Stress

1
The Science of Stress And The Art of Managing
it By Vishu Hegde Vice President and Head of
Quality MindTree Consulting Vishu_hegde_at_mindtree.c
om Presented at Bangalore SPIN On 12th April,
2007

2
Background about the speaker

• Electronics Communication, Computer Science
  Engineer
• 20 years experience in the IT industry
• Visited 18 different countries gained some
  global insights
• Professional roles
• System Engineering Project Management on LCA
  Avionics (Military fighter aircraft)) at ADA
  (aeronautical Development Agency)
• Quality Professional at Motorola covering India,
  Singapore, Japan, Korea, China
• Quality professional and part of senior
  leadership team at MindTree
• Interests outside the profession
• Homeopathic practitioner, Physiology
  (neuroscience, endocrine system, respiratory
  circulatory mechanisms)
• Ancient Indian Wisdom Yoga, Pranayama,
  Meditation, Vedantha
• Modern Physics, Quantum Physics, Electro
  Magnetism
• Trekking, Mountaineering, Nature study,
  Photography, Gymnastics
• Classical music, playing Tabala, singing,
  painting

3
What is Stress?

• Stress is a state of Mind
• Stress is a mind-body reaction/response to a
  situation
• Fight or Flight instinct

4
Why Stress Happens?

• When a situation/condition is not Acceptable to
  us
• When we want to do/get something but are unable
• When ego is hurt (feedback, comments, criticism)
  
• When we loose something which we feel as
  important
• Stress is mostly due to
• Fear (of Future)
• Worry (about Past)
• And not so much due to Present Moment
• The Future depends on what is done to the
  Present - Gandhi
• It is always due to the perception of Mind
• Different people feel different stress levels
  for the same situations

5
What Happens when Stressed?

• Psychology of Stress Emotional impact
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Depression
• Anger
• Sadness
• Physiology of Stress
• Acidity
• Ulcers
• Heart ailments
• Blood Pressure
• Kidney problems
• Diabetes

6
Chain Reaction of Stress The Negative Spiral
7
Some Impacts of Sustained and Unmanaged Stress

• Brain
• Continues to operate in higher Beta state (15 to
  26 cycles per second of electrical impulses
  (EEG))
• Continues to trigger the rest of the body
  mechanism and create stress
• Blood Pressure remains high
• High blood pressures can lead to Heart failure,
  paralysis (due to breakdown of blood vessels in
  brain)
• Acidity, Ulcer and other digestive problems
• Diabetes
• Kidney problems due to overload on removing
  toxins from the body
• Reduces immunity and makes body susceptible to
  diseases
• .

8
Some More Impacts

• Human body mind are a highly complex and
  integrated system
• Each system impacts the other either positively
  or negatively
• Stress and Mind induced effects on the body are
  far more harmful than the external pollution
• Internal Toxins are far more harmful than
  external chemical/industrial pollution
• Human body has huge number of chemical factories
  approximately 6600 different chemicals are
  produced (scientists/doctors are discovering
  more)
• ISO 14000 needs significant change in the
  globalized knowledge era!

9
Why Allopathic Medicines and Stimulants are not
good for managing Stress

• Allopathic medicines directly add chemical to the
  body and interfere with the internal chemical
  factories
• E.g. Taking Antacids for Acidity neutralizes the
  acid in the stomach. Then body thinks that the
  acid is not sufficient and starts producing more.
• E.g. Anti-depressants suppress the ability of
  brain cells to generate electric impulses
• People taking such drugs for prolonged time
  become dull
• Stimulants like Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, Coco etc.
  temporarily trigger higher activities
• Subsequently body craves for more more
  stimulants

10
Then how to manage stress?

• Turn it into a Positive Spiral
• Break the negative cycle at each point
• Some amount of Stress is healthy it triggers
  and energizes the system

11
Managing Stress

• Root Cause Manage Mind
• Positive Thinking and Attitude
• So what? Whats the worst that can happen? Smile
  at the situation laugh at yourself
• Larger view of life
• Story of the Professor and the Jar
• Meditation
• Build capability to face stressful situations and
  reduce the impact of stress at physiological
  level
• Yoga
• Pranayama
• Healthy lifestyle and food habits
• Have multiple positive energy sources
• Hobbies, interests, active family social life
  along with professional life
• Time Management, Planning, Being Proactive
  Prepared
• Story of farmers servant who sleeps while wind
  blows
• Story of person with a lamp

12
What does Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation do at
Physiological level?...
13
What does Yoga do at Physiological level?

