Saturday, July 31, 2010
Fit Yourself Into Comfortable Yoga Clothes
Clothes form an integral part of your Yoga sessions. Comfortable, flexible and functional aspects of your Yoga attire is what aids you to stretch and balance to attain accuracy in your Yoga poses. Hence it becomes an imperative need to fit yourself into the right clothes for the smooth stretches and firm balances of perfectly done asanas.
Here are a few tips to choose the right Yoga clothes for both men and women.
Clothes Portray Your Attitude
Yoga is not simply about twisting and turning as it stretches far beyond workouts by integrating the body, mind and the spirit. One has to keep in mind, the essence of spirituality that it holds.
Plain T-shirts with no prints are ideal Yoga wears as they attract less or no attention.
Tees with spiritual prints like 'Om' etc reveal your intentions.
The much raved about Eco-friendly clothes which reveal a simple and natural outlook, work well with spirituality
Cotton clothes simply portrays simplicity
Revealing clothes are a big no no as they could divert the attention of other practitioners.
T-shirts that shouts sex, drugs, rock and roll, romance and the like are to be avoided. (MORE)
Here are a few tips to choose the right Yoga clothes for both men and women.
Clothes Portray Your Attitude
Yoga is not simply about twisting and turning as it stretches far beyond workouts by integrating the body, mind and the spirit. One has to keep in mind, the essence of spirituality that it holds.
Plain T-shirts with no prints are ideal Yoga wears as they attract less or no attention.
Tees with spiritual prints like 'Om' etc reveal your intentions.
The much raved about Eco-friendly clothes which reveal a simple and natural outlook, work well with spirituality
Cotton clothes simply portrays simplicity
Revealing clothes are a big no no as they could divert the attention of other practitioners.
T-shirts that shouts sex, drugs, rock and roll, romance and the like are to be avoided. (MORE)
Source Oneindia
Friday, July 30, 2010
Meditation Variation
Meditation is no longer the province of Eastern cultures or “hippy” types. The “West” has embraced meditation and today meditation can even be prescribed by doctors, particularly in relation to relieving conditions that relate to stress. It is wonderful that on the one hand the insights and powers of meditation are being discovered by Western societies but there are also pitfalls ahead.
When an outsider embraces an ancient tradition there is always the possibility that a superficial understanding will result. For instance simply encouraging someone to “meditate” misses the point that there are many different styles of meditation and that each one has different effects. This point has been highlighted in a new study which showed exactly how the different styles affect your brain.
The study identified that the Buddhist, Chinese, and Vedic traditions of meditation produce styles that can be grouped under three broad headings. (MORE)
When an outsider embraces an ancient tradition there is always the possibility that a superficial understanding will result. For instance simply encouraging someone to “meditate” misses the point that there are many different styles of meditation and that each one has different effects. This point has been highlighted in a new study which showed exactly how the different styles affect your brain.
The study identified that the Buddhist, Chinese, and Vedic traditions of meditation produce styles that can be grouped under three broad headings. (MORE)
Source: WellBeing
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Listen To The Silence
Silence may be golden, but where, in this noise-filled world of ours, can you truly experience it? Stuart Jeffries heads off to a spiritual retreat in search of some inner peace
It's kicking off in the quiet carriage. At Reading, two elderly people get on and the lovely hush that has existed on this corner of the 09.59 from Paddington is over. "Which seats?" barks the wife. Her husband, two steps behind with luggage and tickets, replies: "Twenty-nine and 30." Snoozers awake confused and dry-mouthed, readers look up from their books crossly. "Did you book them facing or next to each other?" "I don't remember. Why?" "Because 29 and 30 are opposite each other. I don't want to sit opposite. I want to sit together." "Why wouldn't 29 and 30 be together?" "You would assume 29 and 30 would be together." "When I booked online, it looked as though 29 and 30 were together." "But they clearly aren't."
Cue low-volume tutting. Why, I ask myself silently, can't passengers who board trains be fitted with chips that give them a silencing electric shock if they speak over a certain decibel level? Surely that's not beyond the wit of First Great Western's engineers. (MORE)
It's kicking off in the quiet carriage. At Reading, two elderly people get on and the lovely hush that has existed on this corner of the 09.59 from Paddington is over. "Which seats?" barks the wife. Her husband, two steps behind with luggage and tickets, replies: "Twenty-nine and 30." Snoozers awake confused and dry-mouthed, readers look up from their books crossly. "Did you book them facing or next to each other?" "I don't remember. Why?" "Because 29 and 30 are opposite each other. I don't want to sit opposite. I want to sit together." "Why wouldn't 29 and 30 be together?" "You would assume 29 and 30 would be together." "When I booked online, it looked as though 29 and 30 were together." "But they clearly aren't."
