Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM)

A new programme called SATYAM-“Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation” has been launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology to strengthen research in the areas of yoga and meditation.

Main objective of the programme is to harness knowledge obtained in academic institutions and other related agencies for finding Science & Technology -led solutions that would enable the government to cope with stress and strain associated with fast changing social, economic, environmental and professional circumstances.
The programme will encourage research in two major thematic areas, namely, investigations on the effect of Yoga and meditation on physical and mental health and investigations on the effect of Yoga & meditation on the body, brain and mind in terms of basic processes occurring therein.

Research under SATYAM will seek to identify various issues and challenges related to human well-being and address them. Given the ever increasing prevalence of physical and mental health problems, the holistic approach of Yoga and meditation is believed to have the potential to find beneficial treatment that is relatively safer and more cost-effective.

Yoga and meditation, which trigger the body’s relaxation response and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, seem to prevent hospital visits due to stress-related health problems, which account for between 75 and 90 percent of all doctor’s visits.

More research is needed to confirm these results and demonstrate this effect in other settings. But for now, the findings offer reason to be optimistic about mindfulness as a low-cost, low-risk intervention for improving individual health and reducing public spending on health care.