qigong and hysteria with psychosocial stress. Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 18: 156-158 (in Chinese).*
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Huang BY, Liu ZS. (1990). Huan BY, Liu ZS. A report of ten cases of Qigong induced mental disorders. Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 16:245-246 (in Chinese).*

Kuo T-C., Ho F-M. & Lin W. (2003). Physiological Changes Associated with Neiyang Qigong. Journal of Health Science, 49(4), 278-284 *

Lee, S. & Yu, H. (1995). The evaluation of qigong induced mental disorder as a Chinese culture-bound syndrome (in Chinese). Archives of Psychiatry, 4, 222-225. (in Chinese).*
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Lee, S. (2001). Who is politicising psychiatry in China? The British Journal of psychiatry. Department of Psychiatry, II/F, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. [bjp.rcpsych.org]

Lim, Russell F. & Lin Keh-Ming. (1996). Cultural formulation of psychiatric diagnosis: Case No. 03: Psychosis following qi-gong in a Chinese immigrant. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 20:369-378. [PubMed]

Peng HK. (1997). Prevention of Qigong deviations. Chinese Qigong, 3:36 (in Chinese).*
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Shan. HH Dr. (2000). Culture-bound psychiatric disorders associated with qigong practice in China. Hong Kong J Psychiatry, 10(3):12-14). [Article] [Cases]

Qian ZQ, (1995). Treatment and prevention of Qigong deviations. Shanghai: Bai-jia Press (in Chinese).*
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Shan HH, Yan HJ, Xu SH et al. (1987). Clinical phenomenology of mental disorders caused by Qigong exercise. Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 13:266-269.
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Shenghan, Xu. (1994). Psychophysiological reactions associated with qigong therapy. Shanghai Mental Health Center, Psychiatric Department, Shanghai Medical University, Fall. [Texte complet] [PubMed] [Comment 1] [Comment 2]

Tian T. (1996). An understanding of hallucinations experienced during Qigong practice. Qigong and sports, 12:18-20 (in Chinese).* Wang P. (1994). Qigong induced manic state. Journal of Clinical Psychological Medecine, 4:239 (in Chinese).*
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Wang Y. Jia SB (1996). Clinical Research on Qigong deviations. Chinese Qigong, 12: 42-43 (in Chinese).*
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Wei-Chin Hwang. (2007). Qi-gong psychotic reaction in a chinese American woman. Department of Psychology, Claremont McKenna College, 850 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711, USA. 12 October. (Extrait)
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Wu Caiyun. (1991). A Clinical Analysis of 76 Cases of Qigong-induced Mental Disorder Characterized Mainly by Hallucination and Delusion. Journal of Clinical Psychological Medicine, 2:7. *
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Wu CY. (1992). A clinical analysis of seventy six cases of Qigong induced psychotic disorders. Journal of Clinical Psychological Medecine, 2:7-9 (in Chinese).*
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Wu CY. (1993). An inquiry into the etiology of Qi gong induced mental disorders and a follow-up study of fifty three cases, Journal of Clinical Psychological Medecine, 3:132-133 (in Chinese).*

Xia SJ, Lin YG. (1996). Personality profiles and EEG characteristics of patients with Qigong deviations. Chinese Qigong, 2:17-19 (in Chinese).*

Zhai ST. (1995). Qigong deviations resulting in mental disorders. In Shen YC, eds Textbook of psychiatry. Beijing: Publishing House of People’s Health (in Chinese).*
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Zhang TL, Xu HT. (1997). Correcting deviations from the path of Qigong. Beijing: Publishing House of People’s Health (in Chinese).*

Spiritual crisis

DSM-IV-TR. American Psychiatric Association. Masson, Paris, 2003, ISBN : 2-294-00663-1. Z71.8 (V62.89) Religious and spiritual problem. p. 853. p. 311

Rekab, Stephen (2007). Spiritual Emergence and possible emergencies. The Station Network. 01-03-07. [Texte complet]

Grof, Christina & Stanislav Grof. (1990).

The Stormy Search for the Self: A Guide to Personal Growth Through Transformational Crisis. Los Angeles: Jeremy Tarcher. [amazon.com]

Grof, Stanislav & Grof, Christina (eds) (1989). Spiritual Emergency : (New Conciousness Reader), Los Angeles : J.P. Tarcher. [amazon.com]

Crowley, Nicki Dr. (2005). Psychosis or spiritual Emergence ? Consideration of the Transpersonal perspective within psychiatry.
Newsletters juin 2006.
Meeting mars 31th 2006. [Texte complet]

Lukoff, David Ph. D. Spiritual Competency Resource Center.
Lesson 3.1 Spiritual Emergence.
Lesson 3.5 Meditation and Spiritual Practices

Mental Health Matters: Spirituality. Vidéo (voir à 8 min. 15.) Entretien avec Dr. David Lukoff un psychologue, un professeur de psychologie et un des experts en spiritualité et santé mentale, 16 avril 2008.
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Lukoff, David. (2005). Spirituality and recovery. December 6. [Texte complet]
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Lukoff, David, Lu Francis G. & Turner, Robert P. (1998). From spiritual emergency to spiritual problem: The transpersonal roots of the new DSM-IV category. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 38(2), 21-50. [Texte complet]
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Randal, Patte and Argyle, Nick. (2005). ‘‘Spiritual Emergency’ – a useful explanatory model?’ A Literature Review and Discussion paper. [Texte complet]
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Turner, R.P., Lukoff, D., Robert P., Barnhhouse, R.T. & Lu, F.G. (1995). Religious or spiritual problem. A culturally sensitive diagnostic category in the DSM-IV. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, July ;183(7) : 435-44. [PubMed]

Reiki

Aetna InteliHealth.

Potential Dangers
"Reiki is not recommended as the sole treatment for potentially serious medical conditions, and its use should not delay the time it takes to consult with a health care provider or receive established therapies. Serious adverse effects have not been reported in association with Reiki. Some Reiki practitioners believe that Reiki should be used cautiously in individuals with psychiatric illnesses."