Cue low-volume tutting. Why, I ask myself silently, can't passengers who board trains be fitted with chips that give them a silencing electric shock if they speak over a certain decibel level? Surely that's not beyond the wit of First Great Western's engineers. (MORE)
Source: Guardian
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Yoga and Recovery: The Next Level!
Nearly one year ago, I started teaching Yoga For Recovery from addiction on Friday nights at 7:45pm at YogaCo. Each Yoga For Recovery class is one part Yoga, one part meditation, one part inspirational philosophy and one-part community share. I have found the combination of yoga and recovery philosophies to be very powerful. I like to say it can make your recovery bullet-proof by providing you with advanced technologies (read: tools) for personal transformation and growth. The classes have been effective, inspiring and a lot of fun. This past week, I was asked to bring the offering to 5-Point Yoga in Malibu, CA., at 5:30pm on Sunday evenings. Wherever you are on the path, if you are interested in overcoming addictions and hurdles of any kind, come check out a Yoga For Recovery class. Also, check out my web site and sign up for The Forklift Newsletter, which will give inspiration and ideas for living life to its fullest. I look forward to seeing you in class. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Stretch | When Yoga Hurts
As Cathy Lilly folded into downward dog at a workshop in January, a novice instructor, eager to help, lifted Ms. Lilly’s thumbs and angled them forward. Her thumbs are still recovering from the strain.
Ms. Lilly, 53, a yoga teacher with more than two decades on the mat, also once injured her rotator cuff jumping distractedly into plank pose. And after another instructor suggested she kiss her knee while in heron pose, her hamstring suffered the consequences.
Isn’t yoga supposed to be good for you? After all, doctors prescribe it to injured athletes and cancer patients. And while tennis players can expect ripped-up elbows and runners know they may blow out their knees, yogis don’t usually anticipate having to hobble off their mats.
It is this “do no harm” mind-set that can lead to strained backs, pulled knees, aching wrists and slipped discs. Ms. Lilly is part of a growing roster of yoga practitioners on injured reserve. (MORE)
Ms. Lilly, 53, a yoga teacher with more than two decades on the mat, also once injured her rotator cuff jumping distractedly into plank pose. And after another instructor suggested she kiss her knee while in heron pose, her hamstring suffered the consequences.
Isn’t yoga supposed to be good for you? After all, doctors prescribe it to injured athletes and cancer patients. And while tennis players can expect ripped-up elbows and runners know they may blow out their knees, yogis don’t usually anticipate having to hobble off their mats.
It is this “do no harm” mind-set that can lead to strained backs, pulled knees, aching wrists and slipped discs. Ms. Lilly is part of a growing roster of yoga practitioners on injured reserve. (MORE)
Source: NY Times
Monday, July 26, 2010
Meditation: What It's Really Like Inside
For people who have never meditated before, the experience of mindfulness meditation can be a mystery. Last night, a friend who had just returned from his first stay at Tassajara asked, "I still don't get it. What exactly am I supposed to do when I meditate? I get the impression I will get scolded if I move my body even just a little. Can I keep my eyes closed? Am I supposed to not think?" Not exactly a good start, given that meditation is largely about maintaining a posture of relaxed alertness, along with an attitude of all inclusivity about the present moment. I tried to explain in words what meditation is really about. I also suggested that he find a good teacher . . .
Because meditation is not a conceptual experience, efforts to describe it in words are bound to fall short. Instead, images can do a better job. Here is a visual essay I put together to relate my own experience of being in a sitting meditation. I hope you will find it helpful. (MORE)
Because meditation is not a conceptual experience, efforts to describe it in words are bound to fall short. Instead, images can do a better job. Here is a visual essay I put together to relate my own experience of being in a sitting meditation. I hope you will find it helpful. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Yoga for Good, Glowing Skin
It costs but a fraction of what your imported cosmetic cream might does but requires double the hard work. The secret behind glowing, healthy skin, it seems was written hundreds of years ago in Yogic literature. Yoga is usually associated with fitness and flexibility but it also adds that glint to your face that many cosmetic procedures can't. Inverted postures, pranayama and sun salutations can give you the much-needed makeover, provided you practice them regularly.
