by Vijay Kumar Sharma, Apeksha Niraula, Eans Tara Tuladhar, Raju Kumar Dubey, Aseem Bhattarai, Mithileshwer Raut, Nikita Kharal, Anuradha Kadel, Srijana Sapkota, Prakash Pokhrel, Namrata Sharma, first published: 24 July 2024

ABSTRACT

Context

Meditation and related relaxation techniques are good means of alleviating stress and maintaining good health. Osho dynamic meditation decreases several psychopathological variables such as anxious-depressive syndrome, aggressive behaviors, and depression which is practiced in Nepal and all over the world. Various studies have shown alteration in different hormone levels due to meditation by strengthening adaptive mechanisms.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Osho meditation on serum hormonal levels in pre- and postmeditation participants.

Methods

A pre–post study was conducted among 70 healthy volunteers (42 male and 28 female) where various types of Osho dynamic meditation techniques were incorporated together to understand their combined effects on serum hormone levels in participants attending the 7 days meditation camp. Serum hormones such as cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), testosterone, and growth hormone were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay.

Results

Out of 70 participants, 68 participants (97%) had subjective opinion of Osho dynamic meditation being effective in alleviating stress, depression, and anger. Also, there was a significant decline in body weight and body mass index in both male and female populations after a strict vegetarian diet and meditation. Likewise, a significant rise in the level of estrogen (p < 0.001), progesterone (p < 0.001), growth hormone (p < 0.001), testosterone (p = 0.002), and fT3 (p = 0.049) in postmeditation male participants indicates the importance of Osho dynamic meditation on elevating sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone as well as fT3, and growth hormones among Osho meditation practicing participants.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest significant changes in the hormonal levels and improvement in stress and depression in participants undergoing Osho meditation.

1 Introduction

Meditation practices are techniques that encourage and develop concentration, emotional positivity, clarity, and the cultivation of awareness [1]. Meditation has different forms like transcendental, mindfulness, heartfulness, traditional Buddhist, dynamic, spiritual, focused, mantra, and visualization [2]. Among all, dynamic meditation is one of the revolutionary meditation techniques designed by Osho [3]. Osho (11 December 1931–19 January 1990) pioneered Osho dynamic meditation practices in 1970 that aim to relieve stress and promote inner calm and relaxation in everyday life. Since modern life is replete with hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands which induce stressful situations, chaotic methods are required to release the accumulated stresses of mind and body. Osho dynamic meditation is a method that relaxes the mind via physical exercise and activity, thereby reducing stress. Osho dynamic meditation is called as the chaotic method because in this meditation chaos is expressed (dynamic movement/activity) before being relaxed (meditation/inactivity) [3].

Different forms of meditation result in distinct physiological and biochemical changes within the human body. Transcendental meditation (TM) results in hypometabolic changes such as decreased O2 consumption, CO2 elimination, respiratory rate, arterial blood pH, and blood lactate as well as increased intensity of the activity of slow alpha and theta waves in the electroencephalogram [4]. Meditation raises sympathetic signals to keep the body focused and results in the secretion of brain chemicals such as gamma amino butyric acid, serotonin, and melatonin as well as reduced secretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine which are associated with biological response to fear [5]. Mindfulness meditation promotes the regulation of immune systems by decreasing proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-8, and activates the antioxidant system (increasing glutathione levels) [6]. A significant reduction in several clinical variables such as anxious-depressive syndrome, depression, and serum cortisol level which is frequently referred to as “stress hormone” is possible via Osho dynamic meditation and TM [3, 5, 7, 8]. However, the biochemical and physiological basis of other Osho meditation techniques has not been studied adequately.

Most studies have focused on the effects of meditation practice on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis as alteration of its function results in decreased serum cortisol, growth hormone, and free tri-iodothyronine (fT3) level, [9] with comparatively little attention paid to other parts of the endocrine system. We have evaluated the serum levels of cortisol, growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), fT3, free thyroxine (fT4) along with testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol in pre- and postmeditation participants attending the Osho meditation camp to determine the effect of it on all of the above-mentioned serum hormonal levels. Thus, this research intends to determine the physiological basis of meditation and implement it to improve mental and physical well-being and provide scientific evidence on whether meditation influences hormonal levels or not.

