Yoga for IQ Development

YOGA FOR 

I Q 

DEVELOPMENT 

Published by 

Swami Vivekananda Yoga Prakashana 

#19, Eknath Bhavan, Gavipuram Circle, Kempegowda Nagar, Bengaluru - 560019 

City Office - Ph: 080-26612669 Telefax: 080-26608645 

Prashanti Kutiram Campus - Ph: 080-22639996 

E mail: svyasa@svyasa.org Web: www.svyasa.org

Contents 

Ch.No. title Page No. 

1 Introduction 

2 Body Systems in Improving 

Physical Stamina 

3 Physiology of Muscle Action 

4 Physical Stamina According to Yoga 

5 Yoga Practices for 

Physical Stamina Development

Yoga for IQ Development | 7 

INTRODUCTION 

Intelligence has become a very common word for every lay 

person to use. This comes very commonly to common man as 

well as Psychologists or Intelligence Researchers use this word 

intelligence. One of the common expressions that we hear is 

“use your intelligence” parents or teachers tell children. Don’t 

you have intelligence is another question that is usually asked. 

Do you realize that generally we are able to see how much we 

differ from each other? In fact even children are able to see 

these differences in height, in weight, in colour that is skin 

colour, hair colour and other pronounced differences. As we 

grow up into adult hood we become capable of understanding 

and recognizing differences among individuals in intellect. 

Through various performances this can be seen. Also there 

are differences in emotions through expressions of our feeling 

and social abilities and judgments. Today terms like IQ, that 

is Intelligence Quotient, EQ – Emotional Quotient, SQ – Social 

Quotient, are discussed and commonly used. In fact you will 

hear this not just in academic but you can be very familiar 

using these terms. People have different levels of intelligence. 

Intelligence is the capacity to learn and use information. Psychologists 

in the filed of intelligence, traditionally focused on 

measurements of 

intellectual differences, 

individual 

differences using 

various tests. 

Yoga in Education for Total Personality Development SERIES - 4

8 | Yoga for IQ Development 

Their aim was to develop practical guidelines for predicting 

what can be expected of individuals Intelligence, in fact is 

more difficult to measure compared to for example, stature. 

A person’s performance on an intelligent test may be momentarily 

altered by an external factor such as amount of sleep the 

person had. Whether he or she has eaten a good meal before 

the test and so on. So many factors can influence. There are 

several questions like does intelligence vary at all or does it remains 

fixed through out life? If it changes, can it do so within 

a week or a month or an year or 10 years. If it changes can we 

determine all the factors that produce the change? These are 

questions that Psychologists would like to answer. Answers 

like this will require measurement of intelligence. This is the 

reason why we have tests on intelligence. Modern intelligence 

tests are usually found to be highly reliable. We do have some 

good tests today. 

There are basically two kinds of tests. Achievement tests 

which are designed to measure a person’s current knowledge 

and skills. Aptitude test try to predict capacity or future performances 

in individual. It was early testing that popularized the 

concept of IQ. Intelligence Quotient. The concept of mental age 

in IQ calculation was introduced as research showed that mental 

abilities of children increased with age. Modern Researchers 

are now beginning to understand what happens to intelligence 

in adulthood 

and old age. I 

think this is 

something that 

is also becom- 



ing a big concern with old people not being same as when 

they were younger. We need to understand that education 

and experience may contribute to changes. Changes in the 

intellectual capacity. Recently the use of one over all IQ score 

to represent intellectual changes with age has been criticized. 

Researches for example argue that declining scores for older 

adults represent only one aspect of intelligence. So here what 

they bought in was aspects of intelligence called Fluid Intelligence 

and Crystallized Intelligence. So now this is something 

that we are learning about today. 

Fluid Intelligence 

is the 

general mental 

skills like for 

example the 

ability to make inferences that can start to decline at 40 years. 

We are able to make inferences when we are in the prime that 

is 20 years, 30 years and all that. As we grow older, there will 

be a decline that is because of a decline in our neurological 

functioning. This decline can also be due to reduced practice 

of certain mental skills. Like for example in a family let us 

take a child who is probably studying in the 5th or 6th standard. 

The child will use several aspects of intellectual skills in 

performing, let us say mathematical ability. Father who has 

not been practicing these skills comparatively is not able to 

remember as much as the child. Hence we can say that with 

age the Fluid Intelligence reduces. 

There is another aspect of intelligence that steadily increases 



with age. This is an ever improving aspect called Crystallized 

Intelligence. This is specific mental skills for example, one’s 

vocabulary or the ability to define words. This depends on exposure 

to required environment. Here for example, when we 

will compare the vocabulary the language usage of an adult 

and the young child we can definitely understand that a young 

child will have less number of words, the vocabulary will be 

much lesser compared to an adult. So this is how we understand 

that Crystallized Intelligence actually begins to increase 

and increase as we grow up. Thanks to the whole lot of exposure 

and experience that is there as we grow up. 



INTELLIGENCE AND 

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT I.Q. 

Based on 

various research 

findings 

and theories 

other 

concepts that 

evolved in intelligence 

are 

the general 

factor and the specific factor. Specific factor explains more 

than one IQ and it can be derived after testing several areas of 

an individual. This makes it more comfortable that we have 

several areas and several domains and we may be good in one 

and may not be good in the other. So this is multiple intelligence. 

Actually research has shown that there is the existence 

of seven facets of intelligence like Bodily kinesthetic, Linguistic, 

Logical Mathematical, Musical, Self Understanding, Social 

success and Spacial. There are so many areas that we need 

to look into. For each of the seven intelligences, it is indicated 

that there are separate neural structures associated with 

them. Each has separate developmental history. A person can 

be very good in one area and poor or mediacor in others. Each 

area can be dominant because of the influence of culture. For 

example, let us take a house of a famous musician and he has 



supported his children learning music right from childhood. 

We will find that grasping, comprehending and also developing 

and perfecting the skill in the area connected with music 

will be very easy for this child compared to another classmate 

of this child. So if this child shows very high score on this 

musical ability, he may have mediacor score in another level, 

may be the vocabulary, the linguistic, intellectual capacity. So 

this is what they try and say that there are seven facets and 

we have different domains where we may be good in one and 

probably not so good in the other. Now a days lot of concerned 

parents are there who take lot of sincere responsibilities to 

work towards the future of their children. They ask for assessments 

to guide and support their children. Also most often 

they come and say that they can see and come to terms with 

their children’s limitation. 