According to the head of artistic yoga, Bharat Thakur's Yoga, Uma Gautam, all inverted postures like the halasana or the plough posture, the sarvangasana, the head stand or sirshasana, the paschimottamasana help the blood to flow to the brain, and there is good blood circulation around the eyes and cheeks.
"These asanas clear the skin and makes it look healthy. Between seven to 10 days of practicing these asanas you can see the difference clearly. Pranayama is also great for good skin. You can do anywhere between 20 to 100 Kapalbhatis and Bhastrikas and see the change yourself. In the yogic scriptures, there is a mention of these yogic postures to not just develop a healthy lifestyle but also see the change in your skin." (MORE)
According to the head of artistic yoga, Bharat Thakur's Yoga, Uma Gautam, all inverted postures like the halasana or the plough posture, the sarvangasana, the head stand or sirshasana, the paschimottamasana help the blood to flow to the brain, and there is good blood circulation around the eyes and cheeks.
"These asanas clear the skin and makes it look healthy. Between seven to 10 days of practicing these asanas you can see the difference clearly. Pranayama is also great for good skin. You can do anywhere between 20 to 100 Kapalbhatis and Bhastrikas and see the change yourself. In the yogic scriptures, there is a mention of these yogic postures to not just develop a healthy lifestyle but also see the change in your skin." (MORE)
Source: Times of India
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Seven Types of Teachers
Teacher, guru, or spiritual friend -- what are you looking for? The spiritual path has many challenges. There are many things we need to learn or develop. A short list would probably include motivation, skills in meditation and prayer, contemplation, etc. Like music or painting, most of us learn better from someone, rather than, for instance, reading a book. When we interact with an actual person, we have to give expression to what we have learned. It becomes alive in us in a way that book learning often does not.
In Buddhism we usually think of a teacher. In Catholicism, the comparable term might be spiritual director. Whatever term we use, this person has a crucial role in our spiritual growth. Role? Actually, it would be more accurate to say "roles." I came up with a list of nine, probably not exhaustive or comprehensive, but perhaps a good starting point. Here are brief descriptions, in no particular order. (MORE)
In Buddhism we usually think of a teacher. In Catholicism, the comparable term might be spiritual director. Whatever term we use, this person has a crucial role in our spiritual growth. Role? Actually, it would be more accurate to say "roles." I came up with a list of nine, probably not exhaustive or comprehensive, but perhaps a good starting point. Here are brief descriptions, in no particular order. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Friday, July 23, 2010
Managing Stress in our Lives
Stress can kill | A look at what we can do to control stress and stay healthy
Some is good but over time too much can kill you.
Stress in small amounts is good because it can motivate us to take action. Too much stress can cause us to get sick. Dr. Bill Cook runs a mind-body practice in Fredericton. Most of his patients tell him they can't understand why they're sick. He says almost all sickness is stress-based.
"There isn't a single cell or organ in your body that is not potentially adversely affected by the chemistry of the stress system. That's how substantive it is. You name an organ system and there is something that stress can do to that over the long haul."
In the short term, stress can cause things such as headaches and stomachaches. Over time, he says, we can end up with compressed discs, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, colon cancer and other major illnesses.
To avoid sickness, we need to find ways to relieve our stress. This happens through life-long practices. He says it isn't the straw that broke the camel's back but the constant heavy load that caused the camel to fall.
Once we see ourselves as camels carrying heavy loads then, he says, we can determine the stresses that we can and the stresses that we can't control. We can either rid ourselves of the things that cause us stress, or modify them so they are more manageable. (MORE)
Some is good but over time too much can kill you.
Stress in small amounts is good because it can motivate us to take action. Too much stress can cause us to get sick. Dr. Bill Cook runs a mind-body practice in Fredericton. Most of his patients tell him they can't understand why they're sick. He says almost all sickness is stress-based.
"There isn't a single cell or organ in your body that is not potentially adversely affected by the chemistry of the stress system. That's how substantive it is. You name an organ system and there is something that stress can do to that over the long haul."
In the short term, stress can cause things such as headaches and stomachaches. Over time, he says, we can end up with compressed discs, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, colon cancer and other major illnesses.
To avoid sickness, we need to find ways to relieve our stress. This happens through life-long practices. He says it isn't the straw that broke the camel's back but the constant heavy load that caused the camel to fall.