Videos

2010-02-12T19:05:00.001-08:00

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Video Yoga - B.K.S. Iyengar 1938 newsreel Part 2

B.K.S. Iyengar 1938 newsreel Part 1

Tibetan Yoga

Ashtanga yoga demo

Intro to Kundalini Yoga with GURMUKH

Kundalini Yoga Exposed

Qi gong (chi kung) "Les 9 petits cieux"

Short Qigong Documentary

Qigong – China

Qigong Energy Healing on KNBC

Definitions - Yoga

2010-02-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

Yoga : A Hindu discipline aimed at achieving a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. In the West, the term is most commonly understood as the physical exercises that are practiced as part of this discipline.http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/022103/022103k.htm

Yoga : (Sans.) A school of philosophy founded by Patanjali, but which existed as a distinct teaching and system of life long before that sage. It is Yajnawalkya, a famous and very ancient sage, to whom the White Yajur Veda, the Satapatha Brahmana and the Brihak Aranyaka are attributed and who lived in pre-Maha-bharatean times, who is credited with inculcating the necessity and positive duty of religious meditation and retirement into the forests, and who, therefore, is believed to have originated the Yoga doctrine. Professor Max Muller states that it is Yajnawalkya who prepared the world for the preaching of Buddha. Patanjali's Yoga, however, is more definite and precise as a philosophy, and embodies more of the occult sciences than any of the works attributed to Yajnawalkya. http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/key/key-glo3.htm

Yoga : this term means union of the attention with the ensouling entity. It has come to mean any methods or techniques that systematically unites the attention directly or progressively with the ensouling entity. http://www.mudrashram.com/glossarypage.html

Yoga : A Hindu method of learning that includes exercises, breathing sequences and meditation. It is designed to aid in enlightenment. The exercise component of Yoga is often practiced in the West as an aid to healthy living. http://www.religioustolerance.org/gl_xyz.htm

Yoga : "To yoke or unite," connoting the process of yoking or fusing individual consciousness and awareness with superconscious awareness--the natural mind state of soul and God. This yoking process ultimately leads to a realization of identity, that our innermost consciousness and Absoluteness is and always has been that of God. Yoga is the third of the four successive stages (margas) of purification and enlightenment in Saiva Siddhanta--chariya, kriya, yoga and jnana. Yoga's culmination of samadhi in Parasivam, the Absolute, is the first step upon the jnana path. There are many legitimate forms of yoga--excluding bhakti and karma yogas which are preparatory practices--all of which lead the aspirant toward kundalini/raja yoga. http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/virtue/SVGlossary.html

Yoga : An ancient system of practices originating in India. It is aimed at integrating mind, body and spirit to enhance health and well-being. There are many different forms of yoga. Hatha yoga — the most widely practised form of yoga in the Western world — uses specific postures and breathing exercises.
http://www.nature.com/nri/journal/v4/n11/glossary/nri1486_glossary.html

Yoga : Lit., "yoke"—the act of yoking or joining together. Yoga is union of the individual soul with the ultimate Reality. It is also the method by which this union is achieved. There are four yogas: bhakti yoga, the path of devotion; jnana yoga, the path of knowledge and discrimination; karma yoga, the path of detached work, and raja yoga, the path of meditation. http://www.vedanta.org/wiv/glossary/glossary_vy.html

Yoga : a spiritual practice which includes posture breath control and meditation. The word is derived from the Sanskrit meaning to bind, join, yoke, direct, to use and apply. The practitioner experiences inner union. http://www.inneraccess101.com/glossary.htm

Yoga : (lit., union) The spiritual practices and disciplines that lead a seeker to evenness of mind, to the severing of the union with pain, and through detachment, to skill in action. Ultimately, the path of yoga leads to the constant experience of the Self. http://www.siddhayoga.org.in/glossary.html

Yoga : (from Sanskrit meaning "discipline," ) Yoga is an ancient philosophy of life as well as a system of exercises that encourages the union of mind, body, and spirit. The ultimate aim of yoga is to achieve a state of balance and harmony between mind and body. There is evidence that yoga was practiced as early as 5,000 years ago, although the first written description is found in the Yoga Sutras, a book from the second century B.C. The Yoga Sutras describe a multifold path to spiritual enlightenment that includes Hatha Yoga, the system of physical exercises that is most often followed by Western yoga practitioners today. The discipline of Hatha Yoga combines deep breathing, physical postures known as asanas, and meditation. Practiced widely by people of all ages, hatha yoga is often recommended for stress reduction and as a way to improve overall health and well being.
http://www.reiki.nu/treatment/healing/dictionary5/dictionary5.html

Yoga : (Skt. yuj—to join, much the same as yoke in English). The practice aims at stilling the mind as a means to concentrated meditation for securing at-one-ment of the soul with the Universal Soul (Isvara, the Lord). (2) One of darshans or orthodox systems of Hindu philosophy developed by sage Patanjali about 300 A. D Composing Ashtang or an eight-fold path of reunion with the Divine.(3) Of all the different forms of yoga, the yoga of the Sound Current or attunement with the holy Word, is by far the easiest, the safest and the speediest, yielding results that are verifiable with mathematical precision.
http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/gloss.htm

Yoga : A Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquillity. A system of exercises practiced as part of this discipline to promote control of the body and mind. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/yoga

Yoga : The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline. A male who practices yoga is called a yogi, a female practitioner, a yogini. The Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have collated the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra an estimated 2,000 years ago. The Sutra is a collection of 195 statements that serves as a philosophical guidebook for most of the yoga that is practiced today. It also outlines eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (absorption). As we explore these eight limbs, we begin by refining our behavior in the outer world, and then we focus inwardly until we reach samadhi (liberation, enlightenment). Today most people practicing yoga are engaged in the third limb, asana, which is a program of physical postures designed to purify the body and provide the physical strength and stamina required for long periods of meditation. http://www.yogajournal.com/basics/820

Yoga : The term yoga comes from a Sanskrit word which means yoke or union. Traditionally, yoga is a method joining the individual self with the Divine, Universal Spirit, or Cosmic Consciousness. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal, also called self-transcendence or enlightenment. On the physical level, yoga postures, called asanas, are designed to tone, strengthen, and align the body. http://www.answers.com/topic/yoga

Yoga : Yoga is a type of exercise that combines precise body postures, breathing techniques and meditation. Although it's known as a type of non-aerobic exercise, it's actually a complete system of personal development designed to create a union of mind, body and spirit. The term yoga comes from ancient Sanskrit and means "union." http://altmedicine.about.com/od/yog1/g/yoga.htm