We have several techniques to improve abilities and recognize 

and sharpen skills required by each child. We give individual 

attention and today the concept of Holistic Therapy and treatment 

is so much in vogue. Apart from making an assessment 

and a grade of where this child is, we provide specific modules 

of yogic techniques so that they help this particular child to 

improve the psychological as well as the mental abilities in 

the child to sustained pressure. Today the world is very competitive 

and each little child has to really work hard and show 

his intellectual capacity. Each child or adolescent is specially 

evaluated not to be compared but to determine a module for 

their future support. It is important to understand what role 

do motivation and emotion play in intellectual performance. 

There is so much of research that has already gone into say- 



ing that emotions and motivation play a role. Many of us have 

math fobia, will you agree? Several students detest math 

course, math homework, math test. If you have particular 

intellectual likes or dislikes, that can influence your performance 

and tests and exam, then you are showing the effect of 

motivation and emotion on intellectual performance. If this is 

identified in the early school period itself we can do a lot. 

Well, it is very necessary and also 

research has indicated that there 

are two general goals that children 

seem to have when undertaking intellectual 

activities. Some children 

seem to adapt performance scores. 

These children seem to be motivated 

by not wanting to look foolish. 

They want to look smart and 

not receive negative evaluations 

from their friends, classmates or 

their teachers. They believe that 

they have fixed intelligence and it 

is best assessed by how well they 

do on intellectual tasks. In situations that demand quick, 

accurate and correct performance, they tend to perform well. 

There are other children who tend to be motivated by learning 

goals. They try to improve, they try to grow smarter by learning 

new skills and knowledge. They believe that intelligence 

is a set of skills and knowledge that can be increased through 

hard work, more and more efforts. These children do well in 

tasks which require efforts and new learning. So we should be 



able to first and foremost 

identify what type of children 

are we dealing with, 

what kind of children are 

around us. So this is going 

to make not only the child 

comfortable, but also the 

family comfortable when it 

comes to understand intelligence 

and intellectual capacity. 

This now helps us 

to also understand the connections 

and the strengthening of these connections between 

the IQ, Intelligent Quotient, EQ, the Emotional Quotient and 

also SQ, the Social Quotient for the child. Even the individuals 

who are performing in their job situations need to balance 

these quotients, Today skills training in schools and colleges 

is to enhance and improve intelligence. 



CONCEPT OF DEVELOPMENT OF 

INTELLIGENCE ACCORDING TO YOGA 

The brain essentially has 

two lobes and they have 

specific functions. The 

Left Brain is supposed to 

be having the functions 

related to logical thinking, 

discrimination and 

so on. While the Right 

Brain has the functions 

related to the emotions, 

intuition and several others. 

Though there is no fixed compartmentalized functioning, 

there may be a little overlap, but essentially the Left Brain is 

the one that deals with the logical faculty of our mind. Today 

we try to understand how Yoga looks at it from the view point 

of the total perspective. 

According to Yoga, the body that we 

have is called as the Annamya Kosa, 

made out of food, made out of the atoms 

and molecules. Then subtler 

than this, is the body what we call 

the Prana. Bioplasmic body as people 

mention. Then covering all that is the 



Manomaya Kosa, the Astral layer, Astral Body. Then much 

bigger, much wider, much expansive is the Vijnanamaya Kosa 

and that is made out of the Wisdom or the Intelligence and 

the most pervasive is the Anandamaya Kosa. It is the state 

of Bliss. So all these are pervaded by what we call Chitta or 

Mind. It is also called Antahkarana. Antahkarana is an inner 

instrument, often called as inner senses. There is the external 

senses and the inner senses. In the External Sense, we have 

Jnanendriyas and the Karmendriyas. Jnanendriyas are the 

ones that are in the body, the Eyes, the Nose, the Ears, the 

Skin and the Tongue. The Karmendriyas deal with actions, 

Karma Indriyas, senses related to the action. Vakpani Padau 

payu Upastha. Upastha is the genital organ , Vayu is excretion 

& urination, vak is the talk, speech and we have hands 

and the legs. So we have five Karmendriyas and five Jnanedriyas. 

We have the inner Indriyas, they are called Antahkarana. 

They are the manifestation of the same entity which is called 



as Chitta or Antahkarana. Their grossest manifestation is manas, 

Mana. Then we have the Buddhi, Chitta and the Ahankara. 

Buddhi is the intelligence, Chitta or the Smriti is the 

memory and Ahankara is the I thought. The I thought runs 

through all these. I am thinking, I am talking, I am eating, 

I am walking, I am conversing, I am introspecting. All these 

are the I thought. So we have five functional manifestations 

just like Electricity has functional manifestations of light, heat 

and magnetism. Similarly here we have Antahkarana having 

the four main manifestations named as Mana, Buddhi, Smriti, 

Ahankara. Smriti or Chitta that is the Memory. What we are 

trying to understand is the difference between the Manah and 

Buddhi, the differences between the Gross mind and Intelligence. 

If you understand these two functional manifestations, 

then we have clear view as to how we can develop IQ and what 

is meant by development of IQ. 

The Grossest Manifestation of mind, Mana is featured by the 

Sankalpa and Vikalpa. That is often featured by distractions 

called as Chanchalata, the mind that moves from one to another 

continuously. It jumps from one subject to another subject. 

We are trying to understand this. Suddenly you think ‘Oh’, 

what is happening to my father? ‘Oh’ my Grandmother was 

sick, I hope she is better now. Suddenly you think of your job 

and you say ‘Oh’ the fan is not running somehow. Now a day 

the Internet is not good. Here there is no reason. The mind 

jumps from one subject to another. The subjects go on. This 

is our Gross nature and it is characterized by randomness or 

Chanchala or distracted mind. This we are trying to harness. 