Once we see ourselves as camels carrying heavy loads then, he says, we can determine the stresses that we can and the stresses that we can't control. We can either rid ourselves of the things that cause us stress, or modify them so they are more manageable. (MORE)
Source: The Daily Gleamer
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Hospitals Change Chapels Into Meditation Rooms
A desire to be more open and inclusive is forcing many hospitals to change the design and function of their chapels.
An explanation:
The shift to meditation rooms mirrors a growing trend among hospitals nationwide as health care centers try to make room for people from a wide variety of faiths, as well as those who have no faith or are "spiritual but not religious."
In a stressful environment, hospital chapels, meditation rooms or prayer rooms offer employees, patients and visitors quiet refuge for individual prayer, meditation or communal worship.
Throughout the 19th century, many U.S. hospitals were built by religious groups, particularly Catholic nuns. As a result, their chapels typically resembled Protestant or Catholic churches or Jewish synagogues.
Today, hospital chapels vary widely. Some still reflect their founders' religious roots. Others have been renovated to accommodate multiple religions, or their religious symbols have been removed so the rooms resemble waiting rooms or art galleries. (MORE)
An explanation:
The shift to meditation rooms mirrors a growing trend among hospitals nationwide as health care centers try to make room for people from a wide variety of faiths, as well as those who have no faith or are "spiritual but not religious."
In a stressful environment, hospital chapels, meditation rooms or prayer rooms offer employees, patients and visitors quiet refuge for individual prayer, meditation or communal worship.
Throughout the 19th century, many U.S. hospitals were built by religious groups, particularly Catholic nuns. As a result, their chapels typically resembled Protestant or Catholic churches or Jewish synagogues.
Today, hospital chapels vary widely. Some still reflect their founders' religious roots. Others have been renovated to accommodate multiple religions, or their religious symbols have been removed so the rooms resemble waiting rooms or art galleries. (MORE)
Source: Beliefnet
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Spiritual Sport of Yoga
Yoga is an ancient discipline that has started to become popular the world over. It is a low impact form of exercise that combines spirituality and health benefits in a very relaxing manner. From ancient origins in India to becoming a religious practise to becoming a very fashionable sport in 2010, yoga has come a very long way. It used to have connotations of a hippy lifestyle and a free spirit but it has been gaining in popularity ever since people realised that it is very beneficial for the human body. Now yoga classes are held in many gyms all over the country and the sport does not seem to be slowing down in popularity any time soon.
Yoga has a very interesting history. It is claimed to have started almost 5000 years ago in the Indus Valley. No one knows who the first yogi, a practitioner of yoga, was; but excavations of ancient cities have unearthed drawings and sculptures of figures in various yoga poses. Yoga started out as a form of religious teaching when religious preachers would use yoga poses to influence people to live healthier lives and cleanse their bodies.
Yoga was introduced to America in 1893 when a famous Indian yogi showed various yoga poses to an enthralled Chicago audience. He toured the country giving lectures about yoga until many people were taking part in the discipline. The sport really took off when a yoga studio was opened in Hollywood and it was introduced to film stars in the 40s. From there it exploded into the American market. (MORE)
Yoga has a very interesting history. It is claimed to have started almost 5000 years ago in the Indus Valley. No one knows who the first yogi, a practitioner of yoga, was; but excavations of ancient cities have unearthed drawings and sculptures of figures in various yoga poses. Yoga started out as a form of religious teaching when religious preachers would use yoga poses to influence people to live healthier lives and cleanse their bodies.
Yoga was introduced to America in 1893 when a famous Indian yogi showed various yoga poses to an enthralled Chicago audience. He toured the country giving lectures about yoga until many people were taking part in the discipline. The sport really took off when a yoga studio was opened in Hollywood and it was introduced to film stars in the 40s. From there it exploded into the American market. (MORE)
Source: bettor.com
Monday, July 19, 2010
Economic Woes Make Yoga Popular Stress Buster in US
As the US economy goes through a period of turbulence an increasing number of Americans are finding refuge in yoga studios.
"In these economic times people either go to yoga studios or bars," ABC News quoted Gina Norman, the co-owner of Kaia Yoga in the posh Connecticut suburb of Westport, as saying.
"It's mostly about the stress reduction," she added.
Ever since it opened in 2005, Kaia Yoga has been doing brisk business.