Yoga : "Yoga, meaning union or yoking in Sanskrit, is the primary focus of Hinduism's diverse darshans or "points of view". Yoga is a science of the body, the mind, the consciousness and the soul. Yoga is a teaching of wisdom and knowledge which has been transmitted to mankind from the great Yogis and Rishis of ancient times, though its geographical origin lies in India, it is universal, all-valid, eternal knowledge." "Yoga is indicative of a broad range of practices that aim to, through physical, mental and spiritual activities, focus the individual on the true essence of reality, to achieve moksha or samadhi, liberation and enlightenment." http://www.indopedia.org/Yoga.html
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Hatha yoga : Forme de yoga qui repose sur la pratique de postures ou positions, appellées asanas, qui vise à améliorer la santé et l'attention.
Adamson, E. et Budilowsky, J. (2008). La méditation. Marabout.
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Hatha yoga : Le Hatha-Yoga est la forme la plus connue du Yoga en Occident." "La pratique du Hatha-Yoga est une recherche de l'unité de toutes les modalités physiques et psychiques qui nous composent." "Posture, respiration, méditation, peuvent tour à tour culminer dans la pratique. Le Hatha-Yoga prétend construire un pont entre l'extérieur et l'intérieur, le matériel et le spirituel, l'être essentiel et l'être existentiel. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatha_yoga
Hatha yoga : "Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced form of yoga in America. It is the branch of yoga which concentrates on physical health and mental well-being. Hatha yoga uses bodily postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dyana) with the goal of bringing about a sound, healthy body and a clear, peaceful mind." http://www.answers.com/topic/hatha-yoga

Hatha yoga : "Hatha yoga, pronounced "ha-tuh", is also known as hatha vidya or the "science of hatha" yoga; this word comes from combining the two sanskrit terms "hat" meaning sun and "ha" meaning moon." "Hatha yoga is what most people associate with the word "yoga." It is part of the Hindu traditions of Yoga and Tantra, and is seen by many as a path leading to the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, or contemplation of the One Reality. Hatha yoga primarily concerns itself with asanas or postures." "Asanas are contemplative in nature and were originally intuited by yogis during meditation; the Kundalini naturally brings forth these postures or movements, called Kriyas, during deep meditation." "Asanas teach poise, balance & strength and were originally (and still) practiced to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment." http://www.indopedia.org/Hatha_yoga.html

Hatha yoga : The purpose of Hatha Yoga is to locate and activate the chakras (centers of energy), thereby raising the kundalini (dominant spiritual power). This in turn is believed to help remove blockages (disease) in the mind and body. http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/practices/hatha_yoga.htm

Kundalini yoga : Le Kundalinî-Yoga tire son nom du terme Kundalinî, qui, selon cette doctrine, désigne une énergie primordiale qui serait présente en chaque être humain et qui évoluerait le long d'un canal principal (Sushumnâ) situé dans la colonne vertébrale, au centre de la moelle épinière, depuis le sacrum jusqu'au sommet de la tête. Le Kundalinî-Yoga vise à l'éveil de la conscience du Soi par la maîtrise de cette énergie, la Kundalinî, par la pratique d'asanas (posture), de pranayamas (techniques de souffle), de bhandas (fermetures, contractions) et la récitation de mantras. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalin%C3%AE_Yoga
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Kundalini yoga : "Kundalini yoga is a physical and meditative discipline within the tradition of Yoga, associated with the subdivision of hatha yoga." "According to Hindu tradition Kundalini yoga is a pure spiritual science that leads to enlightenment and God-Realization under the guidance of a Spiritual Master. The awakening of kundalini means awakening of inner knowledge. In Hindu tradition, the techniques are only communicated from Master to disciple once the disciple is deemed ready. It is believed that some methods were made public in the west by rogue disciples. Inability to follow strict instructions of the Master, or practicing of methods without a living and self-realized master, can lead to a series of psychic disturbances and sometimes even mental damage. The conditions are known in psychiatric circles as Kundalini Syndrome." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini_yoga

Kundalini yoga : "In Hindu thought, kundalini refers to the psychic or cosmic energy that lies dormant in most people. It is sometimes identified with Shakti, the Great Goddess who is equated with divine energy. When dormant, the kundalini is said to lie coiled like a snake (kunda means coiled) at the base of the spine, but it can gradually be raised upwards through the spine using meditation techniques including postures, purification practices, ritual gestures and regulated breathing. This process of raising the kundalini, called kundalini yoga or laya yoga, is considered physically and psychologically beneficial throughout, but the ultimate goal is to induce the kundalini to rise to the top of the spine and into the brain. This is said to result in union with Shakti (divine energy) or atman (the cosmic Self), which is accompanied by an extraordinary state of awareness and bliss." "Kundalini teachers commonly caution those interested in kundalini yoga to practice only under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Uncontrolled kundalini awakening has been reported to produce symptoms such as the following" : "mental confusion psychosis gastrointestianal disorders itching, burning, or involuntary twitching sexual dysfunction severe mood swings egotism ringing or hissing sounds in ears paranormal activity immoral behavior" http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/practices/kundalini_yoga.htm

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Kundalini yoga : Kundalini Yoga is a meditative discipline or a system of meditative techniques and movements within the yogic tradition that focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the bodys potential for maturation. The concept of intensified life-energy - pranotthana - is central to the practice and understanding of Kundalini Yoga. In the Yoga tradition, the creative catalyst, or energy of your highest potential, is called Kundalini. Some have called this "spirit rising", or the motivating, evolutionary force within us. The possibility of adverse effects "According to many teachers of meditation, and the school of Transpersonal Psychology, it is not considered wise to engage in contemplative practices, such as Kundalini yoga, without the guidance of a credible teacher, or without thorough foreknowledge of the chosen spiritual path. Many spiritual teachers and psychologists consider any intense contemplative or spiritual practice without the support of a cultural context, or without the support of thorough psychological and physical preparation, to be unfortunate, or even dangerous. Both Bogart (1991) and Lukoff (1998) notes the growing occurrence of meditation-related problems in western contemplative life (for more information on this particular topic see the section on adverse effects of Meditation). http://www.indopedia.org/Kundalini_Yoga.html
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Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Buddhism. Samir Nath. Vol. 1. Sarup & Sons. New Delhi. 1998.

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Hindu Rituals and Practices Religion Facts

Definition - Qi gong psychotic reaction

2010-02-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

Qi gong psychotic reaction. DSM-IV-TR.

American Psychiatric Association. Masson, Paris, 2003, ISBN

Qigong deviation syndrome. (CCTM-2). DSM.