In the mind level all the energy is just wasted. For example 



suppose a river is flowing, all the energy is just wasted. What 

do we do? We construct a dam and produce the channels and 

make it as useful. It is something like just gathering information 

from outside. All the information from outside is brought 

at the Mana level. Then sorting out that and developing connection 

between each subject, Each Chitta Vritti (Vritti is one 

unit of mind), is the function of Intelligence or Buddhi. For 

that it should have a very subltle capacity. It should decipher 

what is connected and what is not connected. Therefore intelligence 

is that faculty which has the capacity to discriminate, 

bind logically with one another. Intelligence is the Nischayatmaka 

Buddhihi. It can decide, yes this is right. This is wrong. 

Intelligence is also a vritti. Manas, Intelligence our memory 

and even the I thought are all vrittis. They are all functional 

manifestation of the Antahkarana or the Chitta. So we know 

the importance of intelligence. As individual becomes very 

brilliant and sharp he will be able to decide for things, will 

be able to go deep and 

understand. Understanding 

starts taking 

place at the level of Buddhi. 

Therefore from the 

mind, we have to raise to 

the level of what you call 

Buddhi and sharper the 

Buddhi, greater the capacity 

that you have. In 

the process of growth of 

a person the intelligence 

becomes very very sharp 



and in Yoga it is said if you want to know your swaroopa, you 

must have a very sharp mind, a very brilliant mind. The Upanishad 

tell Drishyate twagreyaa Buddhya sookshmaya sukshma 

darshibhihi. A very sharp mind, a very intelligent mind, 

very very brilliant mind, is able to decipher the things. Example 

of great scientists, mathematicians everybody have this 

power of intelligence. They use the intelligence to understand 

things, to unravel the mysteries of nature and to go deep into 

the subject, find out the unity behind all that. 

Modern science is featured by intelligence and we have unraveled 

the mysteries of this entire creation, physical world 

and we have found everything is nothing but energy we have 

found. How breakthroughs after breakthroughs came? The 

power of intelligence has unraveled the mysteries by going 

deeper and deeper into the subject. So intelligence tries to go 

to the source from the diversity. From multiplicity mind goes 

to the single thing. That is intelligence. That is the power 

needed for a scientist. That is the power needed for researcher 

to go and understand and go to the depth to analyze things, to 

discriminate things. 

Normally the intelligence works through the brain and through 

the Annamaya Kosa just like my eyes are weak, I cannot see. I 

use a spectacle, I use a microscope, I use a telescope. So like 

that we use the different faculties to understand. So intelligence 

is that vritti by which we are able to understand and we 

use the intellect to growth. 



CONCEPT OF 

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT AND 

INTELLIGENCE ACCORDING TO YOGA 

In this Chapter we will try to understand the concept of IQ, 

Intelligence. We all are aware that we have senses through 

which we sense the external world. We perceive the world 

outside. They are called Jnanendriyas and we perform action 

through these organs hands, legs, speech, the urinary 

and execratory organs and genital organs. They are called the 

Karmendriyas. So through these we perceive and then do the 

action. But we have also the Antarendriyas, the inner senses 

and that is featured by Chitta, a generalized term for mind. 

Mind is also called as antahkarana. When this Antahkarana 

starts manifesting, starts functioning, it has different modes 

where it functions haphazardly, in its grossest nature we call 

it as Manas. When there 

is channelization of the 

energies, we call it as the 

concentration and the feature 

of that is called the 

Buddhi. All these are Vrittis. 

Vrittis are functional 

manifestation of the Antahkarana. 

To memorise 

things, we use the Smriti, 

the memory store and un- 



der that is a continuous stream of what we call Ahamvritti, 

Ahankara. So therefore, Manah, Buddhi, Chitta, Ahankara 

are the four functional manifestation of the same entity called 

the Antahkarana. 

The concept in modern science today essentially is matter 

based. Intelligence is nothing but functioning of the left brain. 

The left brain functioning is essentially logical in character. 

That is what we call as the Buddhi. So Buddhi intelligence 

according to modern science is a function of the brain particularly 

the left lobe of the brain. The right brain is more related 

to the emotions and intuition and so on. IQ is called Intelligence 

Quotient. It is a measure of intelligence. How much of 

intelligence one has is related to the age. We have different 

intelligence level in different ages. The Physical age is called 

as the chronological age. So using that, what should be the 

normal IQ for persons at large have been evaluated. IQ is essentially 

the mental age divided by chronological age. This will 

be dealt further in the next Chapter. 

Let us try to understand what is Intelligence. Kartum akartum 

anyatha kartum shaktaha. When one way doesn’t work, 

we have another way. That finding of the new way is the key 

essence of intelligence. This is the feature of what we call 

our consciousness, the Chaitanya. Using the consciousness, 

the Chaitanya, we brought about wonderful modern science 

and its growth. This is possible mainly by the special feature 

of consciousness called intelligence. A logical faculty, a discriminative 

faculty to decifer things and this deciphering is the 

one that starts developing. You go deeper and deeper and try 



to find out ways and 

means of understanding. 

For Eg in case of 

photo electric effect, 

in the beginning we 

could not see how the 

wave nature of light 

can be used here, It was a thorough failure to consider that 

light is a wave at that time. Much later, after years and years 

of the discrimination and in-depth research, scientists found 

that light can travel as particles as well as waves and the dual 

nature of light was unraveled. This is the power. This is possible 

because of Logic, Discrimination Power, connecting one 

to another, finding the reason. In the random mind the mind 

is jumping from one subject to another subject. When we 

channelize our energies, we bring the whole thing into a single 

subject. The mind should be thinking on that single subject 

and there are multiple thoughts. But there is a difference. 

There is a connection between one thought and the other 

which unravels the subject. Therefore there is a logical connection 

just like when flowers are knit, it becomes a wonderful 

garland. In the same way all thoughts related are brought 

together and that is the dimension related to intelligence. So 

we have multiple thoughts but a single subject in the mind 

which goes on thinking about it again and again. There is a 

logical connection between one thought with the other. Therefore, 

intelligence is the discrimination power. It is a logical 

faculty within us which shows the functioning, channelizes all 

our energies and makes it very useful. We know how useful 

it is to have the wonderful power of concentration. Without 



concentration there is no success. Greater the concentration 

better is your success. Therefore, let us all develop this intelligence 

which is the key essence of all of us as human beings. 

