What Does "Science Based" Content Actually Mean? 

We live in an era with unprecedented access to information at all times, day or night. No doubt our ancestors would be overwhelmed with the sheer volume of words, images and data that modern individuals contend with on an hourly basis. And while easy access to information that can enhance our lives is definitely beneficial, there can be troubling aspects to this glut of data as well. 

In years past, people spent their entire careers poring over page after page, trying to answer various questions. But now, in our brave new world, finding information is not a problem. It is the skill of discerning which information to trust that defines our age. Deciding which source provides valid, verifiable and accurate information is one of the most valuable skills that a person can cultivate. 

This is how understanding science based articles and information can be a valuable resource. The term “science based” refers to data that has been subjected to the standardized scientific process of inquiry. That process typically begins with an observation about the world. That observation leads to a question or to a problem that needs to be solved. And while in today’s world it is fairly simple to search for the answer or for the solution, there are still some answers that are not so straightforward. 

It is usually at this point that the observer generates a “hypothesis” or theory as to what the answer to the question is. And it is exactly at this point that the vast majority of people and sources veer off of the path of science based research. Most people, including people that the public regards as “experts” or “gurus” will generate a hypothesis and then use familiar information to make assumptions about what the answer to the observed question or problem is. 

Prior to the application of a rigorous scientific process to inquiry, the average person proceeded through life by making assumptions based on lived experience. For example, during the medieval period, it was widely believed that non-living items such as piles of dirty rages were what spontaneously gave rise to flies. After all, it was easy enough to observe this process in real life. But this assumption was utterly incorrect, and over time it has been well proven that flies come from other flies that lay their eggs in items such as dirty rags. 

Around the 17th century, the scientific revolution gradually evolved and the era of science driven inquiry began. Within science based inquiry, the observer still makes an observation and generates a hypothesis, but the answer to their question is not found in assumptions. Today, that hypothesis is subjected to a rigorous process of research design. The scientist makes an observation, asks a question, generates a hypothesis or a theory about what the answer to that question is, and then he or she designs a research protocol that is precisely articulated. 

In the best of circumstances, that research study design is presented to an “institutional review board” to review whether the experiment adheres to standards of ethical inquiry. If the study is approved, it moves forward with the recruitment of research subjects and the accumulation of data. The data that is collected is then subjected to mathematical and statistical analysis to try to discover if the outcome of the study was due to random chance or whether the outcome of the study had “scientific significance”. All aspects of the research design are very carefully written out, from the way test subjects were recruited to how the intervention in question was administered. And finally, if the research is compelling enough, it is published in what is called a “peer reviewed journal”. 

Once the research has been published it is scrutinized by professionals that work in that field and they can point out faults in the research or they can try to replicate the research study to verify that the result was real. This process is repeated over and over and subjected to repeated data analysis until gradually a hypothesis can be accepted as likely or unlikely. 

That is why science is so malleable and assertions are constantly evolving and changing. One day the research says that eating eggs is horrible for us, then years later it turns out that eggs really aren’t so bad. That evolution of information is a part of the process. And as humans we are left to do our best with what we know at any given time. 

That process of scientific inquiry is now being vigorously applied to yoga practice. That makes the current environment of teaching and learning yoga so exciting. There are currently wide scale analyses of research done on how yoga practice affects human DNA and how it changes the levels of anti-oxidant compounds in the human blood stream. There are well designed studies that prove that meditation actually lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood stream and decreases the risk of certain chronic diseases. 

And so we stand on the cusp of a very exciting time where our beloved yoga practice is actually being verified as a form of medicine for both body and soul. As yoga teachers, we are stewards of the sacred and ancient practice of yoga. And we are a bridge between that science and the art of yoga practice. When you stand in front of your students and offer them meditation, breathwork or asana practice you are offering them healing, health and longevity. But when you choose your continuing education courses with an eye for science based information, you can stand in front of them with confidence based on scientific understanding of this beautiful, venerable practice.