Shan. HH Dr. (2000). Culture-bound psychiatric disorders associated with qigong practice in China. Hong Kong J Psychiatry, 10(3):12-14). [Article] [cases]

"There is a specific diagnostic category in the CCMD-2.3 The definition can be translated as follows: “Qigong deviation reactionsyndrome/mental disorder associated with Qigong ischaracterised by incorrect methods, exercise misuse or overmeditation, too much Qigong or maintaining the Qigong state for too long, with the appearance of some somatic or psychological disturbances during the early phase of Qigong practice. Thinking disorders, disorders of mood, and disorders of behaviour may appear.”

The diagnostic criteria include the following:

• The onset of the mental disorder occurs after Qigong practice.
• The syndrome is associated with some kind of Qigong method in a book or identified by a Qigong instructor, with abnormal language and uncontrolled behaviour, which does not cease after Qigong practice has stopped.
• The mental disorder cannot be classified or excludes the following conditions: - the condition is a result of self-treatment or treatment by others for a physical or psychological aim - the condition is aimed at cheating others - the condition can be self-induced or stopped at will
• The mental disorder cannot be diagnosed according to the CCMD-2.

Definition - Qi gong

2010-02-12T18:03:00.000-08:00

Qi gong : Qigong (or ch'i kung) is an internal Chinese meditative practice which often uses slow graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques to promote the circulation of qi within the human body, and enhance a practitioner's overall health. Although, there are also many forms of Qigong that are done with no movement at all, in standing, sitting and supine positions, likewise, not all forms of Qigong use breath control techniques. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qigong

Qi gong : Qigong (pronounced "chee-gung," also spelled chi kung) is translated from the Chinese to mean "energy cultivation" or "working with the life energy." Qigong is an ancient Chinese system of postures, exercises, breathing techniques, and meditations. Its techniques are designed to improve and enhance the body's qi. According to traditional Chinese philosophy, qi is the fundamental life energy responsible for health and vitality.
http://www.answers.com/topic/qigong

Qi gong : Qigong is an increasingly popular aspect of Chinese medicine. Qigong is mostly taught for health maintenance purposes, but there are also some who teach it, especially in China, for therapeutic interventions. Various forms of traditional qigong are also widely taught in conjunction with Chinese martial arts. There are many hundreds, if not thousands, of different styles and schools of qigong. http://www.indopedia.org/Qi_Gong.html
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Qi gong or chi gung : a form of martial art or physical meditation practice in which a state of intense physical concentration is part of the physical training. http://www.inneraccess101.com/glossary.htm

Definition - Kundalini syndrome

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Kundalini syndrome : The Kundalini Syndrome is a set of sensory, motor, mental and affective symptoms reported predominantly (according to certain writers on the subject) among people who have had a near-death experience ; it has also been attributed to practitioners of meditation or yoga. Researchers in the fields of psychiatry, transpersonal psychology, and near-death studies, describe a complex pattern of sensory, motor, mental and affective symptoms associated with the concept of Kundalini, sometimes called the Kundalini syndrome. This psycho-spiritual and transformative process is believed to occur in connection with a near-death experience, or with prolonged, intensive spiritual or contemplative practice, as practiced within a few sub-disciplines of meditation or yoga.

Other sensory and motor symptoms may include: the feeling of cranial pressures [19], the perception of inner sounds[17], experiences of inner lights[17][20], vibrating or tickling sensations in the lower back[17], tachycardia (rapid heart rate)[21], changes in breathing [22], spontaneous bodily movements[22], sensations of heat or cold moving through the body[20], localized bodily pain that starts and stops abruptly[20], vibrations and itching under the skin[20], and unusual, or intense, sexual sensations [23].

Mental and affective symptoms include: fear [24], anxiety [24], depersonalization [20], intense positive or negative emotions[20], spontaneous slowing or speeding of thoughts[20], spontaneous trance states[24], experiencing oneself as larger than the physical body [20], and experiences of paranormal consciousness [23].

Summary of known problems: Death, pseudo death, psychosis, pseudo psychosis, confusion, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, sadness, suicidal thoughts, urges to self-mutilate, homicidal urges, arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), exacerbation of prior or current mental illness, insomnia, inability to hold a job, inability to talk, inability to drive, sexual pains, temporary blindness, uticaria or rash, and headaches [25][26][27][28][29]

Definition - Transcendental Meditation

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Transcendental Meditation : The Transcendental Meditation technique, or TM technique is a form of mantra meditation introduced in India in 1955 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1917-2008). It is reported to be the most widely researched and one of the most widely practiced meditation techniques. Taught in a standardized seven-step course by certified teachers, the technique involves the use of a sound or mantra and is practiced for 15–20 minutes twice per day, while sitting comfortably with closed eyes. (...) The Transcendental Meditation technique is taught in a standardized, seven-step course that consists of two introductory lectures, a personal interview, and four, two-hour instruction sessions given on consecutive days. The initial personal instruction session begins with a short puja ceremony performed by the teacher, after which the student is taught the technique. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_Meditation

Transcendental Meditation : A technique of meditation derived from Hindu traditions that promotes deep relaxation through the use of a mantra.
http://www.answers.com/topic/transcendental-meditation
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Transcendental Meditation : The Maharishi, whose original name was Mahesh Prasad Varma, earned a degree in physics before pursuing his spiritual calling. For 13 years he studied with the guru (teacher) Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, also known as Guru Dev, learning a type of meditation that Dev claimed to have discovered in Hindu holy books. In 1958 the Maharishi (he adopted the name in 1955) founded the Spiritual Regeneration Movement and began to spread the practice of transcendental meditation internationally. His movement was popularized in the 1960s when the Beatles and other celebrities began to meditate. Transcendental Meditation uses one of a variety of Sanskrit mantras, each of which is a short word or phrase that, repeated in the mind, helps the user still the activity of thought and find a deeper level of consciousness. Through this process, it is claimed, the practitioner finds deep relaxation, which leads to enhanced inner joy, vitality, and creativity. The theoretical perspective behind Transcendental Meditation, called the Science of Creative Intelligence, is based on Vedanta philosophy.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/602436/Transcendental-Meditation

Definition - Meditation

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Meditation : Meditation is used here as a broad term for practices done by a sole practitioner without much, if any, external aide, often for the purpose of self-transformation. Often, though not at all necessarily, meditation is done as part of a religious tradition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation

Meditation : Meditation is a practice of concentrated focus upon a sound, object, visualization, the breath, movement, or attention itself in order to increase awareness of the present moment, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance personal and spiritual growth. http://www.answers.com/topic/meditation

Meditation : Ways to meditate can include:

Guided meditation. Sometimes called guided imagery or visualization, with this method of meditation you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing. You try to use as many senses as possible, such as smells, sights, sounds and textures. You may be led through this process by a guide or teacher.