Intelligence differentiates us from animals as the Shloka says 

“Aahara nidra bhaya maithunancha samanya me tat pashubhinaranam” 

There are four features that are common for both 

animals and human beings. The Food, the Sleep, the Fear and 

the Procreation. As human beings we are endowed with higher 

faculty. Buddhi rihitesham adhiko viseshah. Buddhirvihinaha 

pasubhih samanah. It is the Buddhi that characterizes 

us as human beings and if we don’t use our Buddhi, we are 

equivalent to animals. So let the Buddhi prevail in us. Let the 

discrimination power grow in us. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE 

We now explore the ways by which we develop our intelligence, 

particularly the concentration development. In the last 

chapter, we saw the concept of intelligence. Kartum akartum 

anyatha kartum shaktaha. When one way doesn’t work, we go 

in another way, we try to decipher and go deep into the subject 

to unravel the mysteries. It is the discriminating power, logical 

power and it is featured by power of concentration. How to 

develop this concentration, particularly for the development of 

IQ? In the grossest form of this random mind, the mind jumps 

everywhere and moves from one subject to another. But in 

concentration, the mind has to stay put in a single subject. If 

you like that subject, it becomes very easy. There are two systems 

of education. In the first system of education, you just 

do every thing mechanically, habituate that again and again. 

For example, parent teaching the child. Come on you are going 

to write a, aa, e, ee. Child doesn’t want to do anything. It 

wants to run away. You catch and bring. With all the force you 

try to do that one day, two days, three days, four days. The 

child would be crying. Then it would reconcile. Ok, I have no 

choice, I have to do that. It is much later when the child grows 

to an adult, then it understands, yes, my parents did the right 

thing for me. There is yet another system. In this system, the 

children are asked to come and play. Children are told that It 

is a play house, it is not a school in which you learn education. 

Here different types of games are given and they have been developed 

to systematically increase the IQ. It is through these 



games and the children will learn immensely. There is an 

accelerated growth of learning process. There is an increased 

capacity to stay put and the children can do it for hours together. 

We have all seen how wonderful it is to play and can 

we use this play for development of concentration? These are 

the two distinct methods. So when you want to develop concentration 

in a particular subject, if you like that subject, you 

develop immense interest in that subject. Then there is going 

to be a wonderful blossoming of concentration which leads to 

increase Intelligence. The energies are all wasted in the random 

mind, haphazard mind. But once you come to the level 

of discrimination, the concentration, the energies are channelized. 

The channelized energies will start giving all the dividends. 

The uncontrolled energies are the ones that devastate 

us. All problems like the social unrest, the terrorism, the gun 

culture are because of the random mind, the haphazard mind, 

the uncontrolled mind. Therefore development of concentration, 

development of the intelligence is the key essence. But 

there is yet another dimension to the development of concentration 

and intelligence. You may be very intelligent, you may 

be having full power of concentration, you may be very dynamic 

and go getter 

but for what are you 

using this energy? 

For What are you 

using this power of 

discrimination? For 

what are you using 

this power of concentration? 

It is a 



very important factor. 

It should bring harmony 

in the society. It 

would develop the entire 

society. If there is 

an inner development. 

These are related to our 

Gunas. Tamas, Rajas 

and Satva are the three 

personality traits within 

us. When essentially 

Tamasic in nature, all 

your intelligence will be used to become more lazy. The IQ 

will come to support you to promote your laziness, drousiness 

and sleepiness and resistance to action. But when you grow 

little higher and you are full of Rajasic Predominant in which 

you are dynamic, full of energy, vitality, full of selfishness, 

you feel I want to make more money, more and more money, I 

want to be a millionnnaire, billionaire and you don’t care what 

happens to others. You are ready to cut others, beat others, 

terrorize others in the competitive world. Therefore, all the intelligence 

comes to you to achieve this. Look at the terrible terrorists. 

We have seen them to use that tremendous intelligent 

power to win over the biggest of the powers, the famous 9/11. 

Should we use our intelligence in this direction? Then we are 

developing our Ravana within us. The Rakshasi bhava within 

us. The devilishness within us. Intelligence should be used to 

develop the Satva within us. When Satva is predominant, then 

you do good for the others. You become selfless, and help others, 

serve others, give others, love others, and bring harmony 



and peace everywhere. Use techniques to see that harmonization 

takes place, aesthetic energisation takes place. Therefore 

the direction for intelligence is a very important thing. You 

can use your intelligence to develop an atomic, nuclear power 

which can devastate. We saw the horrors of atomic nuclear 

explosion in Hiroshima and we have seen the devastation of 

this atomic power to completely have deadly weapons. But we 

also know other side of the coin. Give that nuclear power for 

generating power, the power very much needed for the growth 

of any country. The power that helps us to run our industries, 

our technological growth and others. We all have that 

inner power of intelligence. If only we can use that in right 

direction, we have the great opportunity to serve the society 

and that is to act as human beings. Without that direction, 

mere development of IQ, development of intelligence could be 

very hazardous. It is better that we don’t have such brilliance 

when we don’t have the right direction. Rama within us has 

to be invoked. The Ravana and the Kumbhakarna have to be 

banquished. The intelligence is a support to develop the Sattva 

more and more. Dana, Daya and Dama are the three characteristics 

of Satva. Dana, giving to others more and more. 

Daya the compassion & love and Dama control over the senses. 

Use the intelligence to control the senses. Senses rushing 

towards their object have to be controlled, that is called the 

Dama. Bahirendriya nigrahaha damaha as it is said. That 

is control over the external senses. IQ should support that. 

Intelligence should support that, Concentration should channelize 

that power of goodness, channelize that power of Satva 

and only then we are really acting like human beings. Thereby 

the society will grow and the Nation can enlarge. This is the 



speciality of our Indian wisdom tradition and in India we had 

all that power being channelized for the good of the society to 

build ideal social orders. What a wonderful thing it will be to 

live at large. So let us develop IQ to develop IQ in the right 

direction. 