Its enrolment has surged each year during the economic meltdown, even as students have cut down expenditure in other areas of their lives. Many of the new students are men trying to bust stress.
The popularity of yoga has soared in the past three years; nearly 14 million people now attend yoga classes compared with just 11 million in 2007, claims market research firm GfK-MRI.
Yoga Journal reported in 2008 that Americans spent 5.7 billion dollars on yoga classes and equipment (including clothing, DVDs and mats), almost double the amount they spent in 2004.
Bill Harper, Yoga Journal's publisher, said: "When we get into shaky financial times and people are feeling bad about themselves, they seem to turn to yoga for a bit of solace." (MORE)
"In these economic times people either go to yoga studios or bars," ABC News quoted Gina Norman, the co-owner of Kaia Yoga in the posh Connecticut suburb of Westport, as saying.
"It's mostly about the stress reduction," she added.
Ever since it opened in 2005, Kaia Yoga has been doing brisk business.
Its enrolment has surged each year during the economic meltdown, even as students have cut down expenditure in other areas of their lives. Many of the new students are men trying to bust stress.
The popularity of yoga has soared in the past three years; nearly 14 million people now attend yoga classes compared with just 11 million in 2007, claims market research firm GfK-MRI.
Yoga Journal reported in 2008 that Americans spent 5.7 billion dollars on yoga classes and equipment (including clothing, DVDs and mats), almost double the amount they spent in 2004.
Bill Harper, Yoga Journal's publisher, said: "When we get into shaky financial times and people are feeling bad about themselves, they seem to turn to yoga for a bit of solace." (MORE)
Source: Sify News
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Combination of Meditation and Yoga
"Let us tell the truth; Yoga or meditation is not a means to achieve union with the highest when we have never been set asunder from this union to begin with. Yoga, meditation, and union are not a combination. As mystics, this paradoxical truth of the one in the many and the many in the one, recognized by numerous contemplative traditions and wise ones including the historical Buddha, goes to the profound core of our practice." -author
Namaste', my friends (your energy and my energy respected and noted as the one universal energy – this is the greeting, "Namaste'). This greeting has approximately six to eight thousand years of mystical history behind it. Many practitioners of Yoga prefer to include a Hatha Yoga aspect, or derivative thereof, as an important element of a deep, broad, and certainly hoary meditation practice. (MORE)
Namaste', my friends (your energy and my energy respected and noted as the one universal energy – this is the greeting, "Namaste'). This greeting has approximately six to eight thousand years of mystical history behind it. Many practitioners of Yoga prefer to include a Hatha Yoga aspect, or derivative thereof, as an important element of a deep, broad, and certainly hoary meditation practice. (MORE)
Source: Helium
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Can Yoga Help During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is an opportunity for a woman to discover her strength and flexibility. The experience of a natural birth can be challenging. But yoga and meditation have found to have positive effects on the birth process, helping the mommy-to-be deal well with stress, pain and exhaustion. The two together also have the ability to produce a higher quality of conception, a healthier maternal environment for pregnancy and a less painful birthing experience.
Regular practice of asanas in yoga, along with some simple cardiovascular exercises such as walking can:
*Boost energy, stamina and endurance
* Reduce physical and emotional tension and stress
*Transform anxiety and stress into beneficial energy
* Enhance confidence
* Improve posture, stability and balance
* Reduce the risk and need of medical intervention during delivery
* Have a positive impact on the development and growth of the foetus
* Assist in bringing into the world a child less-inhibited by stress and potential illness
* Get you back into shape quicker post-delivery
Yoga can help facilitate a gentle and uncomplicated delivery and make the whole experience a more joyful one.
Yoga has five vital tools for pregnancy. If followed with the help of an instructor, yoga can work wonders on your body during the nine months. Many yoga centres offer pre-natal and post-natal yoga classes.
Regular practice of asanas in yoga, along with some simple cardiovascular exercises such as walking can:
*Boost energy, stamina and endurance
* Reduce physical and emotional tension and stress
*Transform anxiety and stress into beneficial energy
* Enhance confidence
* Improve posture, stability and balance
* Reduce the risk and need of medical intervention during delivery
* Have a positive impact on the development and growth of the foetus
* Assist in bringing into the world a child less-inhibited by stress and potential illness
* Get you back into shape quicker post-delivery
Yoga can help facilitate a gentle and uncomplicated delivery and make the whole experience a more joyful one.