Mantra meditation. In this type of meditation, you silently repeat a calming word, thought or phrase to prevent distracting thoughts. Transcendental meditation is a type of mantra meditation in which you achieve a deep state of relaxation to achieve pure awareness.

Mindfulness meditation. This type of meditation is based on being mindful, or having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. You focus on what you experience during meditation, such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions but let them pass without judgment.

Qi gong. This practice generally combines meditation, relaxation, physical movement and breathing exercises to restore and maintain balance. Qi gong (chee-kung) is part of traditional Chinese medicine.

Tai chi. This is a form of gentle Chinese martial arts. In tai chi (TIE-chee), you perform a self-paced series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner while practicing deep breathing.

Yoga. You perform a series of postures and controlled breathing exercises to promote a more flexible body and a calm mind. As you move through poses that require balance and concentration, you're encouraged to focus less on your busy day and more on the moment. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070/METHOD=print

Meditation : Meditation usually refers to a state of extreme relaxation and concentration, in which the body is generally at rest and the mind quieted of surface thoughts. Several major religions include ritual meditation; however, meditation itself need not be a religious or spiritual activity. Most of the more popular systems of meditation are of Eastern origin. Another form of meditation is more closely akin to prayer and worship, wherein the practitioner turns spiritual thoughts over in the mind and engages the brain in higher thinking processes. The goal in this case is the receipt of spiritual insights and new understanding. From the point of view of psychology, meditation caninduce — or is itself — an altered state of consciousness. http://www.indopedia.org/Meditation.html

Meditation : Meditation can be considered a technique, or practice. It usually involves concentrating on an object, such as a flower, a candle, a sound or word, or the breath. Over time, the number of random thoughts diminishes. More importantly, your attachment to these thoughts, and your identification with them, progressively become less. http://www.religioustolerance.org/gl_m.htm

Meditation : any of various disciplines of mind and body that enable one to achieve higher states of consciousness; it is a tool for self-improvement, creative renewal and spiritual growth. http://www.inneraccess101.com/glossary.htm

Meditation : The practice of inverting the mind to pay attention to the inner silence instead of the outer chaos. Other forms of meditation focus on the outer chaos instead. The practice of meditation is accepted in almost all religions, but is encouraged most in Buddhism. http://www.reiki.nu/treatment/healing/dictionary3/dictionary3.html#M
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Definition and Types of Meditation
Meditation has been characterized in many ways in the scientific literature and there is no consensus definition of meditation. This diversity in definitions reflects the complex nature of the practice of meditation and the coexistence of a variety of perspectives that have been adopted to describe and explain the characteristics of the practice. Therefore, we recognize that any single definition limits the practice artificially and fails to account for important nuances that distinguish one type of meditation from another. 8 .
Cardoso et al. 9 developed a detailed operational definition of meditation broad enough to include traditional belief-based practices and those that have been developed specifically for use in clinical settings. Using a systematic approach based on consensus techniques, they defined any practice as meditation if it (1) utilizes a specific and clearly defined technique, (2) involves muscle relaxation somewhere during the process, (3) involves logic relaxation (i.e., not “to intend” to analyze the possible psychophysical effects, not “to intend” to judge the possible results, not “to intend” to create any type of expectation regarding the process), (4) a selfinduced state, and (5) the use of a self-focus skill or “anchor” for attention. From a cognitive and psychological perspective, Walsh et al. 10 defined meditation as a family of self-regulation practices that aim to bring mental processes under voluntary control through focusing attention and awareness. Other behavioral descriptions emphasize certain components such as relaxation, concentration, an altered state of awareness, suspension of logical thought processes, and maintenance of self-observing attitude.11 From a more general perspective, Manocha 12 describedmeditation as a discrete and well-defined experience of a state of “thoughtless awareness” or mental silence, in which the activity of the mind is minimized without reducing the level of alertness. Meditation also has been defined as a self-experience and self-realization exercise.13
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Despite the lack of consensus in the scientific literature on a definition of meditation, most investigators would agree that meditation implies a form of mental training that requires either stilling or emptying the mind, and that has as its goal a state of “detached observation” in which practitioners are aware of their environment, but do not become involved in thinking about it. All types of meditation practices seem to be based on the concept of self-observation of immediate psychic activity, training one’s level of awareness, and cultivating an attitude of acceptance of process rather than content.3

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Meditation is an umbrella term that encompasses a family of practices that share some distinctive features, but that vary in important ways in their purpose and practice. This lack of specificity of the concept of meditation precludes developing an exhaustive taxonomy of meditation practices. However, in order to systematically address the question of the state of research of meditation practices in healthcare, we must attempt to identify the components that are common to the many practices that are claimed to be meditation or that incorporate a meditative component, and also clearly distinguish meditation practices from other therapeutic and self-regulation strategies such as self-hypnosis or visualization and from other relaxation techniques that do not contain a meditative component.
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Meditation practices may be classified according to certain phenomenological characteristics: the primary goal of practice (therapeutic or spiritual), the direction of the attention (mindfulness, concentrative, and practices that shift between the field or background perception and experience and an object within the field 3,14), the kind of anchor employed (a word, breath, sound, object or sensation 7,15,16), and according to the posture used (motionless sitting or moving).7 Like other complex and multifaceted therapeutic interventions, meditation practices involve a mixture of specific and vaguely defined characteristics, and they can be practiced on their own or in conjunction with other therapies. As pointed out by many authors, any attempt to create a taxonomy of meditation only approximates the multidimensional experience of the practices.17

3. Perez de Albeniz A, Holmes J. Meditation:concepts, effects and uses in therapy. Int JPsychother 2000;5(1):49-58.

4. Pollard I. Meditation and brain function: a review. Eubios J Asian Int Bioethics 2004;14:28-34.

7. Baer RA. Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: a conceptual and empirical review. Clin Psychol: Sci Pract 2003;10(2):125-43.

8. Andresen J. Meditation meets behavioural medicine: the story of experimental research on meditation. J Consciousness Stud 2000;7(11- 12):17-73.

9. Cardoso R, De Souza E, Camano L, et al. Meditation in health: an operational definition. Brain Res Brain Res Protoc 2004;14(1):58-60.

10. Walsh R, Shapiro SL. The meeting of meditative disciplines and Western psychology: a mutually enriching dialogue. Am Psychol 2006;61(3):227-39.

