In a world where we are connected 24 hours a day, it is important to find the time to unplug. Start today and make it a part of your daily routine.
Find 20 minutes in the morning or evening to switch off the phones, disconnect from the world, and find that personal space through meditation.
To meditate isn’t for everyone. If this is the case, take the time to go for a walk, or be in nature – another way in which we can disconnect from the modern world. Give your mind a break and your body a rest, and make sure you are keeping yourself spiritually hygienic, or book in to see a spiritual healer who can keep clearing you of the negativity.
Meditation isn’t about sitting in silence, its varied. You can either choose to be a beginner, intermediate or advanced meditator.
All classes are varied and you will learn different techniques, until you discover the one that suits you. Topics covered in class:
– Postures
– Hand Positions
– Breathing exercises
– Guided Meditation
– Music Meditation
– Mantra Meditation
– Sound Meditation
– Candle Meditation
– and much more
Meditation helps you to relax, providing a host of physical and psychological benefits which will have a massive impact on your day to day life, helping you to:
– Feel less stressed or anxious
– Lower your blood pressure
– Reduce the probability of heart disease
– Feel relief from physical pain and ailments
– Boost your immune system
– Feel relaxed and in control
– Enjoy a deeper sleep
– Overcome challenges
– Balance emotions and find happiness
– Improve your concentration
– Unlock your creativity
– Gain a knowledge of yourself
Meditation isn’t about sitting in silence, its varied. You can either choose to be a beginner, intermediate or advanced meditator.
Scientific Evidence Supporting The Benefits Of Daily Meditation
In recent times, pioneers of meditation have started to look at the scientific benefits of meditation and how it affects the body. Pioneers such as Dr Herbert Benson, Richard Davidson, Jon Kabat Zinn, Dr. James Austin and Sara Lazar have contributed to this research. It has been reported that meditation in Zen “rewires the circuitry” of the brain. This has been confirmed using functional MRI imaging, a brain scanning technique that measures blood flow in the brain. Scientists have used electroencephalogram machines (EEG), functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI ) and RDA machines to understand the brain and the brain waves when someone is meditating. They discovered that brainwaves and brain structure altered in someone that meditated, resulting in an increase of grey matter in the brain which can reverse the onset of memory loss and aging. Classical EEG were performed on a group of subjects during Transcendental Meditation (TM). The findings were compared with those obtained in a resting control group. Alpha rhythm increased in amplitude, slowed down in frequency and extended to anterior channels in the brain at the beginning of meditation. In a second stage, theta frequencies different from those of sleep diffused from frontal to posterior channels in the brain. They took the form of short theta periods or longer rhythmic theta trains.
The most striking changes were the synchronization of anterior and posterior channels in the brain. Therefore, EEG records from meditators practicing TM distinguish the meditative state, from other states of consciousness. Science has proved that meditation affects brainwaves. Beta waves are fast brainwaves that the EEG picks up when we are busy thinking, talking, multi-tasking and under stress. Regular meditation can change beta waves to alpha waves, a lower frequency wave; EEGs register these when a person is meditating in a state of relaxed alertness. The moment we close our eyes and begin to focus inwardly, alpha waves begin to register. Theta waves are exhibited during deep meditation; they are of a lower frequency than alpha waves and are also associated with experiences of bliss. Gamma waves are very high frequency, detected in the brainwave patterns of long term meditators and associated with higher states of consciousness.
Herbert Benson created the ‘Relaxation Response’. He proved that meditating regularly was an effective therapy for high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome – and many more conditions. Within the last ten years, Benson’s studies indicated that regular meditation can activate genes, regulate insulin levels and strengthen the immune system. Studies have also shown lower rates of heart attacks, strokes and deaths among heart disease patients who meditated.
Sara Lazar discovered that regular meditation thickens grey matter in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, with implications for greater longevity, awareness and empathy. Meditation affects the brain in the way that the left and the right brain become connected. It gives the right brain creativity, and left brain analysis.
Evidence:
NeuroImage Volume 73, June 2013, Pages 225 – 236 Electroencephalography and clinical Neurophysiology volume 35 The High-Performance Mind: Mastering Brainwaves for Insight, Healing, and Creativity. Anna Wise Thought for medicine Wikipedia.com Meditation the stress solution:Mary Pearson The Blissful Brain Dr shanida Nataraja The Power Of meditation Sharon Salzberg Benson Herbert website Zen and the Brain (Austin, 1999) BsOM Unit 2 booklet.