Yogis, Bears, Seals and Babies

At first glance it seems a bit curious that an Alaskan physiologist would travel to India to measure the oxygen intake of a meditating Yogi. But it turns out that Yogis have much in common with many Alaskan mammals and also human babies during the birth process.

Measurements by the University of Alaska's Dr. Robert Elsner, who usually studies diving seals, have shown that the oxygen intake of a Yoga practitioner in meditation can go as low as half that required to sustain normal life. This is quite a feat, though the lowering of metabolic rate is an old trick for hibernating mammals such as black bear and squirrels. The smaller hibernating animals can voluntarily reduce their metabolic rate (oxygen intake) to less than 1/100 of the normal rate and, without harm, drop their body temperature to near the freezing point.

Seals and other diving mammals similarly modify their own metabolic rates so that they can stay under water for many minutes. The mechanism employed involves shunting to the brain and critical organs what oxygen carrying blood is available and temporarily depriving other tissues.

All this has much relevance to the human fetus as well. Like all mammal fetuses, the human baby has a one-time-only ability to minimize the likelihood of brain damage or death from oxygen deprivation at birth. This special ability is then lost, but seals, whales, walruses and apparently Yogis learn how to regain it at will.

Dr. Elsner is hopeful of continuing his interesting studies of Yogis, perhaps by bringing one or more to this country where particularly complex measurements can be made.

So while the teaming-up of modern medical research practice and ancient Yoga lore might seem far out, reducing human birth defects caused by oxygen deprivation is the promise.