Philip Stevens (Swami Samnyasanand) (AUS)
BSc (Psych, Physiol) BSc (hons) (Physiol) MWSCY FWSCY
Box 6088, Cromer Victoria 3193 Tel: 03 9589 2108 Mobile: 0419 806 066 
e-mail: research@yogalinks.net Web: www.yogalinks.net/research/research.html

Swami Samnyasanand a BSc (Psych, Physiol); (BSc (hons) (Physiol); MWSCY; FWSCY.

Consultant Neurophysiologist, Sleep Scientist, Certified Yoga Teacher, Life Member and Fellow of the "World Society For Clinical Yoga" with over 30 years of experience in classes, personal tuition & counselling in Yoga, Meditation, Relaxation and Stress Management (M.B.T.I. Accredited). He holds science degrees in Psychology and Physiology from the University of Adelaide, with honours in Physiology, completed in The Centre for Sleep Research at The Queen Elizabeth hospital in Adelaide.

His work explores the neurophysiological effects of yoga breathing and meditation practices on the heart, brain and autonomic nervous system. Understanding how the brain, nervous and hormonal systems work, particularly in terms of balancing autonomic activity of the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic nervous systems .

In University studies, he has explored yoga in terms of effects on the hypothalamus and Pineal. Melatonin, the hormone released by this small gland at night, helps to maintain the sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin enhances and maintains immune system functioning as well as being an anti aging and anti cancer agent.

Current Research Advisor for the Swan Research Institute (NSW), also teaching and tutoring meditation and yoga at Monash Medical School (Dept of General Practice) and the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne while completing PhD research exploring the neurophysiological effects of certain pranayamas, yogic breathing and meditation techniques.

Swami Samnyasanand a will be speaking on the neurophysiology of yogic lifestyle and how living in tune with the external rhythms of life can help you live longer, happier and healthier lives. Chronobiology is the study of time and how external daily cycles of light and dark affect our heart, brain and nervous system and well as the internal hormonal and immune systems. Internal ecology  is living in tune with external ecology. The Neurophysiology of meditation will be explored and how certain techniques can produce more Melatonin to balance and harmonise health, prevent or even help deal with cancer. Melatonin is a neurohormone released by the pineal gland at night when we should be asleep. Melatonin is a powerful anti cancer agent and also helps to activate the T-cells in our immune system. Lower levels of melatonin can mean lowered resistance to disease or pathogens, as well as a reduced capacity for healing, recuperation and just getting a good night's sleep all round. Melatonin levels are decreased with stress and increased sympathetic activity. Rigorous night-time exercise can even phase delay the onset of the melatonin rhythm, yet certain meditations can increase the production and release of melatonin. Meditation is associated with increases in parasympathetic activity and decreases in sympathetic activity. Tratak meditation, for example, using a candle flame to focus the eyes can produce significantly higher levels of melatonin.