Engineering Health: Introduction to Yoga and Physiology

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/engineering-health-yoga-physiology

Introduction

### Course Review and Recommendation: Engineering Health: Introduction to Yoga and Physiology **Course Overview** The course *Engineering Health: Introduction to Yoga and Physiology*, offered on Coursera, delves into the intricate relationship between yoga, various physiological systems, and overall health and wellness. Intended for yoga practitioners, teachers, medical professionals, and students, this course aims to foster a deeper understanding of how yoga and mindfulness can serve as therapeutic interventions—particularly when addressing chronic illnesses and long-term health management. Throughout the course, you will explore foundational physiological concepts alongside yoga practices designed to cultivate better health outcomes. The integration of scientific research with practical applications makes this course highly relevant and beneficial. **Syllabus Breakdown** The course is well-structured and divided into modules that comprehensively cover various physiological systems and their interactions with yoga practices: 1. **Introduction to the Course, Yoga and Physiology**: Sets the stage for understanding the intersection of yoga and body physiology. 2. **The Cell and Homeostasis**: Dives into cellular functions and energy production, stressing how yoga can help reduce cellular stress. 3. **Genetics**: Explores genetics basics and the impact of lifestyle choices—such as yoga—on gene expression and health. 4. **How to Read and Interpret the Research**: Provides essential skills for analyzing scientific literature, empowering students to engage critically with research findings. 5. **The Nervous System**: Discusses the components of the nervous system and how yoga can alleviate stress and back pain. 6. **The Respiratory System**: Focuses on the mechanics of breathing and how specific yoga techniques enhance respiratory health and reduce stress. 7. **The Cardiovascular System**: Introduces the heart and circulatory system, featuring expert insights into yoga's impacts on cardiovascular diseases. 8. **The Lymphatic and Immune Systems**: Provides an overview of these interconnected systems and highlights yoga practices to promote immune health. 9. **The Musculoskeletal System**: Details musculoskeletal health, with insights from orthopedic experts on yoga’s role in prevention and treatment. 10. **The Renal System**: Discusses the kidneys' functioning and promotes yoga exercises beneficial for kidney health. 11. **The Digestive System**: Examines digestive health and explores how movement can enhance digestion through yoga. 12. **The Endocrine and Reproductive Systems**: Covers hormone regulation and the influence of stress on these systems, with recommended yoga practices to promote hormonal balance. 13. **The Affect of Chronic Stress on Human Physiology**: Details how chronic stress affects bodily systems, integrating mindfulness and yoga techniques to combat stress. 14. **Summary**: Culminates with a practical yoga sequence that synthesizes the knowledge gained throughout the course, specifically designed to promote hypertension management. **Why You Should Enroll** This course is highly recommended for several reasons: - **Comprehensive Understanding**: It provides a thorough exploration of physiological systems, which is essential for anyone in healthcare, yoga instruction, or those simply interested in enhancing their health knowledge. - **Practical Application**: Each module combines theoretical aspects with yoga practices, allowing learners to apply their knowledge in a real-world context. - **Expert Insights**: Featuring interviews with experienced professionals enriches the learning experience and lends credibility to the content. - **Flexibility of Learning**: Being an online course, it allows for curriculum pacing that suits individual schedules, making it accessible to a wide audience. - **Holistic Approach**: This course bridges the gap between physical health and mental wellbeing, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness alongside physical practices. **Conclusion** In summary, *Engineering Health: Introduction to Yoga and Physiology* stands out as an enriching journey that greatly benefits practitioners and professionals alike. Whether you're a yoga enthusiast wanting to deepen your practice or a healthcare provider seeking alternative therapeutic modalities, this course is a valuable resource. I wholeheartedly recommend enrolling to discover how yoga and physiological understanding can forge a path towards improved health and wellness.

Syllabus

Introduction to the Course, Yoga and Physiology

The focus of this module is to provide a basic understanding to the workings of the trillions of cells that make up our body. The lecture provides an overview of the functioning components of the cell, energy production and signaling network of our cells. This gives us the ability to understand how cells work, and their purpose to understand cell stress and related pathologies. The yoga component of this module introduces the basics to the practice to allows us to begin building healthier cell programming and reducing cellular stress.