USING INTELLIGENCE IN THE RIGHT 

DIRECTION FOR THE GROWTH 

In the last Chapter we tried to understand the concept of Intelligence, 

Concentration, Logic and discrimination power. In 

the last chapter we saw how the intelligence has to be used in 

the right direction for the growth of the individual, the growth 

of the society, the growth of the nation and the growth of the 

whole world. What is that word IQ. Intelligent Quotient. What 

is that IQ? It is a measure of intelligence. Each one of us 

when we are born, we are born with certain IQ levels. We are 

all endowed with that intelligence and the Psychologists have 

developed ways and means to measure that IQ. We define IQ 

as mental age dived by chronological age. The chronological 

age is the one that we actually calculate from the time of 

our birth. Physical age is called the chronological age. There 

are children who grow physically (chronologically), but they 

may not grow mentally. 

The mental 

age can be very less 

and the chronological 

age is more. We 

have hundred as a 

measure of normal 

intelligence. A normal 

person should 

have IQ of 100 be- 



cause the mental age should be in tune with the chronological 

age. But mentally retarded children and children with mental 

deficiencies have much lower IQ. If 100 is normal, if one has 

IQ equal to 90 and 80 they are called slow learners. But if one 

has above 100 then he is considered to be very intelligent 

and very dynamic. If ones IQ goes to 120, 130 he is almost a 

geneous. If ones IQ comes down to 80, 70 he is put into the 

category of mentally retarded person. These are called Special 

children. When IQ is 60 then it is called moderate retardation. 

When IQ is 50 and less, it is called severe mental retardation. 

For example, the IQ comes down if you have a chronological 

age of 10 years and your mental age is only about 4, then 4 divided 

by 10 is 40. IQ is 40. Therefore, a child at the age of 10 

can be only having mental age of 4Yrs. I remember, where an 

artistic girl who came to us in our school called Ujwal and she 

was 14 years and her mental age was 3.5Yrs. Divide it. Her 

IQ was 25. She was severely mentally retarded. She cannot do 

anything. So the parents brought with great hope that Yoga 

can do something for her and we started using yoga. What did 

we use, what is the principle? We increased the blood circulation 

into the head by which the brain cells are stimulated. 

Different asanas, breathing practice, bhajans, different songs 

were used. We soon found that the girl is very artistic and 

she loves music. When the children were doing special asanas 

she was doing it in such a graceful way. We find that she is 

very interestingly good in the dance. Soon our teacher put her 

into the dance and music. The child started blossoming day 

by day. We were finding the improvement. A smile came on 

the face. She started becoming more active. Her depression 

started reducing. She started eating a little more. Within one 



year we find her chronological age has gone to 15 years and 

her mental age came around 7.5 almost 50 IQ. Next year she 

grew to 80 and in three years, the third year we found that she 

is almost around 94-95 getting of her natural, normal. Normally 

we used to have function and we have had much gathering 

of people and she was the highlight of the day. She was 

beautifully costumed for the dance and she came on to the 

stage, everybody said wah, what a wonderful and beautiful girl 

she is and the marvel was she danced to the tune to the music 

for 35 minutes and everybody was amazed. How beautifully 

she is putting the steps! Not even a step she missed. That is 

granger or grangers. Everybody talked so high about the possible 

applications of yoga. People earlier thought that mentally 

retarded children cannot be rehabilitated. Cannot be brought 

to the higher level of IQ. There were also schools where they 

say, IQ cannot be developed. But Yoga is very special, if you 

suitably module, we can develop the IQ wonderfully well. After 

4 years, she went out and started a small dance school. Today 

it is blossoming school in Bangalore. Number of people 

come and she is so loving, so affectionate, so regular and so 

full of interest and commitment and dedication.. So it is only 

a less manifested divinity within these children. They have to 

be treated with great respect, great love and it is such a great 

pleasure to be with these children. So don’t think that if you 

have a slow learner or mentally retarded child, you cannot do 

anything. You can certainly develop their IQ. Well, I don’t 

have mental retardation and normal, can I increase my IQ to 

higher levels? Sure. Using this integrated module we have 

been able to show that the IQ levels can be increased. Within 

10 days of the personality development camp, that we do here, 



there is an increase of 13% to 15% of IQ development. Some 

of the special tests have shown even 30% increase in the specialized 

dimension of IQ. So modern scientific research has 

documented the usefulness of yoga. The Integrated approach 

of yoga, Integrated Yoga Module that we are presenting here is 

very useful for developing the intelligent quotient. Therefore, 

development of IQ by various facets of yoga is the key essence 

of these modules that we have presented. Let us all use this 

to develop our IQ, to develop our intelligence but not forget 

the direction in which intelligence is to be used to promote the 

Satva within us, to promote the grand qualities for which this 

country stands. 

Swami Vivekananda, the great master of masters said renunciation 

and service are the twin ideals of this Nation. Channelizing 

India in these two directions and the rest will take 

care of itself. That is what we have to do. We have to use all 

the power of intelligence to see that we herald the grandeur of 

this mother Bharat by the values of this country, the values 

for which this country stands. Consciously developing the 

satvaguna within us to develop the seva and the tyaga which 

mark the grandeur of this Nation from times immemorial for 

millions of years. This is the only country which has spread 

the message of love, peace, harmony going out to all countries. 

We have not cut hold of any country and ruled over it 

as the others have done. We have won their hearts. We have 

brought that wonderful message of love, harmony and peace 

everywhere. That is the mission of India. That is the mission 

that Swami Vivekananda has given us. Yoga should promote 

this vision that Swamiji had. This should be taken as mission 



in life by all of us who are the lovers of yoga and to see that 

this grandeur of Indian wisdom, tradition should spread everywhere. 



YOGA PRACTICES FOR 

IQ DEVELOPMENT 

7.1. SITHILÉKARNA VYÄYÄMA 

• Spinal stretch 

• Pada Sancalana 

• Situps from standing (2 Types) 

• Uthita Ardha Sirasasana Breathing 

• Butterfly Stretch 

• Prasaritha Padahastasana Stretch 

7.2. BREATHING PRACTICES 

• Baddhakonasana Breathing 

• Setubandhasana Breathing 

• Navasana breathing 

• Eka Padahastasana breathing 

• Prasaritha Padahastasana breathing 

7.3. YOGÄSANAS 

• Parsava Konasana (both sides 

• Gomukhasana 

• Sarvangasana 

• Ardha Sirasasana 

• Baddhakonasana 

• Parsavavouttanasana 

7.4. KRIYÄS 

• Kapala Bhati (Right Nostril) 



7.5. PRÄNÄYÄMA 

• Sürya Anuloma Viloma 

7.6. MEDITATION 

Search inside the root of thoughts 



YOGA PRACTICES FOR 

IQ DEVELOPMENT 

7.1. SITHILIKARANA VYAYAMA: 

1. SPINAL STRETCH (With Legs Apart) 

STARTING POSITION: 

Sthiti: Dandãsana 

PRACTICE: 

• Spread your legs as far as comfortable. Keep your hands 

stretched above your head. 

