WHY CUYA?      

A Pilot Study Exploring the Body’s Response to Ritual Postures
by Laura Lee Robear

Research  conducted by Jill Schumacher, BD, DNM & Meredith McCord, BD, DNM
This study was conducted as part of the researchers’ doctoral work in Bioenergetic Medicine and Natural Medicine.

Bridging Ancient Practice and Modern Measurement

For thousands of years, cultures around the world have used ritualized body positions, rhythmic sound, and focused intention to enter expanded states of consciousness. While practitioners have long reported profound psychological, emotional, and spiritual experiences during these states, relatively little scientific research has explored the accompanying physiological changes.

This pilot study sought to examine measurable bodily responses that occur during a Ritual Body Posture session, using modern biofeedback technology to observe shifts in respiration, heart activity, nervous system regulation, and brainwave patterns.

Study Design

This exploratory and descriptive pilot study involved 10 volunteer participants selected through a convenience sample.

Researchers followed the standard protocol developed by the Cuyamungue Institute (CUYA), which included:

  • Creating and holding a sacred ritual space
  • Relaxed, natural breathing
  • Assuming a specific Ritual Body Posture (the Bear Posture)
  • Neuro-acoustical stimulation using a rattle at approximately 210 beats per minute
  • Post-session journaling and reflection

The Bear Posture was selected to maintain consistency with previous research conducted on ritual posture trance states.

Measuring the Physiological Response

Data were collected using the Medicine Wheel Biofeedback System, a multi-channel assessment tool capable of simultaneously monitoring:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
  • Electroencephalogram (EEG)
  • Galvanic Skin Response (GSR)
  • Skin Temperature
  • Respiratory Rate
  • Respiratory Depth
  • Capnometry (expired CO₂)

This allowed researchers to observe multiple physiological systems in real time throughout the Ritual Body Posture experience.

Key Findings

The data revealed a consistent pattern suggesting participants entered a heightened yet deeply relaxed state during the posture phase.

Breathing Patterns

Respiratory depth decreased in all participants during the posture phase and returned immediately to baseline once the rattling stopped.

At the same time, respiratory rate increased, indicating a distinct alteration in breathing dynamics associated with the trance state.

Despite these changes, expired CO₂ levels remained stable throughout all phases of the study.

Heart Function and Autonomic Regulation

Researchers observed that:

  • Heart rate increased during the posture phase.
  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV) spiked with the initiation of the rattle.
  • HRV continued to show a modest upward trend during the posture experience.

Because of the small sample size, further research is needed to determine the significance of these observations. Nevertheless, the findings suggest increased autonomic flexibility and physiological responsiveness during the trance state.

Relaxation Response

Several measures indicated a state of relaxation despite heightened physiological activation:

  • Skin temperature increased in most participants during the posture phase.
  • Skin conductance trended downward during the posture experience.

Lower skin conductance is commonly associated with reduced sympathetic nervous system arousal and a more relaxed physiological state.

Together, these findings support the description often given by practitioners of being simultaneously alert, focused, and deeply relaxed.

Brainwave Activity

EEG measurements revealed observable changes in both alpha and delta brainwave activity approximately 7–10 minutes into the posture phase.

Because this pilot study utilized a small sample size and limited EEG electrode placement, researchers emphasized that additional studies with larger participant groups and more sophisticated brain-mapping equipment would be necessary to confirm and expand upon these preliminary findings.

Interpretation

Although preliminary, the results suggest that Ritual Body Postures may induce a distinctive psychophysiological state characterized by:

  • Increased physiological activation
  • Enhanced autonomic responsiveness
  • Deep relaxation
  • Altered breathing patterns
  • Measurable shifts in brainwave activity

These findings are consistent with reports from practitioners who describe entering an expanded state of awareness while remaining physically grounded and relaxed.

Looking Forward

As a pilot study, this research was designed to identify patterns and generate questions for future investigation rather than provide definitive conclusions.

The results point toward the value of larger-scale studies that could further explore:

  • Brainwave changes during Ritual Body Posture sessions
  • Long-term effects on nervous system regulation
  • Heart Rate Variability and coherence
  • Stress reduction and resilience
  • Relationships between physiological changes and subjective experience

By combining modern scientific measurement with an ancient human practice, this research offers an intriguing glimpse into how Ritual Body Postures may influence the body, brain, and consciousness.

Research Summary

Participants: 10
Study Type: Exploratory Pilot Study
Protocol: Bear Posture, rhythmic rattling, journaling
Primary Finding: Participants demonstrated measurable physiological changes consistent with a heightened yet relaxed state of consciousness.

“The body appears to enter a unique state in which activation and relaxation coexist—an observation that mirrors descriptions of trance states reported across cultures for thousands of years.”

(This study was done as a research project for our Doctorates in Bioenergetic Medicine & Natural Medicine.)
The design of this pilot study was an exploratory, descriptive study.  10 research subjects were selected using a convenience sample.  The CI Standard Protocol was applied for setting sacred space; breathing with natural, relaxed breath; assuming the ritual body posture (Bear Posture); neuro-acoustical stimulation with the rattle at 210 beats/min., followed by journaling. (Note:  The Bear Posture was selected to allow for consistency with previous research studies.)
The Medicine Wheel Biofeedback System was used as the scientific tool for data collection. This biofeedback system has the ability to simultaneously collect ECG, HRV, EEG, GSR-skin conductance, thermister (skin temperature), respiratory rate, respiratory depth and Capnometry (expired Co2).
Data collection results revealed the following trends:  (Note:  Heightened, yet relaxed state.)
–     Depth of respiration decreased in all subjects during the posture phase and returned to baseline immediately when the rattling stopped.
–     Respiratory rate increased during the posture phase.
–     Expired Co2  remained stable throughout all phases of data collection.
–     Skin temperature (GSR) increased in most subjects throughout the posture phase, trending down towards baseline in the journaling phase.
–     Heart rate increased during the posture phase.
–     Heart rate variability (HRV) spiked with initiation of the rattle.  HRV showed slight trend of increasing during posture phase; however, small N limited any further analysis.
–     Skin conductance had a downward trend during the posture phase, indicative of a relaxed state.
–     EEG showed changes in the alpha & delta waves in the 7-10 minute posture phase. (Need a larger N and greater number of EEG electrodes to confirm this finding.)