1. The Science of Stress And The Art of Managing it
Vishu Hegde
Vice President, Quality,
MindTree Consulting

2. 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

3. 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

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
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
Triggers animal instinct
of fight or flight
Adrenalin increases
to prepare the body
Mind perceives threat
Imbalanced Emotions
Fear, Anxiety, Anger, Depression*…
Panic
Heart beat increases to
supply more food & oxygen
to body parts
Breathing becomes
fast & shallow
Blood pressure
increases
Stomach readies for
processing more food
Acidity* increases
Metabolism
increases
Overloaded Excretory Systems
to clear the toxin *
Acidity : Antacids creates a negative spiral
Depression: lack of excitement leads to depression
Imbalanced Endocrine Systems
the chemical factories of
hormones, enzymes

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
ISO 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
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 …

12. 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

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

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

15. 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

16. Chain Reaction of Managing Stress: The Positive Spiral
Triggers hope, optimism,
Positive feelings
Adrenalin normal
to prepare the body
Mind peaceful, joyful
Balanced Emotions
Energetic, Enthusiastic, Positive…….
Calm
Confident
Composed
Heart beat normal to
supply normal food & oxygen
to body parts
Breathing becomes
slow & deep
Blood pressure
normal
Stomach readies for
processing normal food
Acidity normal
Metabolism
normal
Normal Excretory Systems
to clear the toxin *
Acidity : Antacids creates a negative spiral
Depression: lack of excitement leads to depression
Balanced Endocrine Systems
the chemical factories of
hormones, enzymes

17. Clinical Research Results…
Increased alertness and deeper relaxation
of mind
Reduced tension and stress
Ref: Art Of Living Research with AIIMS, NIMHANS

18. Clinical Research Results
Improved immunity
Increase in good cholesterol and decrease in bad cholesterol
Decreased depression

19. Beyond Physiology… The Energy System

20. 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)

21. Chakras: Energy Centers
Chakras are situated near the key endocrine glands and nerve groups (plexus)
Wireless connection to brain; Connection to Cosmic universal energy

22. 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

23. 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

24. So, to be “Successful”….

25. 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 one’s 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

26. More stress on the priorities
The Vicious Cycle
Priority
1) Pursue money
2) Pursue fame
Loose health
Loose joy
Less creative
More stress on the priorities
Less Accomplishment
Less Money
Less Recognition
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

27. Make it a Virtuous Cycle
Priority
1) Pursue health
2) Pursue knowledge
More joy
More creative
Continue stress on the priorities
More Accomplishment
More Money
More Recognition
Pursue health (mind+body) and knowledge (universal knowledge) then money & fame will follow as a byproduct

28. Don’t believe me… Explore Experiment Experience
… But do not wait for proof
Explore
Experiment
Experience
Modern Science (“Matter” Science) : Proof first, then belief/trust
Spiritual Science (“Energy” Science): Believe/trust first, then proof comes

29. 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
* How old are you? – blood changes in 28 days, mucus linings change in 3 days, brain cells do not change.

30. Some references… On Homeopathy and Physiology On Reiki
The Science of Homeopathy – by Dr. John Vikolthas
Homeopathy Materia Medica – by Dr. Boericke
Dr Padmanabhan
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

31. Some more references On Ancient Indian Wisdom At Behavioral level
Art Of Living
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

32. Imagination
Action
Joy