• While exhaling bend forward from the waist and try to 

touch the forehead to the right knee while holding the 

right foot with the hands. Stretch the spine nicely. 

• Come up while inhaling 

• Repeat the same on the left side. 

• Repeat 10 times. 

• Stimulates the Autonomic Nervous System and in specific 

the left brain. 



• EnhanZces the I.Q. 

2. PÁDA SANCALANA 

Sthiti: Tádásana 

PRACTICE 

• Bring the right leg upwards and forwards 

and at the same time stretch the foot forward 

with inhalation. Bring the leg back to 

center with exhalation. 

• Then move the leg backwards with inhalation, 

now stretching the foot backward. 

Bring it back to center with exhalation. 

• Raise and take the right leg sideways to the 

right as much as you can with inhalation. 

• Return it to the center with exhalation 

• Then move it towards left with inhalation. 

• Return it to the center with exhalation 

• Repeat the same practice 

with the left leg. 

Maintain the smile on 

the face. 

• This is one round. 

practice 5 rounds. 

Increase the speed as 

you practice. 

• Loosening exercises 

like this done with 

speed will stimulate 



our left brain activity. 

Note 

• Do not bend the knee at any stage of the practice. 

• You can keep your hands on the waist even, or can have 

wall support for proper balance. 

• The leg movement should be continuous. 

• Gradually increase the speed and mobility, within your 

limit 

• Raise the leg forward / backward as much as you can. 

3. SIT UPS FROM STANDING POSITION 


PRACTICE 

Type I: 

• Keep the hands parallel to the 

ground at shoulder height and 

palms facing down. 

• While exhaling sit down till thighs 

come parallel to the ground. While 

inhaling come up. Maintain the 

smile on the face. 

• Repeat the same for 10 rounds. 

• Drop the hands and come into Tadasana 

and relax. 

Note 

• Keep the knees together 



• Heels on the ground in sitting position. 

Type II: 

• Keep the hands parallel to the ground 

at shoulder height and palms facing 

down. 

• While exhaling sit down completely. 

Maintain the smile on the face. 

• While inhaling return to Tádásana. 

• Repeat the same for 10 rounds. 

• Enjoy the wonderful relaxation in the 

face and head after the stimulation 

Note 

• Keep the knees together. 

• Heels on the ground in sitting position. 

4. UTHITA ARDHA SIRSÁSANA BREATHING 

Sthiti: Dandasana 

PRACTICE 

• Fold the right leg sit on 

the heel. 

• Fold the left leg and sit 

on both heels in Vajrasana. 

• Place a four-fold blanket 

in front of you on which 

you will be resting your 



head in the final position. 

• Place the forearms on the blanket in front of you with 

the fingers interlocked and the elbows in front of the knees. 

The distance between the elbows should be equal to the 

distance from each elbow to the interlocked fingers, forming 

an equilateral triangle. 

• Place the crown of the head on the blanket in between the 

interlocked hands. 

• Slowly raise the buttocks and lift the knees off the ground 

and straighten the legs, keeping the toes on the floor. 

Thus, you have formed a triangle of the body. 

• Maintain this position, inhale raise the right leg up and 

exhaling bring it down. While inhaling raise the left leg up 

and while exhaling bring the left leg down. Repeat with 

alternate legs for 10 times. 

• Slowly bend the legs at the knees and lower the knees to 

the floor. 

• Slowly come back to Vajrasana and rest for a while 

• Then, slowly lie down on the back and relax in Shavásana. 

Note 

Those who find it difficult to maintain the final position may 

use wall support pressing the hands and the head against the 

wall so that it is easier to maintain balance and to raise the 

hips. 

Benefits 

This ásana prepares you for the practice of Sirshásana. Useful 

for tension headache. 



Limitations 

People with High Blood Pressure, Heart problems, Inflammation 

of the ear, weak capillaries, myopia, severe asthma, cold 

or sinusitis, slipped disc, weak spine or vertigo should not 

practice this. 

5. BUTTERFLY STRETCH 

Sthiti: Dandãsana 

PRACTICE 

• Bend both the 

knees, draw the 

legs along the 

ground, to bring 

the soles of the 

feet to press 

each other and 

the heels touch the perineum. 

• Place the hands on the knees. 

• Using the palms, gently pull the knees up, allowing 

them to spring down. Flutter the thighs like a butterfly. 

• Normal breathing. 

• Repeat twenty to thirty times. 

• Straighten the legs and relax. 

Note 

• Do not force the movements. 

• Try to keep the back, neck and head straight. 

• Also keep the trunk steady during the practice. 



6. PRASARITA PÁDA HASTÁSANA STRETCH 


PRACTICE 

• Stand erect with legs apart. 

• Take the hands back and interlock 

the fingers. 

• Turn to the right and bend forward 

so that head touches the right leg, 

inhale come up. Exhaling turn to 

the left and bend forward so that 

head touches the left leg, inhale 

come up. 

• Continue 10 times. 

• Relax in Tádásana. 

Note 

• Never bend the knees. 

• Keep the neck up until the forward bending at the hip 

and the waist is completed and then drop the neck freely 

down to touch the chin to knees. 

7.2. BREATHING PRACTICES 

1. BADHAKONASANA BREATHING 

Sthiti: Dandásana 

PRACTICE 

• Fold both the legs, hold the heels against each other and 

pull them as close to the body as possible, trying to touch 



the perineum with the heels. 

• Interlock the fingers and place the hands under the feet 

and keep the spine erect. 

• Now, while exhaling slowly bend the trunk forwards from 

the waist trying to touch the floor with the forehead.Come 

up inhaling. Repeat 10 times. 