2 Materials and Methods

2.1 Subjects and Research Design

We included 70 healthy volunteers (42 male and 28 female) attending a 7-day Osho dynamic meditation camp (Figure 1). They were screened through the use of health questionnaires and a preliminary medical examination. The inclusion criteria included healthy individuals between 21 and 54 years of age, not consuming any medicine, had no history of smoking, or alcohol, had no previous experience with meditation (nonmeditators), and were able to participate for seven consecutive days, each day from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Only a proper vegetarian diet was allowed for 7 days. Individuals with any medical condition and complications including cardiac disorders, pregnancy, and those with any significant drug intake, smoking, or alcohol intake were excluded. Metabolic parameters such as blood pressure (BP), waist circumference (WC), weight, and BMI were recorded. Blood samples were collected on the first and seventh day of meditation before meditation at 6 a.m. The blood sample of the first day (baseline) was defined as “premeditation” while that of the seventh day as “postmeditation.”

Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee of the Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu (Ref. No.: 185(6-11)E2079/080. Written informed consent was taken from the participants involved. Participants were then explained about different types of meditations to be followed for 7 days each, that is,—first dynamic meditation; second pranayama and yoga, third no-mind meditation; fourth passive meditation; fifth kundalini meditation, and finally sandhya satsang. The correct way of doing each of the Osho meditations was demonstrated.

2.2 Different Types of Osho Meditation Under Dynamic Meditation

Osho dynamic meditation camp consists of six different activities based on different types of meditation as follows.

2.2.1 Osho Dynamic Meditation

Sixty-minute formatted meditation technique of five stages, the first of which is fast, deep, and chaotic breathing for 10 min, followed by 10 min of cathartic expression of whatever comes up like laughter, pain, tears, 10 min of jumping and shouting the word “hoo,” 15 min of silence, and finally celebrating with dance for the last 15 min [7].

2.2.2 Yoga and Pranayama

Yoga is a set of techniques, including body postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation [11]. This meditation is a 1-h meditation technique that consists of a very full inhalation of each deep breathing, through the nose and a deep, steady exhalation also, through the nose. Participants are instructed to inhale and exhale slowly as much as they can do.

2.2.3 Osho No-Mind Meditation

This meditation is a 2-h meditation technique that consists of 1 h of catharsis and gibberish in a standing position with eye closed, hand and leg free movement, and transferring mind to no-mind state followed by 1 h of silence.

2.2.4 Osho Chakra Sounds Meditation

This meditation uses vocal sounds made by the meditator to open and harmonize the chakras while bringing awareness to them. It lasts for 60 min and has two stages. The first stage lasts for 45 min—standing, sitting comfortably or lying down as per preference. Then the participants are allowed to breathe into the belly rather than the chest. The sounds should be made with the mouth open the whole time and the jaw loose and followed by silence for 15 min in the second stage.

2.2.5 Osho Kundalini Meditation

Osho Kundalini meditation is a 60-min formatted technique of four stages, the first three stages with music that has been composed under Osho’s direct guidance and the last one without music. In the first stage of 15 min—loose and flexible body, feeling energies, followed by a dance in the second stage of 15 min. The third stage lasts for 15 min with eyes closed in a sitting or standing position. The fourth stage lasts for 15 min without music—keeping eyes closed, lying down, and becoming still.

2.2.6 Osho Sandhya Satsang

This meditation uses speech made by the meditator to make the body comfortable for 15 min followed by 60 min of dance on various Osho-designed music. The last stage comprises 15 min of silence with eyes closed, lying down, and still.

2.3 Time Schedule of Osho Dynamic Meditation Camp

Participants followed the same routine daily for 7 days as follows: 7:30–8:30 a.m. dynamic meditation; 8:30–9:30 yoga and pranayama; 9:30–10:30 breakfast; 11:00–1:00 no-mind meditation; 1:30–2:30 lunch; 3:30–4:30 passive meditation; 5–6 kundalini meditation; 6:30–7:30 dinner; 8:00–9:30 sandhya satsang.

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