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The Science of Stress

And
The Art of Managing it


Vishu Hegde

Vice President, Quality,
MindTree Consulting

vishu_hegde@mindtree.com


Computer Society of India
Bangalore

28 Feb 2007
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Background about the speaker
Electronics & Communication, Computer Science Engineer
20 years experience in the IT industry
Visited 18 different countries some global experience
Professional roles:
System Engineering & Project Management on LCA Avionics at ADA
Quality Professional at Motorola covering India, Singapore, Japan, Korea,
China
Quality professional and senior leadership role 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
Classical music, playing Tabala, singing

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What is Stress?
Stress is a state of Mind

Stress is a mind-body reaction/response to a situation
To flight from/fight the situation
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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
It is always due to the perception of Mind
Different people feel different stress levels for the same situations

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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


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Chain Reaction of Stress: The Negative Spiral
Mind perceives threat
Triggers animal instinct
of fight or flight
Adrenalin increases
to prepare the body
Heart beat increases to
supply more food & oxygen
to body parts
Blood pressure
increases
Breathing becomes
fast & shallow
Metabolism
increases
Stomach readies for
processing more food
Acidity* increases
Overloaded Excretory Systems
to clear the toxin
Imbalanced Endocrine Systems
the chemical factories of
hormones, enzymes
Imbalanced Emotions
Fear, Anxiety, Anger, Depression*
Panic
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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
.
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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
ISO 14000 needs significant change in the globalized knowledge
era!
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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
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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


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Managing Stress
Root Cause: Manage Mind
Positive Thinking and Attitude
Larger view of life
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



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What does Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation do at Physiological
level?...
Yogasanas
Exercise different parts of the body
Combine with breathing
Postures: Stretch & hold, Compress & hold
Creates flexibility and hollowness, lightness
Helps in flow of water, food, oxygen, electrical signals and flow of
energy in the body
Isometric exercises
As against Isotonic exercises of aerobics, gym exercises which help to
build muscles which reduce the flexibility & become blockers over a
period

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What does Yoga, Pranayama, Meditation do at Physiological
level?...
Pranayama
E.g. Ujjai breath: Increases absorption of oxygen into the
hemoglobin by creating inhale pressure in lungs for osmosis
E.g. Bastrika pranayama: Increases the removal of carbon dioxide
from the blood plasma by creating exhale pressure in lungs for
osmosis
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 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
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What does Yoga, Pranayama, 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
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Importance of Endocrine System
Metabolism
Master gland
Controls all other glands
Adrenalin: heart rate,
blood pressure
Body rhythm
Insulin: blood sugar,
energy
Immune system
Enzymes produced by Endocrine glands influence every cell, organ and
function of the body
They regulate mood, growth, metabolism, tissue function, sexual &
reproductive processes
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Chain Reaction of Managing Stress: The Positive Spiral
Mind peaceful, joyful
Triggers hope, optimism,
Positive feelings
Adrenalin normal
to prepare the body
Heart beat normal to
supply normal food & oxygen
to body parts
Blood pressure
normal
Breathing becomes
slow & deep
Metabolism
normal
Stomach readies for
processing normal food
Acidity normal
Normal Excretory Systems
to clear the toxin
Balanced Endocrine Systems
the chemical factories of
hormones, enzymes
Balanced Emotions
Energetic, Enthusiastic, Positive.
Calm
Confident
Composed
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Clinical Research Results
Ref: Art Of Living Research with AIIMS, NIMHANS
Increased alertness and deeper relaxation
of mind
Reduced tension and stress
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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
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 are situated near the key endocrine glands and nerve groups (plexus)
Wireless connection to brain; Connection to Cosmic universal energy
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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
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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 increase 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
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So, to be Successful.
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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 < EQ < AQ < SQ : determine what choices one makes

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
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The Vicious Cycle
People spend half of their life in making money and loose health in
that process.
In the remaining half they spend that money trying to regain the
health
Priority
1) Pursue money
2) Pursue fame
Loose health Loose joy Less creative
Less Accomplishment
Less Recognition Less Money More stress on the priorities
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Make it a Virtuous Cycle
Pursue health (mind+body) and knowledge (universal
knowledge) then money & fame will follow as a byproduct
Priority
1) Pursue health
2) Pursue knowledge
More joy More creative
More Accomplishment
More Recognition More Money Continue stress on the priorities
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Dont believe me
Explore
Experiment
Experience
Modern Science (Matter Science) : Proof first, then belief/trust

Spiritual Science (Energy Science): Believe/trust first, then proof comes
But do not wait for proof
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Conclusion: The Simple Prescription
Practice Yoga & Pranayama (and Meditation) everyday*
Life will change at the most fundamental level
Art Of Living workshop is one of the best
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

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 padrdha@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



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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
Power of Postive Thinking and so on

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Imagination Action Joy