• Then come up, release the hands, unfold the legs and 

relax in Leg Stretch Sitting Position. 

Note 

• While bending forward, you can use the elbows to push 

the knee toward the floor. 

• Bend forwards as far as comfortable. 

• Maintain awareness in the pelvic region. 

2. SETUBANDHASANA BREATHING 

Sthiti: Supine. 

• Fold both the legs at the knees and bring the heels near 

the body. 



PRACTICE 

• As you inhale slowly raise your buttocks and trunk up 

as much as you can. 

• Then, while exhaling 

slowly 

lower the body 

back on to the 

floor and relax 

in Savásana. 

• Enjoy the beautiful 

loosening of the waist joint as you come down. 


Note 

• Maintain the final position as long as you can for maximum 

benefits. 

• In the final position, the shoulders and the head remain 

in perfect contact with the floor. 

• If required, you can support your body at the waist region 

with your hands in the final position. 

3. NAVÁSANA BREATHIGN EXERCISE 

Sthiti: Supine 

PRACTICE 

• Inhale deeply and raise the legs, hands, head and 

trunk off the ground. 

• Keep the legs at an angle of about 30Degrees to 3 5 D e - 

grees from the floor and the top of the head in line with 



the toes. Simultaneously, 

raise the 

hands at the shoulder 

height parallel 

to the ground. 

• Look towards the 

toes. 

• Exhale slowly and 

lower the legs, head 

and trunk. 

• Feel the changes in the spine, back and in the lungs. 

• Repeat the practice ten times. 

• Relax in Savásana. 

4. EKAPADAHASTASANA BREATHING: 

Sthiti: Tadasana 

Practice: 

• Stand in tadasana. Bend forward with exhalation 

place the palms on the floor in front of you. 

• Inhale raise the 

right leg up and 

while exhaling bring 

the right leg down. 

• Inhale raise the left 

leg up and while 

exhaling bring it 

down. 




5. PRASARITA PÁDA HASTÁSANA BREATHING 


PRACTICE 

• Stand erect with legs apart. 

• Inhaling raise the hands up above the head 

and bend back. 

• While exhaling bend forward allowing the 

hands to swing in between the legs. Coming 

down maintain the concave spine. 

• Inhaling raise up and bend back 


• Relax in Tádásana. Observe the changes 

going on. 

Note 

• Never bend the knees. 

• Keep the neck up until the forward 

bending at the hip and 

the waist is completed and then 

drop the neck freely down to 

touch the chin to knees. 

7.3. YOGASANA: 

1. PÁRSVA KONÁSANA 


PRACTICE 

• Move the right leg to about one and half Fmeter away 



from the left foot. 

• Turn the right foot 

towards right side 

of the body so that 

the toes are pointing 

away from the 

body. 

• Exhaling, bend the right knee and bring the Trunk to rest 

on the right thigh, place the right palm on the ground 

beside the right foot . 

• Inhaling, stretch the left arm over the head, biceps touching 

the left ear and look at the tips of the fingers of left 

hand. Maintain the posture for a minute with normal 

breathing. Smile on the face. Feel the stretch of the hand 

and the leg. 

• Return to sthiti retracing the same steps. 

• Repeat the same to the left side. 

• Relax in Tadasana. Feel the stimulations in the body and 

in the brain. 

Note 

In the final position, there should be a right angle between the 

thigh and the leg and the other knee should not bend. Both 

the soles should be fully in contact with the ground. 

Benefits 

Expands the thorax, strengthens the thighs, prevents back 

pain, and stimulates the intestinal peristalsis. 

Limitations 



People with Cardiac problems may avoid this posture in the 

beginning days. 

2. GOMUKÁSANA 

Sthiiti: Dandásana 

PRACTICE 

• Bend the left leg 

underneath the 

right leg so that 

the heel of the left 

leg is touching the 

right buttock. 

• Bring the right 

leg over the top of 

the bent left leg so 

that the right heel touches the left buttock. 

• Adjust the right knee so that it is above the left knee. 

• Place the left arm behind the back. 

• Place the right arm over the right shoulder. The back of 

the left hand should lie in contact with the spine while 

the right palm rests against the spine. Try to clasp the 

fingers of both hands behind the back. Bring the raised 

elbow behind the head so that the head presses against 

the inside of the raised arm. Hold the head, neck and 

spine erect. Close the eyes. Stay in this position for one 

minute. See the knees slowly coming down as much as 

possible. Maintain the smile on the face. 

• Return to sthiti retracing the same steps. 



• Practice from the other side. 

Benefits 

• Removes tiredness, tension and anxiety. 

• Stimulates kidneys. 

• Relieves back ache,sciatica and rheumatism. 

• Removes general stiffness in the shoulders and neck. 

• Alleviates crams in legs. 

• Wonderful pose for symmetrical growth. 

Limitations 

There are no limitations. 

3. SARVÁÑGÁSANA 

Sthiti: Supine Sthiti 

PRACTICE 

• Inhale, raise the legs together slowly 

and gracefully (without bending the 

knees) till it forms about 45Degrees to 

the ground. 

• Continue to inhale and raise the legs 

further to 90 Degree position. Bring the 

arms down and place them next to the 

buttocks. 

• Exhale, raise the buttocks and the 

trunk, taking support of the arms and 

elbows, without lifting the head. Rest 

the elbows on the ground firmly and 



support the back with both palms. 

• While retaining the legs parallel to the ground, straighten 

the trunk by pushing it with the hands untill the chin is 

well set in the suprasternal hollow. 

• Inhale and raise the legs vertically keeping the body erect 

and come to the final shoulder stand position. 

• Maintain effortlessly with normal breathing for about 2-3 

minutes. Carefully avoid all jerks. Slowly come back to 

Sthiti and relax in Ùavásana. 

Benefits 

Stimulates the brain cells. 

Stimulates and keeps the thyroid healthy. Influences the pelvic 

organs. Useful in varicose veins, piles, hernia and menstrual 

disorders. 

Limitations 

People with Cervical spondylosis, low back pain and hypertension 

should not do this posture. 

4. ARDHA SIRSÁSANA 


PRACTICE 

Fold the right leg and sit on the heel. 