11. Craven JL. Meditation and psychotherapy. Can J Psychiatry 1989;34(7):648-53.

12. Manocha R. Why meditation? Aust Fam Physician 2000;29(12):1135-8.

13. Kokoszka A. Axiological aspects of comparing psychotherapy and meditation. Int J Psychosom 1990;37(1-4):78-81.

14. Delmonte MM. Meditation and anxiety reduction: a literature review. Clin Psychol Rev 1985;5(2):91-102. 15. Rutschman JR. Effects of techniques of receptive meditation and relaxation on attentional processing. Can Undergraduate J Cogn Sci 2004;7:6-16.

16. Bonadonna R. Meditation's impact on chronic illness. Holist Nurs Pract 2003;

17(6):309-19. 17. Caspi O, Burleson KO. Methodological challenges in meditation research. Adv Mind Body Med 2005;21(1):4-11.

Ospina MB, Bond TK, Karkhaneh M, Tjosvold L, Vandermeer B, Liang Y, Bialy L, Hooton N, Buscemi N, Dryden DM, Klassen TP. Meditation Practices for Health: State of the Research. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 155. (Prepared by the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practie Center under Contract No. 290-02-0023.) AHRQ Publication No. 07-E010. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. June 2007.
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Perez-De-Albeniz, Alberto & Holmes, Jeremy. (2000). Meditation: Concepts, effects and uses in therapy. International Journal of Psychotherapy, March 2000, Vol. 5 Issue 1, p49, 10p. [Texte complet]

Definition - Mantra

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Mantra : Hinduism A sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation, such as an invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mantra
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Mantra : (Sans.) Verses from the Vedic works, used as incantations and charms. By Mantras are meant all those portions of the Vedas which are distinct from the Brahmanas, or their interpretation. http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/key/key-glo2.htm

Mantra Yoga : the meditation techniques that use a charged word or phrase to focus attention, to activate energy, and to unfold the potentials of consciousness.
http://www.mudrashram.com/glossarypage.html#M

Mantra : A word or phrase which is repeated continually in order to achieve relaxation or meditation. http://www.religioustolerance.org/gl_m.htm

Mantra : A sacred mystic syllable, word or verse used in meditation and japa to quiet the mind, balance the inner bodies and attain other desired aims.
http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/virtue/SVGlossary.html

Mantra : The sacred name of God given by the guru to the disciple. Repetition of the mantra is japa. http://www.vedanta.org/wiv/glossary/glossary_mr.html

Mantra : The names of God; sacred words or divine sounds invested with the power to protect, purify, and transform the individual who repeats them. A mantra received from an enlightened Master is filled with the power of the Master's attainment.
http://www.siddhayoga.org.in/glossary.html

Mantra : Ritual sound, word or phrase used as a tool to focus and quiet the mind. Mantra is a sound or set of sounds that are believed to have the unique power to restore us to a state of pristine harmony. Sea also Chant. http://www.reiki.nu/treatment/healing/dictionary3/dictionary3.html#M

Mantra : also n. Hinduism & Buddhism The supreme and most sacred syllable, consisting in Sanskrit of the three sounds (a), (u), and (m), representing various fundamental triads and believed to be the spoken essence of the universe. It is uttered as a mantra and in affirmations and blessings. http://www.answers.com/topic/aum

Mantra most popular : Aum : Mystic syllable of Hinduism, identified in the Upanishads as standing for the whole world and its parts, including past, present and future, as well as for Paramatma, the Self of all things. "Aum" is the seed sound, the one undifferentiated primal vibration from which all manifestation issues forth. Associated with Lord Ganesha. Pronounced: "ah" "oo" "mm."
http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/virtue/SVGlossary.html

Definition - Kundalini

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Kundalini : Sanskrit, literally "coiled". In Indian yoga, a "corporeal energy"- an unconscious, instinctive or libidinal force or Shakti, envisioned either as a goddess or else as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine, hence a number of English renderings of the term such as 'serpent power'. Yoga and Tantra propose that this energy can be "awakened" by Guru, but body and spirit must be prepared by yogic austerities such as pranayama, or breath control, physical exercises, visualization, and chanting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini
(traduction française)

Kundalini : Energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine until it is activated, as by the practice of yoga, and channeled upward through the chakras in the process of spiritual perfection.http://www.answers.com/topic/kundalini
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kundalini : "Serpent power," the primordial cosmic energy in every individual which lies coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine and rises up the sushumna nadi. Through yoga it is awakened and made to rise up the chakras to the crown or sahasrara chakra.

http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/books/virtue/SVGlossary.html

Kundalini : (lit., coiled one) The primordial Shakti, or cosmic energy, that lies dormant in a coiled form in the muladhara chakra at the base of the spine. Through the descent of grace (shaktipat), this extremely subtle force, also described as the supreme goddess, is awakened and begins to purify the entire being. As Kundalini travels upward through the central channel, She pierces the various chakras, finally reaching the sahasrara at the crown of the head. There, the individual soul merges into the supreme Self and attains the state of Self-realisation. See also CHAKRA, SHAKTIPAT.

http://www.siddhayoga.org.in/glossary.html

Kundalini : (ahamkara, kundalini shakti): Elemental, feminine energy that is ordinarily asleep and coiled at the human coccyx and whose activation can purify the activator. The word "kundalini" stems from a Sanskrit term meaning "circular, coiled." The male and female forces are exactly balanced in the Ida and Pingala subtle channels. Everyone uses Kundalini power to think with and to maintain consciousness, but it very seldom rises up the central spinal channel of Sushumna beyond the first center. Various disciplines are used to arouse the "sleeping serpent" to ascend to the higher centers.
http://www.reiki.nu/treatment/healing/dictionary3/dictionary3.html#M

Kundalini : A serpentine power that lies coiled up at the far end of the spinal cord and is awakened by the Yogi, through various kriyas which when roused up helps to cross the various bodily centres leading up to Sahsarar or the thousand-petalled Lotus behind the eyes which is the goal of all the yogis. It is because of this that sometimes it is designated as Kundalini Yoga. http://www.ruhanisatsangusa.org/gloss.htm

Definitions - Spiritual emergency

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Spiritual emergency or emergence. Tom Adam. 1990.

Definitions

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Qi gong psychotic reaction

Spiritual emergency

Transcendantale meditation

Yoga

Ressources

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Resources in Quebec

We hope, in the coming months, to identify health professionals interested to receive the clientele with symptoms related to the practices of yoga, transcendental meditation, and qi gong.