This module defines the basics of genetics in exploration of contributing factors to healthy chromosomes and genetic regulation. By explaining the role that stress can have on cells and chromosomal wellbeing, we provide a foundation for understanding how epigenetics can be affected by repetition and being to help to promote new regulatory factors.

In this module we break down a scientific article, so that we can better understand the components of a peer reviewed research paper. In understanding the sections of the paper, what they contribute to the scientific paper and discovery. In addition, the reader should be able to identify major conclusions and results from this research paper, and future studies.

In this module we will explore the basic components of the Nervous system from a cellular to a physiological level. Particularly, we will focus on the components of the nervous system that are aided by yoga and mindfulness modalities. The yoga aspect of the module will focus on supporting proper posture and minimizing back pain.

This module presents an overview of the respiratory system including both the molecular functioning as well as the overall mechanisms of breathing. In understanding how and why we breath, students will have a deeper understanding of the role that breathing has in stress reduction, physiological well being and overall health. The yoga component of this lesson will focus on different breathing techniques that can be utilized to optimize wellness.

The focus of this module is to provide a basic understanding of the cardiovascular system. The lecture provides an overview of the main components of the system, as well as the mechanisms behind muscle contraction. In order to understand associated pathologies, blood pressure is also highlighted in the class. The module features an interview with Dr. Marshall Hagins, who discusses the role that yoga and meditation can have on cardiovascular pathology such as hypertension. The yoga component of this module focuses on movement to increase circulation and increase your heart rate.

The focus of this module is to provide a basic understanding and introduction to the lymphatic and immune systems. The lecture provides an overview of the main components of the lymphatic system; vessels, glands and lymph components. In addition, an overview of the immune system focuses on the primary component. These two interconnected systems are highlighted in order to understand lymph circulation as well as pathologies, such as autoimmune diseases and inflammation. The yoga component of this module focuses on postures that have sweeping movement to increase lymphatic circulation, and ones that promote a calm and healthy immune system.

This module’s focus is to provide a basic understanding of the musculoskeletal system on both a physiological or macro level, as well as a micro level. In doing so, we will build an understanding of how yoga and meditation can help provide the foundation for a strong and health musculoskeletal system. In addition, this module features an interview with Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Seidenstein, who will provide insight into how yoga can help treat and prevent orthopedic injury.

The focus of this module is to provide a basic understanding and introduction to the renal system and highlight other excretory systems. The lecture provides an overview of the functioning components of the renal system, the nephrons. The ability to understand how nephrons work, and their purpose to understand pathologies, such as high blood pressure. The yoga component of this module focuses on forward and back bends that have the ability to promote kidney health.

This module focuses on the overall purpose and structure of the digestive system organs, and the role of their accessory organs in digestion. We will explore yoga practices that can aid in promoting healthy digestion through movement. In addition, an overview of some pathologies associated with the digestive system, and how yoga can help enhance treatment.

The focus of this module is to provide a basic understanding of the endocrine and the reproductive system. The lecture provides an overview of the main components of the endocrine system; hormones, glands and tissues/organs that are affected. In order to understand associated pathologies, specific hormones are highlighted in the class. In addition, the module goes over impact of long term stress with an in depth description of the HPA Axis. The yoga component of this module focuses on relaxing movement to decrease stress and promote a healthy endocrine system.

The focus of this module is to provide a physiological understanding of the stress response. The lecture provides an overview of stress as controlled by the sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis. This gives us the ability to understand how stress can impact our bodies on a cellular, as well as, systems level and discuss related pathologies. This module is enhanced by an interview with Dr. Marshall Hagins who discusses the impact of stress on general health as well as pain. The yoga component of this module introduces breathing and meditation techniques to decrease chronic stress, and improve our overall health.

In this module we will integrate everything we have learned in the previous modules to enhance our overall health and wellness. The focus of this module is on practicing a short but complete practice, that can be done on a daily or weekly basis. This yoga practice was designed as part of a hypertension and yoga study, where it was able to reduce hypertension. Being able to integrate this complete practice into your daily lives is a perfect practical summary of everything that has been practiced.