• Fold the left leg and sit on both the heels. 

• Place a four-fold blanket in front of you on which 

you will be resting your head in the final position. 

• Place the forearms on the blanket in front of you with the 



fingers interlocked 

and the elbows in 

front of the knees. 

• The distance between 

the elbows should be 

equal to the distance 

from each elbow to 

the interlocked fingers, 

forming an equilateral 

triangle. 

• Place the crown of the head on the blanket in between the 

interlocked hands. 

• Slowly raise the buttocks and lift the knees off the ground 

and straighten the legs, keeping the toes on the floor. 

• Thus, you have formed a triangle of the body. 

• Maintain this position as long as you can with the load on 

the head and the toes. 

• Slowly bend the legs at the knees and lower the knees to 

the floor. 

• Slowly come back to Vajrasana and rest for a while 

• Then, slowly lie down on the back and relax in Ùavásana. 

Note 

Those who find it difficult to maintain the final position may 

use wall support pressing the hands and the head against the 

wall so that it is easier to maintain balance and to raise the 

hips. 

Benefits 



This ásana prepares you for the practice of Ùirúásana. Useful 

for tension headache. 

Limitations 

People with High Blood Pressure, Heart problems, Inflammation 

of the ear, weak capillaries, myopia, severe asthma, cold 

or sinusitis, slipped disc, weak spine or vertigo should not 

practice this. 

5. BADDHA KONÁSANA 

Sthiti: Dandásana 

PRACTICE 

• Fold both the legs, hold 

the heels against each 

other and pull them as 

close to the body as possible, 

trying to touch the 

perineum with the heels. 

• Interlock the fingers and 

place the hands under 

the feet and keep the 

spine erect. Maintain the 

final position as long as comfortable with normal breathing. 

Chant bhramari 3 rounds. Feel the wonderful relaxation. 

• Then come up, release the hands, unfold the legs and 

relax in Leg Stretch Sitting Position. 



Note 

While bending forward, you can use 

• The elbows to push the knee toward the floor. 

• Bend forwards as far as comfortable. 

• Maintain awareness in the pelvic region. 

Benefits: 

1. Relaxes the whole body. 

Limitations: 

No limitations. 

6. PARSVOTTANASANA 

Sthiti: Tadasana 

Procedure: 

Parsva means side or flank. 

Uttana (ut = intense, and tan 

= to extend, stretch, lengthen) 

means an intense stretch. 

The name implies a pose in 

which the side of the chest is 

stretched intensely. 

Technique 

• Stand in Tadasana. Spread the legs. Join the hands at 

the back and interlock the fingers. 

• Turn the right foot right side. Turn the body right. Inhale 

deeply and stretch the body forward while exhaling. En- 



joy the wonderful stretch. 

• Inhaling come up. Bring the right foot to normal position. 

• Repeat the same on the left. 


Benefits: 

Gives strong stretch the back. Strengthens the back 

7.4. KRIYAS 

1. KAPALABHATI ( RIGHT NOSTRIL) 


• Sit in any meditative posture. 

• Keep your spine and neck erect 

perfectly vertical to the ground. 

• Close the eyes and collapse the 

shoulders. 

• Relax the whole body completely. 

PRACTICE 

• Adopt Nasika mudra close the 

left nostril with the ring finger 

• Practice rapid breathing with active 

and forceful exhalation and 

passive inhalation. 

• During each exhalation, blast out 

the air by vigorous flapping movements 

of the abdomen in quick 



succession. 

• Inhale passively by relaxing the abdominal muscles at 

the end of each exhalation. 

• Repeat the exhalation as quickly as possible at the rate 

of 60 strokes per minute increasing to .108 strokes per 

minute. 

• At the end of one minute, stop the practice. 

• Now observe an automatic suspension of breath. In fact, 

there will be no urge for breathing for a few seconds. 

• Simultaneously the mind may experience a deep state of 

silence. Enjoy this state of deep rest and freshness. 

Benefits: 

• Stimulates left side of the brain more. 

• Improves the I.Q. 

Limitations: 

• People with Epilepsy, Severe back problems, Abdominal 

Hernia, Vertigo. 

• Ladies during periods time and pregnancy. 

• High B.P. and Heart problems. 

PRANAYAMA 

SÜRYA ANULOMA VILOMA 


PRACTICE 

• Sit in any comfortable meditative posture. 

• Adopt Násika mudrá with your right hand. 



• Close the left nostril with the little 

and ring fingers of Násika 

Mudrá. 

• Inhale and exhale slowly through 

the right nostril (Sürya Nádi) 

only. 

• Keep the left nostril closed all the 

time during the practice. 

• One cycle of inhalation and exhalation 

forms one round. 

• Practice nine rounds. Feel the 

changes in the head. Beautiful 

smile on the face. 

Note 

• Time taken for exhalation should 

be longer than inhalation. 

• Depression patients may practice this Pránáyáma 27 

rounds before breakfast, lunch, dinner and before sleep 

(4 times a day). 

Benefits: 

• Stimulates the left brain. 

• Improves analytical power. 

• Improves the discrimination. 

• Increases the concentration and intelligence. 

• Envigorates, activates and strengthens the Surya nadi. 

Limitations: 

• People with high B. P. and heart problem should avoid. 



MEDITAION 

Sit in any comfortable meditative posture. Start feeling and 

examining the changes in the body. Each and every muscle in 

the body is getting relaxed. Slowly breath in and slowly breath 

out. Carefully observe from where the thoughts are emerging. 

Trace the source of thoughts. The thoughts stop as you try to 

search the source. Again the next thought comes, stays for 

a while and goes back. The gap between the thoughts representing 

the silence. Observe carefully for that silence with 

the sharpest of the mind. Enjoy this silence with awareness. 

Full awareness. Carefully understand that every thought is a 

thought in a ocean. The ocean is the ocean of silence. That is 

the Anandamaya kosa. Ananda the bliss. Let us spread that 

fragrance of Ananda everywhere. This infinite silence is from 

where all the knowledge emerge. Vijnanamaya Kosa, Manomaya 

Kosa, Pranamaya Kosa and Annamaya Kosa came from 

this Anandamaya Kosa .

Yoga for IQ Development

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