Resources from outside Quebec

The number of people suffering from side effects and living spiritual crisis seems important enough to justify the existence of several research centers, support groups and hotlines.

Here are some examples from the website of a yoga teacher:

http://www.kaia.ca/World_Support.php

CANADA

Spiritual Emergence Service, Vancouver, Canada.

Free information and support for people experiencing psychospiritual difficulties, spiritual awakening and psychic opening, out-of-body experiences, kundalini awakening, altered states of consciousness, etc. Free information and support for People Experiencing Psychospiritual difficulties, spiritual awakening and psychic opening, out-of-body experiences, kundalini awakening, altered states of consciousness, etc.. ses@spiritualemergence.net 604-533-3545

USA

Spiritual Emergence Network

Spiritual Crisis, Experience of unitive consciousness or altered states, Psychic Openings, Possession, Kundalini, Difficulties with a meditation practice, etc..

SEN@CIIS

Spiritual emercency ressource center

Information and Referral Service (415) 648-2610

UNITED KINGDOM

Spiritual Crisis Network, London, England.

Support for people dealing with kundalini/shamanic/ spiritual emergence issues.

AUSTRALIA

Spiritual emergence Network

SCANDINAVIA

Scandinavian Kundalini Network & Information

"A Kundalini release can be triggered by erroneous meditation, yoga, toning, Holotropic breathing, reiki, qigong, healing, tantra, transcendental meditation and other eastern or new age spiritual exercises."

DENMARK

Kundalini: Network & Information Kundalini: Network & Information

"The Network Urges all emphatically yoga - and meditation teachers, and other therapists to learn how powerful are the energies one is dealing with here, so that the damages can be reduced in severe cases of Kundalini arousal."

Association of victims

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Has the practice of yoga, meditation and qi gong caused any side effects to your health? Let us know by writing to : dangeryoga@yahoo.fr.
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A group of people, mostly former professors, who have suffered harm to their health was formed in January 2007. Some people began to testify about their experiences at conferences and others participated in a research project by answering a questionnaire and telling their stories in interviews. We will post regularely summaries of those stories on our website. By sharing their stories, these people want the public to be better informed about the side effects of these practices and hope that crisis and informations centers will be created in Quebec as it is being done elsewhere.

Support us - donate

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Support our team in the efforts to outreach concerning the side effects of yoga and related practices among the population and health and education organisms. We will send you a tax receipt for any donation over $ 25.

Adress your check to :

"Agape Medical Foundation Inc.

320, boul. Leclerc, Granby,

CP 50005, (Québec), J2G 9R9

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Quebec's testimonials

Clic here (in french)

Outside Quebec's testimonials

Yoga and TM lead me to psychosis. A.M. May 15, 2010.

Panic Disorder problems after a decade of Yoga and Meditation. Yoga teacher, MBA, Singapore. 28th January 2010.

Outside Quebec's testimonails from other websites

Testimonial from Ex-Yoga Teacher. Jonna Sutherland. Wednesday, June 14, 2006.

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"De patiënt aan het woord : Kundalini en geestesziekte".
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Interview with Marc Germain Luke Ford, an Orthodox Jew, which began kundalini yoga. Is this a cult?

Danger of Yoga practicing toward Christians ?!! MDM Shon Choy Poh, a former yoga teacher, urges us not to get involved in yoga. July 1, 2009. Dicussions on a blog

Joe Kellett. Transcendantal meditation: Dissociative bliss becomes addictive Edmonton Sun, Canada. april 17, 2006.

The Truth About Yoga. Holly Vicente Robaina. Today’s Christian Woman. March/April 2005, Vol. 27, No. 2, Page 40. Present the story of Christian speaker/author Laurette Willis.

TM-EX Newsletters, 1990 à 1994. minet.org.

Mike Shreve. An ex kundalini yoga and meditation teacher in four Florida Universities. (Yogi Bhajan). The truelight.net.

On Truelight.net

Janice Cleary. Yoga. The truelight.net. Terry Justison. Kriya Yoga (Paramahansa Yogananda). The truelight.net.

Kent Sullivan. Kriya Yoga (Paramahansa Yogananda). The truelight.net.

Michael Graham. The truelight.net. Ancien disciple de Swami Muktananda. Siddha Yoga (Swami Muktananda).

Brad Scott. Yoga Vedanta. The truelight.net.

Kai Drühl. The truelight.net. Ancien professeur de Méditation Transcendantale.

Deborah Shah. The truelight.net. A pratiqué la M.T. une quinzaine d'années.

Adrian Sober. Tai chi et de yoga. The truelight.net.

Vail Carruth's Story. The truelight.net. Ex TM teacher.

Her site : Living-Light.Net http://www.living-light.net/cms/ Her books : TM wants you. and Authentic Enlightenment

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Denaro, Anthony D. Counselor at Law. Twelve-page affidavit. Sea Cliff, New York, July 16, 1986. Former MIU legal counsel and professor of law and economics, and former MIU director of grants administration. He describes his encounter of widespread deception and fraud at MIU. A few quotations follow: Essentially the attitude and philosophy [at MIU] was, and, to my knowledge, is now: "anything goes". Scienter [knowledge of] was clearly present in the frauds, but was justified in the name of a higher ideology, which presumably means they can lie and commit perjury.(p3) The deceptions are systematic and planned. My personal and professional experience over the last twelve years [in the movement] convince me that the leadership and upper echelon, for a variety of reasons, ideological and economic, has systematically and willfully deceived the federal, state and local governments, private and public funding sources and agencies, the [MIU] students, and inter alia the general public about the nature, purpose and consequence of the TM-Sidhi and the SCI [Science of Creative Intelligence] programs.(p4)
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Death of a Guru. Testomony of Rabi Maharaj. CRI. (Amazoon.com)
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Panic Disorder problems after a decade of Yoga and Meditation. Yoga teacher. 28th January 2010.

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I happened to visit your website http://www.dangeryoga.com/ and read the victims' stories and thought of writing my own experience. I got a Panic Disorder problem after practicing Yoga and Meditation for a decade.

I am 32 years of age and I am from India-Bangalore. I started Yoga and meditation in the year June 1996 and I practiced for a decade. I did Hatha yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. I used to practice for an hour everyday. I used to teach yoga-Hatha yoga one/two classes in a day four times a week, but I stopped since October 2008.