Yoga has five vital tools for pregnancy. If followed with the help of an instructor, yoga can work wonders on your body during the nine months. Many yoga centres offer pre-natal and post-natal yoga classes.
Source: Deccan Hearld
Friday, July 16, 2010
Buddhist Meditation Boosts Concentration Skills
Study Shows Meditation Sharpens Attention and Improves Focus
People who learn how to meditate using Buddhist techniques not only may find a bit of peace in life, but also can improve their attention and focus a new study shows.
Psychologist Katherine A. MacLean, PhD, and other researchers, signed up 30 people with an average age of 49 to go on a three-month meditation retreat in Colorado. Another 30 people in a comparison group went on a similar retreat.
The participants studied meditation techniques, such as concentrating on breathing, with Buddhist scholar and co-researcher B. Alan Wallace, PhD, of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies.
All participants were aficionados of meditation and had been on retreats before, but this time they were taught how to concentrate and asked to complete various tests. Also, volunteers attended group sessions twice daily and engaged in individual meditative practice for about six hours.
At three points during the retreat, the volunteers took a 30-minute computer test, during which they watched the screen as lines of various lengths flashed randomly in front of them. Most lines were the same length, but sometimes a shorter one would appear. (MORE)
People who learn how to meditate using Buddhist techniques not only may find a bit of peace in life, but also can improve their attention and focus a new study shows.
Psychologist Katherine A. MacLean, PhD, and other researchers, signed up 30 people with an average age of 49 to go on a three-month meditation retreat in Colorado. Another 30 people in a comparison group went on a similar retreat.
The participants studied meditation techniques, such as concentrating on breathing, with Buddhist scholar and co-researcher B. Alan Wallace, PhD, of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies.
All participants were aficionados of meditation and had been on retreats before, but this time they were taught how to concentrate and asked to complete various tests. Also, volunteers attended group sessions twice daily and engaged in individual meditative practice for about six hours.
At three points during the retreat, the volunteers took a 30-minute computer test, during which they watched the screen as lines of various lengths flashed randomly in front of them. Most lines were the same length, but sometimes a shorter one would appear. (MORE)
Source: WebMD
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Meditation An Effective Way To Enhance Concentration--Study
A new study suggests that the practice of meditation not only helps dissolves tensions, repressions, and anxieties but is also the ultimate solution to increase creativity and gain a clear state of mind.
According to researchers, meditation is a terrific technique for improving concentration and building mental fortitude, focus, and will power.
Lead author of the study, Katherine MacLean from the University of California Davis, was inspired by Buddhist monks who spend years training in meditation.
She stated, "You wonder if the mental skills, the calmness, the peace that they express, if those things are a result of their very intensive training or if they were just very special people to begin with.” (MORE)
According to researchers, meditation is a terrific technique for improving concentration and building mental fortitude, focus, and will power.
Lead author of the study, Katherine MacLean from the University of California Davis, was inspired by Buddhist monks who spend years training in meditation.
She stated, "You wonder if the mental skills, the calmness, the peace that they express, if those things are a result of their very intensive training or if they were just very special people to begin with.” (MORE)
Source: The Med Guru
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Reduce Stress By Changing How You Think
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be," Abraham Lincoln once famously said. And now it turns out that his statement was more than just a folksy quip. New research in neuroscience and psychology shows that we may be more in control of our emotions and anxiety levels than we think. And for the more than 75% of Americans who suffer from stress-related conditions, according to the American Psychiatric Association, these findings may give them new help for managing stress. Stress comes from the way we think and react to outside stimulus, so people with anxious tendencies will react in a more fearful way than their calmer counterparts. "The reaction to stress
li comes from a part of the brain in the prefrontal cortex that is primitive--it's a fight or flight reaction, " says Don Goewy, author of Mystic Cool, a self-help book about stress management. Your brain can't tell the difference between real and perceived danger, so stress levels jump when an individual faces a real physical threat or a perceived threat, such as being called into a supervisor's office.
10 Tips For Stress-Free Living (MORE)
li comes from a part of the brain in the prefrontal cortex that is primitive--it's a fight or flight reaction, " says Don Goewy, author of Mystic Cool, a self-help book about stress management. Your brain can't tell the difference between real and perceived danger, so stress levels jump when an individual faces a real physical threat or a perceived threat, such as being called into a supervisor's office.