• Yogasanas exercise different parts of the body
• They combine with breathing
• They create flexibility and hollowness, lightness
  
• Postures Stretch hold, Compress hold
• Helps in flow of water, food, oxygen, electrical
  signals and flow of energy in the body
• They are Isometric exercises
• As against Isotonic exercises of aerobics, gym
  exercises which help to build muscles which
  reduce the flexibility become blockers over a
  period of time (aerobics are useful to exercise
  the heart)

14
What does Pranayama do at Physiological level?

• Increases absorption of oxygen into the
  hemoglobin by creating inhale pressure in lungs
  for osmosis
• E.g. Ujjai breath
• Increases the removal of carbon dioxide from the
  blood plasma by creating exhale pressure in lungs
  for osmosis
• E.g. Bastrika pranayam
• Increases oxidation and liberation of energy in
  every cell of the body
• Air filter analogy in automobiles
• Stimulates nerve tips in lungs which have
  connection to the brain area (hypothalamus) where
  Pituitary Gland is situated
• Pituitary Gland is the master gland in the
  endocrine system and has a strong influence on
  rest of the endocrine glands
• Breathing is the key voluntary AND involuntary
  function
• Clue (entry point) to explore the internal world
  what ancient Rishis discovered

15
What does Meditation do at Physiological level?

• Meditation
• Takes the brain to Alpha state electrical
  impulses of 8 to 14 cycles per second
• At deep meditation level (Samadhi state) brain
  goes to Theta state electrical impulses of 4 to
  7 cycles per second
• Leads to deep relaxation
• Sudarshana Kriya of Art of Living
• Takes the brain to higher beta state
• Then takes the brain to deep relaxation
• Thus exercises and expands the brain/mind
  capacity
• Mind rules the body
• Mind ? Nervous system ? Endocrine system ? rest
  of the body function

16
Importance of Endocrine System
Master gland Controls all other glands
Body rhythm
Metabolism
Immune system
Adrenalin heart rate, blood pressure
Insulin blood sugar, energy

• Enzymes produced by Endocrine glands influence
  every cell, organ and function of the body
• They regulate mood, growth, metabolism, tissue
  function, sexual reproductive processes

17
Chain Reaction of Managing Stress The Positive
Spiral
18
Clinical Research Results
Increased alertness and deeper relaxation of
mind
Reduced tension and stress

• Ref Art Of Living Research with AIIMS, NIMHANS

19
Clinical Research Results

• Improved immunity
• Increase in good cholesterol and decrease in bad
  cholesterol
• Decreased depression

20
Beyond Physiology The Energy System
21
Human Body as the Energy System

• Modern Science Medicine consider human body as
  merely electro-chemical, electro-mechanical and
  physical phenomena
• Ancient Indian Eastern Spiritual Sciences
  consider it as an Energy System
• Universal Cosmic Energy (everything is common at
  atomic level)
• Yoga union of body, mind and spirit
• Raja Yoga Chakras and Naadis
• Reiki (which means life force in Japanese
  Started by Dr. Mikao Usui a doctor and Buddhist
  monk during 1860s)
• Thai Chi, Acupressure, Acupuncture (originated
  in China)
• Homeopathy (Started by Dr. Hahnemann a doctor in
  Germany during 1800s)

22
Chakras Energy Centers
Chakras

• Chakras are situated near the key endocrine
  glands and nerve groups (plexus)
• Wireless connection to brain Connection to
  Cosmic universal energy

23
Chakras and Naadis Wireless Connection to Brain

• World seen through the 5 sensors (wired
  connection) is narrow band gross, inert, matter
  world
• World seen through Chakras Nadis (wireless
  connection) is broad band subtle, dynamic,
  energy world

24
Science of Homeopathy Medicine of Energy System

• Basic principle what causes disease cures the
  disease also when given in the potenticized form
• Homeopathic medicine preparation
• Potencization through the process of tritration
• Transfer of atomic vibrations to the base
  substance. Not even a single molecule of
  medicinal material will be present according to
  Avogadro number
• Curing principle
• Right medicine creates energy vibrations in the
  human system (resonance principle)
• This increases the energy level to improve the
  health conditions
• Typically causes initial aggravation and
  subsequently cures with oscillations
• Cures inside-out Mind ? Emotional level ?
  Physical level
• Mind Emotional symptoms are the key for
  diagnosis

25
So, to be Successful.
26
What is Success?

• The definition I liked most
• The measure of Success is the number of joyful
  smiles per day every day Shri Shri Ravishankar
• Life is full of choices The choices one makes
  determine ones life they are like cross-roads
• IQ lt EQ lt AQ lt SQ determine what choices one
  makes
• Life is 10 what happens and 90 how we react to
  it
• Manage Mind
• Healthy mind FOR a healthy body
• It is mind, and not body, that differentiates the
  leader from the rest
• Positive Energy is most fundamental to any Leader
• Mythology Shiva churn the ocean to get Amrita
  (immortalizing nectar) hold the poison but give
  out the nectar to others.

