Psicóloga / Este estudio busca conocer y describir la experiencia de la práctica de Kundalini yoga en mujeres diagnosticadas con Anorexia Nerviosa y Bulimia Nerviosa respecto de los posibles efectos en su autoestima. Se realizó una intervención de ocho clases de Kundalini yoga para una muestra de nueve participantes. Se utilizó un diseño descriptivo de carácter cualitativo, basado en la Grounded Theory (Glaser y Strauss, 1967), utilizando entrevistas semiestructuradas y autoreportes escritos. Además la información fue complementada con un instrumento cuantitativo, la Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg (Rosenberg, 1965) aplicada al inicio y al término del taller. El análisis cuantitativo de los datos se realizó mediante dos pruebas no paramétricas, la prueba del signo T para muestras pareadas y la prueba de Mann Whitney para muestras independientes. Los principales resultados y conclusiones señalan que las participantes percibieron un cambio beneficioso en su autoestima, traducido como un fortalecimiento de ésta. Además se encontraron una serie de elementos asociados al concepto de autoestima y que estarían relacionados al cambio experimentado. Asimismo, los resultados cuantitativos muestran un aumento significativo en la autoestima de las participantes luego de la intervención. Como conclusión, se consideran relevantes los beneficios a partir de la práctica de Kundalini yoga, así como permite cuestionar la relevancia de incluir esta intervención dentro del tratamiento multidisciplinario de estas patologías

Trabajo de Investigación Requisito para optar al Título de Cirujano Dentista / Introducción: RESUMEN El estrés se define como un conjunto de respuestas fisiológicas desencadenadas frente a una demanda real o percibida del ambiente, ésta respuesta, está formada por el eje Hipotálamo-Hipófisis-Adrenal y la rama simpática del Sistema Nervioso Autónomo. En los últimos años ha existido un auge en la aplicación de técnicas orientales, como tratamiento alternativo o complementario, a las terapias convencionales, entre ellos el Kundalini Yoga juega un rol importante para combatir los síntomas y consecuencia del estrés. Recientemente la práctica de yoga se ha masificado en nuestro país sin que existan, hasta el momento, estudios de tipo científico que puedan avalar sus beneficios en la población local. El objetivo de este estudio, es medir, de modo cuantitativo, las niveles de IgA secretora salival a modo de evaluar un posible cambio a nivel de la inmunidad oral de las personas practicantes de Kundalini Yoga. Material y métodos: Se reclutaron como grupo estudio los asistentes a las clases de Kundalini Yoga en la facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Chile. El mismo número de personas no practicantes de yoga se reclutó como grupo control. Se incluyeron individuos sistémicamente sanos de ambos sexos entre 18 y 45 años de edad, que asistieran por lo menos al 50% de las clases durante 3 meses para el grupo estudio; se excluyeron del estudio quienes padecían trastornos de ansiedad o estrés diagnosticado o estuvieran en tratamiento con corticoides, también aquellos con enfermedades bucales infecciosas. Las muestras de saliva fueron recolectadas entre las 12:30 - 14:00 hrs para ambos grupos, y fueron analizadas utilizando kits comerciales de ensayo por inmunoabsorción ligado a enzimas (ELISA) para IgA. El análisis de datos pre y post tratamiento se realizó mediante el test t pareado o Wilcoxon dependiendo de la distribución de los datos. Para comparar los datos basales y longitudinales de los parámetros en estudio entre el grupo estudio y control se utilizó test t no pareado o test de Mann-Whitney. Se consideró significancia estadística si p < 0,05. Resultados: Al evaluar el efecto inmediato de una clase de yoga en el grupo estudio, se evidenció un aumento no significativo de IgA tanto en la primera medición como en la segunda. Los niveles longitudinales de IgA bajaron significativamente en el grupo estudio y no significativamente en el control, sin embargo, la concentración post intervención es mayor en el grupo estudio, siendo esta diferencia no es estadísticamente significativa. Conclusión: El practicar Kundalini Yoga provoca un aumento inmediato, no significativo, y una disminución significativa longitudinal en los niveles de IgA secretora oral en el grupo estudio. / Adscrito a Proyecto FIOUCH 13-012.

