This document discusses introducing yoga into medical education to help restore human values in medicine. It argues that recent issues highlight a lack of compassion and empathy in doctors. Yoga offers a holistic perspective on life that can refine personality and help attain one's potential. Its teachings of restraints and observances cultivate social and personal values. Practices like asana and pranayama help achieve physical, mental, and emotional fitness to better manage stress. This prevents "me first" attitudes and helps doctors serve with non-attachment. Empathy is key, as being at peace allows better service to others. Integrating yoga's eight components in medical education can foster compassion and selfless service, moving from "I" to an inclusive

1. RESTORING HUMAN VALUES
IN MEDICINE: ROLE OF YOGA
Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani1
& Madanmohan2
1
Deputy Director CYTER and 2
Director CYTER & Head
Dept of Physiology MGMC & RI, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth,
Pondicherry, India.

2. SRI BALAJI VIDYAPEETH
(Deemed University Accredited with “A” Grade by NAAC)
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education
and Research (CYTER)
Salutogenesis, our focus!

4. Introduction
• Recent developments showcased through social
media highlight a lack of human values in modern
medical professionals.
• Compassion, empathy and a sincere desire to relieve
suffering are found lacking and this seemingly
becomes even rarer as qualifications increase.
• Kidney rackets, unnecessary surgeries, laboratory
referral commissions and inflated bills are commonly
bemoaned.
• Recently medical students in Chennai were found
throwing a poor dog off their rooftop in glee.

7. Why yoga?
• Yoga, an ancient cultural heritage of India is
spreading rapidly; practiced by millions globally.
• Offers a broader perspective of life and refines all
round personality (purna purusha)
• Enables the attainment of inherent potential of each
individual in a holistic manner.
• Yoga is not just a system of exercise but is a way of
life, an attitude and a conscious lifestyle.
• A Yogi is just a good human being.
• Shouldn’t our doctors be good human beings?

9. Why yoga? .................. Contd
• Stresses importance of social and personal values
– Yama (restraints of subhuman tendencies such as
violence, stealing and greed etc), and
– Niyama (humane observances: cleanliness,
contentment, self-introspection & discipline).
• Inculcation of these universal values in medical
students can help them be more humane in their life
and profession.
• Provides a contextual purpose for life and service.

11. Suggested mechanisms
• Psycho-physical techniques of Yoga such as asana,
pranayama, mudra, dharana and dhyana enable
attainment of physical, mental and emotional fitness.
• Skilful & efficient management of stressors through
induction of relaxation response.
• A broader worldview enables doctors to fulfil their
responsibility (dharma) in the spirit of nishkama
karma (non-attachment to results of one’s actions).
• This prevents unhealthy “Me first”, “Make the most
money”, “Who cares as long as I am safe” type of
attitudes from developing in medical professionals.

12. Empathy is the key!

13. Empathy is the key!
• A healthy connection with our inner self (antaratma)
creates a cheerful, strong and compassionate
professional; empathetic towards the suffering.
• We must remember:
– When we are at peace, at ease with ourselves; we
can serve others better.
– By serving others, we serve ourselves too.
– The more we give, the more we receive.
– We thus become pure tools of the divine.
We thus self actualize ourselves.

14. Integrating Yoga in
Medical Curriculum
Prof Madanmohan
MBBS, MD, MSc, DSc (Yoga)
• Prof and Head, Physiology,
MGMC&RI & Director CYTER,
Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth
• Former Director-Professor &
Director ACYTER, JIPMER
• Yoga for Medicos since 1977
Integrating Yoga in mainstream medicine has been his life
mission

15. JIPMER 2008JIPMER 2008

16. SBV 2013-15SBV 2013-15

17. SBV 2016SBV 2016

18. In conclusion
• Introduction of Yoga as a holistic way of life with its
ashta anga (eight components) in medical education
can inculcate a compassionate sense of karuna and
seva (selfless service) towards our human brethren.
• Even illness becomes wellness when we consciously
move from the limited sense of “I” to a broader
inclusive “WE"
• This can motivate young doctors to be vehicles of
change thus restoring once again the much extolled
nobility of our medical profession.

19. Accredited with ‘AA’ grade by NAAC