27
The Vicious Cycle

• People spend half of their life pursuing money as
  the highest priority and loose health in that
  process.
• In the remaining half they spend that money
  trying to regain the health

28
Make it a Virtuous Cycle

• Pursue health (mindbody) and knowledge
  (universal knowledge) then money fame will
  follow as a byproduct
• Caution This can not become an excuse for
  escapism
• Story of the praying villager

29
Dont believe me
But do not wait for proof

• Explore

Experiment
Experience

• Modern Science (Matter Science)
• Sees matter in life
• Proof first, then belief/trust comes
• Spiritual Science (Energy Science)
• Sees life in matter
• Belief/Trust first, then proof comes

30
Conclusion A personal prescription

• Practice Yoga Pranayama (and Meditation)
  everyday
• Life will change at the most fundamental level
• Art Of Living workshop is one of the best in my
  exploration
• Combines Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga (Service Jesus),
  Bhakti Yoga (Devotion Narada, Chaitanya), Jnana
  Yoga
• Practical for family social life, professional
  life and spiritual life
• Use Homeopathy for chronic or hereditary health
  problems to strengthen the positive spiral
• Spare Allopathic medicines/surgery for
  emergencies
• Become better individuals and better leaders

31
Some references

• On Homeopathy and Physiology
• The Science of Homeopathy by Dr. John Vikolthas
• Homeopathy Materia Medica by Dr. Boericke
• Dr Padmanabhan padrdha_at_satyam.net.in
• Human Anatomy Physiology by Dr. David Le Vay
• On Reiki
• Healing through Reiki by MK Gupta
• On Modern Science
• Scientific American Mind
• Modern Physics by Arthur Beiser

32
Some more references

• On Ancient Indian Wisdom
• Art Of Living www.artofliving.org
• www.lifepositive.com
• Vedantha literature from Ramakrishna Mission
• Celebrating Silence by Shri Shri Ravishankar
• Efficacy of Raja Yoga Shri Ramachandra Mission
• Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga
  Swami Vivekananda
• Patanjali Yoga Sutra
• At Behavioral level
• Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carneige
• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
• The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Robin Sharma
• You can win Shiv Khera
• Power of Positive Thinking and so on

33
Relish a Wholesome Holistic Life
Spiritual Life
YinYang the balance
Professional Life
Social Family Life
34
Safe Harbor Religion vs. Spiritualism

• Spiritualism is a true science, science of
  nature/universe it includes modern science
  beyond and is much more holistic than modern
  science. But unfortunately the rationales behind
  them are not fully understood (disconnected).
  When the SPIrit behind spiRITUAL is lost, only
  the rituals remain then it becomes religion,
  fanaticism.
• Truly, spiritualism starts where religion ends.
• Just for example, Sanskrit gets associated with
  Hindu religion. But Sanskrit is such a scientific
  language that every alphabet (sound) is designed
  to produce certain vibrations in the internal
  energy system of human beings (what I mentioned
  about in the Raja Yoga). If we observe each
  alphabet in Sanskrit from A, AA, E, EE to Ka,
  Kha, Ga, Gha, to Cha, Chha, Ja, Jha,.we can see
  that they begin from pit of the stomach
  (diaphragm) and come up to lip (like Pa, Pha, Ba,
  Bha, Ma). Then the words formed out of such
  alphabets like Hari produce different vibrations
  Ha produces vibrations in the naval region
  where Solar Plexus (certain nervous centers)
  exists and where endocrine glands like Adrenal
  and Pancreas exist Ri produces vibrations in
  hypothalamus where Pituitary and  Pineal glands
  exist. So, people were named as Hari and when
  people call them by the name Hari, they get
  benefited.
• This is just a small example. The ancient Indian
  (and Eastern) Wisdom had integrated everything
  (language, music, dance, culture, medicine,
  lifestyle) around that spiritual science which
  treats this entire universe (including the human
  beings) as energy systems. Those roots are lost.
  There is a great need and potential to bring them
  to the contemporary world (like whats happening
  for Yoga at a physical level) while pursuing the
  modern science/technology. This will be a great
  complementary and convergence approach.

35
Back up slides
36
Anatomy of Consciousness according to Yoga

• Human Consciousness perceives this world through
  10 faculties
• External 5 sensors
• Eyes (see), Ears (hear), Nose (smell), Tongue
  (taste), Skin (touch)
• Internal 5 faculties
• Mind, Intellect, Memory, Ego, Self
• Transcending all the sensors and the faculties
  and experiencing the Self is the true realization
  and aim of Yoga
• Experiencing the complete nature/universe
  broad band science

37

• Maslow's hierarchy of Needs

Service model in Ancient Wisdom

• Jnaana Daana (Donate Wisdom - Guru)
• Makes the person figure out the living
• Vidya Daana (Teacher)
• Teaches person how to live
• Jeeva Daana (Doctor give life)
• Anna Daana (Donate food/money)

Jnaana Daana is considered as the highest form of
Service