Within the last 15 years a large number of empirical investigations have explored the psychotherapeutic applications of meditative techniques. This research expands upon previous efforts in this area by comparing Kundalini Yoga with Progressive Muscle Relaxation, an attention-placebo control, and a no-treatment control on measures of anxiety (STAI Trait Form), personality development (Locus of Control Scale), and drug consumption. A total of 47 undergraduate student volunteers were randomly assigned to the four treatment conditions. Following a 2-week baseline phase to determine pretreatment drug consumption, subjects began a 6-week treatment phase during which time they attended two classes each week. Throughout the treatment phase subjects maintained detailed drug consumption diaries. Following this treatment phase, all subjects were readministered the aforementioned tests and questionnaires. Without exception, the research failed to find any significant treatment effects attributable to the practice of Kundalini Yoga. Moreover, none of the experimental treatment groups studied here displayed treatment gains over and above a no-treatment control group. There are at least two ways to account for this lack of significant differences. On the one hand, one could assert that the treatment groups were somehow impotent and incapable of effecting change any better than the nonspecific treatment factors working for the no-treatment group; or on the other hand, one could assert that the treatment groups were indeed therapeutic, but not significantly due to too brief of an intervention phase, and/or due to the highly variable treatment response of a nonpredisposed subject pool.

The focus of this thesis is to explore “the inner spiritual architecture” (prāṇa, nāḍī, cakra) through the lens of the pañcamayakośa model concerning raising kuṇḍalinī. We will discuss how the components of the “spiritual architecture” are directly influenced by four select techniques (mula bandhā uḍḍīyāna bandhā, jālandhara bandhā, and mahabandā). These are known as bandhās/mudras, which are specific to The Medieval Transformation for raising kuṇḍalinī. Our focus will explore the mechanics of the bandhās and the recorded, effects. The thesis’s secondary focus is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Under the traditional lens of the pañcamayakośa model, a comparison will be made between the movement of CSF and the recorded movement kuṇḍalinī when engaging mula bandhā uḍḍīyāna bandhā, jālandhara bandhā, and mahabandā. We will also consider the benefits associated with well-regulated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and compare them to the traditional benefits gained with the practice of raising kuṇḍalinī. Finally, our discussion will shift to parallels between a negative kuṇḍalinī experience and irregular CSF flow and an anecdotal account of irregular CSF flow. The conclusion will show how understanding the philosophy and techniques of raising kundalini under the lens of the pañcamayakośa model can provide unique insights regarding function, flow and manipulation of CSF health.

This thesis approaches the connection of the experience of sound/music and the experience of religion. The investigation applies a methodology of lens analysis, using the religious and mystical theories of Rudolf Otto and William James, to the case-study of Mantric chanting in a contemporary diasporic, orthopractic tradition of Sikh mysticism--3HO Kundalini Yoga. It is concluded that the experiences of sound/music and of religion are connected insofar as they are intrinsically corporeal experiences that exhibit a paradoxical immersive transcendence; Immersive because of how inescapably corporeally based they are, and yet transcendent because of how they can transport one’s consciousness to states of knowing, feeling, and understanding that are camouflaged from ordinary (non-musical, non-religious) mundane corporeal experiences.

