Yoga Can Prevent Onset Of Diseases

Interview: Dr Rima Dada, professor, lab for molecular reproduction and genetics, department of anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences

- ANIRUDHA KARINDALAM

Q/ What is the aim of your studies at AIIMS?

A/ I have been working on the impact of yoga in complex lifestyle diseases since 2008, that is yoga as a mind-body energy medicine that targets the body as a whole. For example, depression, which is a disease of the mind, affects every cell of the body. People with depression have high stress levels and they tend to age faster. Similarly, complex lifestyle diseases are associated with co-morbid depression. We are working on the impact of yoga on sperm genome and sperm epigenome, and how it affects the health of future generations. It is proven from our study that yoga improves both nuclear and mitochondrial integrity and has positive impact on nuclear DNA (from both parents) and mitochondrial DNA (from the mother). Our studies on the impact of yoga on sperm genome are the first in the world.

Q/ How many participants have been included in the study?

A/ We are working on yoga and its impact on various diseases for the last 15 years. Since 2008, we have had more than 200 patients of glaucoma, more than 400 patients of unexplained male infertility, 150 patients of arthritis, 200 patients of depression, 120 patients of idiopathic recurrent spontaneous miscarriages and 45 patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Q/ Can yoga be absorbed into integrative medicine to prevent diseases?