I started my day by doing yoga asanas and pranayama for an hour, and meditated used to be/ at night for 1-2 hours everyday. First, I used to relax my whole body for 5-10 minutes, observe my breath. I used to practice meditation for 2-3 hours a day-sometimes in the morning, afternoon and night. I saw colours and I used to have OBE often.

I used to get uneasiness and nausea after practicing advanced Hatha yoga. Frequent and disturbing anxiety attacks and floating sensations were the first bad experiences I had after yoga practice. Three years ago, I realised that I used to feel really weak after meditation and was unable to comprehend why.

Since I was ignorant about the adverse effects of yoga and meditation, I continued practicing further.

Gradually, I started getting mild to extreme anxiety attacks after meditation/Yoga since March 08, and since Sep 08, I was completely off the track. With the medication also, I was not in the right track. I have been going through some weird stuff since October 2007 but never knew that things could get out of control.

The symptoms what I was experiencing were quite abnormal. According to doctors, it was panic disorder. Panic disorder has a series of intense episodes of extreme anxiety: like rapid heartbeat, perspiration, dizziness, dyspnea, trembling, uncontrollable fear, hyperventilation, hot/cold flashes, numbness, tingling sensation, electric shock like sensation, nausea, constriction on the spine, head and chest. I had these entire symptoms one after the other and it were quite painful and scary.

Gradually, I started developing so called "Agoraphobia" and it was one of the most horrible experiences I had to deal with. I couldn't even understand my own feelings many times. It was like a terrible swing. Many times, I felt like a robot and felt like as if I was weightless. Sometimes, I thought of ending my life because I couldn't do my day to day activities.

I wanted to be left alone many times after this episode. I feel as if I am isolated from people and want to be with the nature-like gardening, rain, water and walking on the grass early morning. Many times, I felt and sensed that I could understand what the other person was thinking. My ears and my smell were very sharp until medical intervention.

Almost all the time, I could feel and hear that someone within me was guiding me and used to intervene when things were not right for me. Few times, I used to ignore and many times, I used to listen. This voice was loud few times before my episode started. But, I ignored it completely because I couldn't comprehend. I did meet up with few people who understood the problem but they failed to give me any guidance.

Views of yoga teachers

According to yoga books, it was so called "Kundalini awakening". I was unsure what is the problem? These were on a regular basis, sometimes daily or three times in a week, since Jan 08 and lasted as long as half an hour to an hour or until medical intervention (Alprazolam 0.5 mg to 1mg).

Even my teachers weren't anticipating the adverse effects. They often used to say that these spiritual practices don't have any bad effects and failed to give me any scientific answers many times. I spoke to many yoga practitioners and the answer was "Yoga and meditation is linked to pure consciousness and don't have adverse effects". However, all these practitioners failed to answer what is consciousness. They mesmerized the mass and people believed in them.

Last to last year, I met up with 15 different yoga teachers and meditation teachers. Yoga teachers, back in India-Bangalore, didn't even know and the irony was many of them were not practicing Yoga Asana/meditation regularly. They knew the theory quite well but they couldn't understand the changes Yoga could do to someone.

The doctors and treatment

In between, the doctors I consulted in India did their best, but also imposed that these horrible and scary symptoms were created by my imagination. This statement broke me emotionally and physically. I could never ever imagine these scary symptoms in my life. Extensive health check-ups with MRI body scan were done in Bangalore-India. The reports were normal.

Infact, I consulted 12 different doctors in Bangalore and Delhi. One of the doctors in India, prescribed Revotril, Etizolam and the other doctor changed the medicine and prescribed Sertaline HCL (generic form of Zoloft) and Anxit (Xanax Family). Sertaline HCL made me go through hell, rather than stabilizing my body rhythm. I couldn't even stop Sertaline HCL (Generic form of Zoloft) since the medicine had terrible withdrawal symptoms. Doctors in India couldn't understand why it was happening and why I was unable to do Yoga, meditation or any form of exercise: walking/jogging, which I used to do it for many years.

I met the other doctors on 28th June 2009 and then laser acupuncture (including needle) with acupressure therapy started on 12th August 2009. Oxygen consumption was recorded in each every session. Tapering off from Sertaline HCL 125 mg to 100mg to 75 mg to 50 mg, then to 6mg was a big time nightmare. I started getting tremors and abdominal cramps. Luckily, ZOLOFT is tapering and I am also having terrible withdrawal symptoms. Slowly, I am stabilizing but I still have a long way to go.

My condition now

Indeed, it is my privileged to meet few doctors and (some) acupuncture therapy management group, here in Singapore. Never imagined that they could change my life in a better way, if not the same old one. The disorder had created a havoc in my life and they made me see the sunshine after a long terrible darkness.I am thankful to doctors and I am seeing the slow gradual changes in myself. My body is stabilizing slowly and I am able to connect my body and soul a bit, though not the same old me. For time being, I am advised to go for walking (mild to moderate brisk walking) for an hour or less. No yoga, meditation, jogging, aerobics.
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Still, I get the floating sensation and the sinking feeling. My ears become sharp I am unsure what is the problem because doctors here in Singapore feel that the symptoms are very abnormal as compared to others who have Panic disorder. Generally, they recommend this kind of Panic disorder patient to join yoga/meditation classes.

I don't feel the same old me. I have lost faith in all the things, lost being motivated and inspired. I can feel any body sensation that arises within my body, be it dull muscle cramp or anything and this disturbs me a lot, many times.

I can't sleep on my back, which I used to do. This particular position takes me to trance state and I feel so tired after coming out. This is involuntary meditation as confirmed by Singaporean doctors. I can't do any yoga/meditation/aerobics/jogging but brisk walking in the nature is something which I am very comfortable doing.

I can't go to any room which is absolute silence because I get involuntary meditation symptoms like breath going down, body becoming numb and only my mind becoming sharp. So I carry a mobile that has audio channel facility/upload few songs. No classical ones. Indeed, I am unable to listen to any Indian Classical/Raga. To be honest any Classical music, be it Chinese/Japanese, I get the same symptoms.

I suffered, but no one could understand, except my husband. He broke down a couple of times seeing my condition. I was unable to see the horrible pains in his eyes and I tried my best to go through the symptoms, without informing him sometimes. My husband is trying his best of best to give me the right treatment/meet the right person who can understand and guide me.

For time being, I quit my job.
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Anonyme

Contact us

2009-02-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

Email: dangeryoga@yahoo.fr
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