Transcript Stress - bangalorebadagas.org

The Science of Stress
And
The Art of Managing it
By Vishu Hegde
Vice President and Head of Quality
MindTree Consulting
[email protected]
Presented at
Bangalore SPIN
On 12th April, 2007
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Background about the speaker
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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
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 Interests outside the profession:
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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
What is Stress?
 Stress is a state of Mind
 Stress is a mind-body reaction/response to a situation
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Fight or Flight instinct
Why Stress Happens?
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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
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 “The
Future depends on what is done to the Present” - Gandhi
 It is always due to the perception of Mind
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Different people ‘feel’ different stress levels for the same situations
What Happens when Stressed?
 Psychology of Stress: Emotional impact
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Anxiety
Fear
Depression
Anger
Sadness
…
 Physiology of Stress
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Acidity
Ulcers
Heart ailments
Blood Pressure
Kidney problems
Diabetes
…
Chain Reaction of Stress: The Negative Spiral
Mind perceives threat
Triggers animal instinct
Adrenalin increases
of fight or flight
to prepare the body
Breathing becomes
Blood pressure
fast & shallow
increases
Heart beat increases to
supply more food & oxygen
to body parts
Panic
Metabolism
increases
Stomach readies for
processing more food
Acidity* increases
Imbalanced Emotions
Fear, Anxiety, Anger, Depression*…
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Overloaded Excretory Systems
to clear the toxin
Imbalanced Endocrine Systems
the chemical factories of
hormones, enzymes
Some Impacts of Sustained and Unmanaged
Stress
 Brain
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Continues to operate in higher Beta state (15 to 26 cycles per second of
electrical impulses (EEG))
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Continues to trigger the rest of the body mechanism and create stress
 Blood Pressure remains high
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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
 ….
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Some More Impacts
 Human body & mind are a highly complex and integrated
system
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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
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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)
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ISO 14000 needs significant change in the globalized knowledge
era!
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
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taking such drugs for prolonged time become dull
 Stimulants like Tobacco, Coffee, Tea, Coco etc. temporarily
trigger higher activities
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Subsequently body craves for more & more stimulants
Then how to manage stress?
 Turn it into a Positive Spiral
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Break the negative cycle at each point
 Some amount of Stress is healthy – it triggers and
energizes the system
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Managing Stress
 Root Cause: Manage Mind
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Positive Thinking and Attitude
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Larger view of life
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So what? What’s the worst that can happen? Smile at the situation; laugh at yourself
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
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 Healthy lifestyle and food habits
 Have multiple positive energy sources
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Hobbies, interests, active family & social life along with professional life…
 Time Management, Planning, Being Proactive & Prepared…
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…
Story of farmer’s servant who sleeps while wind blows
Story of person with a lamp
What does
Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation
do at
Physiological level?...
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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
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 They are Isometric exercises
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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)
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What does Pranayama do at Physiological level?
 Increases absorption of oxygen into the hemoglobin by creating inhale
pressure in lungs for osmosis
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E.g. Ujjai breath
 Increases the removal of carbon dioxide from the blood plasma by
creating exhale pressure in lungs for osmosis
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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
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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
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Clue (entry point) to explore the internal world – what ancient Rishi’s
discovered
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
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 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
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 Mind rules the body
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Mind  Nervous system  Endocrine system  rest of the body
function
Importance of Endocrine System
Master gland
Controls all other glands
Body rhythm
Metabolism
Immune system
Adrenalin: heart rate,
blood pressure
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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
Chain Reaction of Managing Stress: The Positive Spiral
Mind peaceful, joyful
Adrenalin normal
Triggers hope, optimism,
to prepare the body
Positive feelings
Breathing becomes
Blood pressure
slow & deep
normal
Heart beat normal to
supply normal food & oxygen
to body parts
Calm
Confident
Composed
Metabolism
normal
Stomach readies for
processing normal food
Acidity normal
Balanced Emotions
Energetic, Enthusiastic, Positive…….
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Normal Excretory Systems
to clear the toxin
Balanced Endocrine Systems
the chemical factories of
hormones, enzymes
Clinical Research Results…
Increased alertness and deeper relaxation
of mind
Ref: Art Of Living Research with AIIMS, NIMHANS
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Reduced tension and stress
Clinical Research Results
 Improved immunity
 Increase in good cholesterol and
decrease in bad cholesterol
 Decreased depression
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Beyond Physiology… The Energy System
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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)
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Chakras: Energy Centers
Chakras
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Chakras are situated near the key endocrine glands and nerve groups (plexus)
Wireless connection to brain; Connection to Cosmic universal energy
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
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band: subtle, dynamic, energy world
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
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 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
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Mind & Emotional symptoms are the key for diagnosis
So, to be “Successful”….
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What is “Success”?
 The definition I liked most:
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“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 one’s life –
they are like cross-roads
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IQ < EQ < AQ < SQ : determine what choices one makes
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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
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Positive Energy is most fundamental to any Leader
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Mythology: Shiva: churn the ocean to get Amrita (immortalizing nectar); hold
the poison but give out the nectar to others.
The Vicious Cycle
Priority
Loose health
Loose joy
Less creative
1) Pursue money
2) Pursue fame
Less Accomplishment
More stress on the priorities
Less Money
Less Recognition
 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
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Make it a Virtuous Cycle
Priority
More joy
More creative
1) Pursue health
2) Pursue knowledge
More Accomplishment
Continue stress on the priorities
More Money
More Recognition
 Pursue health (mind+body) and knowledge (universal knowledge)
then money & fame will follow as a byproduct
 Caution: This can not become an excuse for escapism
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Story of the praying villager
Don’t believe me…
… But do not wait for proof
Explore
Experiment
Experience
 Modern Science (“Matter” Science):
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Sees matter in life*
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Proof first, then belief/trust comes
 Spiritual Science (“Energy” Science):
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Sees life in matter*
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Belief/Trust first, then proof comes
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
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 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
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Spare Allopathic medicines/surgery for emergencies
 Become better individuals and better leaders
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Some references…
 On Homeopathy and Physiology
The Science of Homeopathy – by Dr. John Vikolthas
 Homeopathy Materia Medica – by Dr. Boericke
 Dr Padmanabhan [email protected]
 Human Anatomy & Physiology – by Dr. David Le Vay
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 On Reiki
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Healing through Reiki – by MK Gupta
 On Modern Science
Scientific American – Mind
 Modern Physics – by Arthur Beiser
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Some more references
 On Ancient Indian Wisdom
Art Of Living www.artofliving.org
 www.lifepositive.com
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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
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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
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You can win – Shiv Khera
 Power of Positive Thinking…… and so on
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Relish a Wholesome & Holistic Life
Spiritual Life
YinYang – the balance
Social
& Family
Life
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Professional
Life
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 what’s happening for Yoga at a physical level) while pursuing
the modern science/technology. This will be a great complementary and convergence
approach.
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Back up slides
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Anatomy of Consciousness according to Yoga
 Human Consciousness perceives this world through 10
faculties
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External : 5 sensors
 Eyes
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(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
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Experiencing the complete nature/universe – ‘broad band’ science
Maslow's hierarchy of Needs
Service model in Ancient Wisdom
 Jnaana Daana (Donate Wisdom - Guru)
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Makes the person figure out the living
 Vidya Daana (Teacher)
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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
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