Antalet stress-relaterade diagnoser ökar i samhället samtidigt som fler personer söker hjälp för stress-relaterade symptom inom primärvården. Primärvården erbjuder olika behandlingsformer för stress-relaterad problematik, bland annat kundaliniyoga. Syftet med studien var att utforska hur kundaliniyoga utövad i en avgiftsfri och öppen grupp inom primärvården påverkade deltagarna. Studien grundades på ett bekvämlighetsurval av 5 respondenter. Respondenterna definierade sig som kvinnor mellan 25 och 85 år och hade olika erfarenheter av depression, ångest, oro och annan stress-relaterad problematik. Data om respondenternas upplevelser samlades in via halvstrukturerade intervjuer och analyserades utifrån den tematiska analysmetoden the Constant Comparative Method. Respondenterna upplevde positiva fysiska, mentala, emotionella, interpersonella samt andliga effekter. Kundaliniyogan fyllde ett flertal avgörande funktioner i respondenternas liv och hade stor betydelse för deras fysiska och mentala välmående. Upplevelsen av att ha hittat rätt träningsmetod och sammanhang samt yttre omständigheter så som kundaliniyogalärare och avgiftsfrihet visade sig vara av stor betydelse för respondenternas upplevelser. Kundaliniyogan upplevdes vara effektiv vad gäller att reducera stress-relaterade symptom och upplevdes generera positiva effekter i flera områden av respondenternas liv. / The numbers of stress-related diagnoses in society are growing while an increased number of people with stress-related symptoms look for help within primary health care. The primary health care provides different treatments for stress-related problems, amongst others kundalini yoga. Hitherto no qualitative study has been made on how practitioners experience kundalini yoga, practised in a drop-in-class, free of charge within primary health care. The study is based on an convenience sample of 5 participants. The participants defined themselves as women aged 25-85 years having different experiences of depression, angst, anxiety and other stress-related symptoms. The participants' responses were collected by the use of semi-structured interviews and analysed using the Constant Comparative Method. The participants expressed positive physical, mental, emotional, interpersonal and spiritual effects. The kundalini yoga fulfilled several crucial purposes in the lives of the participants and was of great importance for their physical and mental well-being. The sense of finding the right context and practice as well as external circumstances such as the kundalini yoga teacher and the fact that the yoga was free of charge played an important role in how the participants experienced the kundalini yoga. The participants perceived kundalini yoga as effective in reducing stress-related symptoms and in generating positive effects in a variety of areas of life.

Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th (Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology)

Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th (Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology)

Spirituality is a word in frequent use in contemporary society. In a broad sense it refers to the 'raison d'etre' of our existence, the meaning and values to which we ascribe. Everyone embodies a spirituality in this wider sense, whether it be nihilistic, materialistic, humanistic or religious. The present study evaluates the phenomenon of the Toronto Blessing in the light of spirituality in general and Christian spirituality in particular. By means of a broadly-based phenomenological methodology, the manifestations accompanying the Toronto Blessing are evaluated firstly, with respect to the Bible; secondly, with respect to the Hindu experience of 'Kundalini awakening'; and thirdly, in terms of neuroscience and certain psychological processes, such as hypnosis, mass hysteria, and the role of body and mind in creating spiritual experiences. Although Charismatics claim that the Toronto Blessing has a sound biblical foundation, no evidence to support this claim has been found. However, striking similarities are found between the manifestations of the Toronto Blessing and the techniques used in the 'Kundalini awakening' for the transference of energy. Finally, the major findings of this study support the conclusion that the Toronto Blessing is largely the result of psychological techniques. The possibility of Godly intervention is not totally excluded, but caution is urged, so as to be aware of extraneous factors that create similar manifestations. While it is agreed that the Toronto Blessing can be seen as an expression of spirituality in a broad sense, nevertheless it cannot be viewed as an expression of Christian spirituality in the Charismatic Movement. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Christian Spirituality)

Spirituality is a word in frequent use in contemporary society. In a broad sense it refers to the 'raison d'etre' of our existence, the meaning and values to which we ascribe. Everyone embodies a spirituality in this wider sense, whether it be nihilistic, materialistic, humanistic or religious. The present study evaluates the phenomenon of the Toronto Blessing in the light of spirituality in general and Christian spirituality in particular. By means of a broadly-based phenomenological methodology, the manifestations accompanying the Toronto Blessing are evaluated firstly, with respect to the Bible; secondly, with respect to the Hindu experience of 'Kundalini awakening'; and thirdly, in terms of neuroscience and certain psychological processes, such as hypnosis, mass hysteria, and the role of body and mind in creating spiritual experiences. Although Charismatics claim that the Toronto Blessing has a sound biblical foundation, no evidence to support this claim has been found. However, striking similarities are found between the manifestations of the Toronto Blessing and the techniques used in the 'Kundalini awakening' for the transference of energy. Finally, the major findings of this study support the conclusion that the Toronto Blessing is largely the result of psychological techniques. The possibility of Godly intervention is not totally excluded, but caution is urged, so as to be aware of extraneous factors that create similar manifestations. While it is agreed that the Toronto Blessing can be seen as an expression of spirituality in a broad sense, nevertheless it cannot be viewed as an expression of Christian spirituality in the Charismatic Movement. / Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / D. Th. (Christian Spirituality)