10 Tips For Stress-Free Living (MORE)
Source: Hindustantimes.com
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Something Hurt? Meditate On It
An entire industry seems to have been built around helping women distract themselves from the pain of childbirth.
Yet, new research finds, that the pain of childbirth—as well as the pain of headaches and stomachaches and everything else—might become even more bearable by doing the opposite—focusing on the pain instead.
Researchers at the University of Manchester in the UK used lasers to inflict pain on a group of study subjects and asked them to rate the unpleasantness of the pain. (Note to self: do not look into a career as a study subject.) Everyone in the group should have experienced the same level of pain, but this was not the case. People who meditated regularly reported the pain as less uncomfortable than people who did not.
And their brain response to the pain was different, too. People who did not meditate regularly anticipated the pain before it took place. They mentally braced for it, which made the brain’s pain response more intense. The meditators did not do this. They relaxed into it instead.
I’ve experienced this meditation effect first hand, as I seem to be a pain magnet. I have irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that triggers extreme stomach aches. I also tend to get migraines. (MORE)
Yet, new research finds, that the pain of childbirth—as well as the pain of headaches and stomachaches and everything else—might become even more bearable by doing the opposite—focusing on the pain instead.
Researchers at the University of Manchester in the UK used lasers to inflict pain on a group of study subjects and asked them to rate the unpleasantness of the pain. (Note to self: do not look into a career as a study subject.) Everyone in the group should have experienced the same level of pain, but this was not the case. People who meditated regularly reported the pain as less uncomfortable than people who did not.
And their brain response to the pain was different, too. People who did not meditate regularly anticipated the pain before it took place. They mentally braced for it, which made the brain’s pain response more intense. The meditators did not do this. They relaxed into it instead.
I’ve experienced this meditation effect first hand, as I seem to be a pain magnet. I have irritable bowel syndrome, a condition that triggers extreme stomach aches. I also tend to get migraines. (MORE)
Source: The Morning Call
Monday, July 12, 2010
Dr Oz: Use Your Brain to Relieve Pain
If you're among the tens of millions of North Americans living with chronic pain, we've got news about a drug-free "om remedy" worth trying: easy meditation.
Plenty of research shows that your brain's superpowers can help conquer the most stubborn of miseries, including bad backs, cancer pain, arthritis, tension headaches and inflammatory bowel disease. The best part? You don't have to move to a mountaintop, sit on a rock-hard meditation cushion or shell out big bucks for a meditation instructor to get results.
In a new study from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, people who meditated for just 20 minutes a day saw their pain tolerance rise in four days. Volunteers learned an ultra-easy technique called mindfulness meditation, which teaches you to focus on your breath and stay in the present moment, and not to worry about what's ahead. Researchers tested the volunteers' pain thresholds with mild electric shocks and found that shocks considered "high pain" before meditating felt mild afterward. Volunteers who didn't learn the meditation had unchanged responses to the shocks. (No, we can't imagine why anyone volunteered for this, though we're grateful that they did.) (MORE)
Plenty of research shows that your brain's superpowers can help conquer the most stubborn of miseries, including bad backs, cancer pain, arthritis, tension headaches and inflammatory bowel disease. The best part? You don't have to move to a mountaintop, sit on a rock-hard meditation cushion or shell out big bucks for a meditation instructor to get results.
In a new study from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, people who meditated for just 20 minutes a day saw their pain tolerance rise in four days. Volunteers learned an ultra-easy technique called mindfulness meditation, which teaches you to focus on your breath and stay in the present moment, and not to worry about what's ahead. Researchers tested the volunteers' pain thresholds with mild electric shocks and found that shocks considered "high pain" before meditating felt mild afterward. Volunteers who didn't learn the meditation had unchanged responses to the shocks. (No, we can't imagine why anyone volunteered for this, though we're grateful that they did.) (MORE)
Source: Washington Examiner
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Always Concentrate on Present, Ignore the Past
One of the main causes of unhappiness is that most of us choose to dwell, or daydream, about the past or the future. We do not wish to live in the present and leverage the most from it. We largely tend to look back on incidents that shaped our lives, most of it in a negative way, and constantly say to ourselves, “What if it had happened this way….?”
If we are not romanticising the past, we are trying to blame others for the way things eventually happened. I have come across so many people who have failed to accept the past; whether it is in terms of broken relationships or lost fortunes.
Unfortunately, none of them could do much about their present because their past always intruded. Depression finds an easy dwelling in the minds of such people. And then things go downhill. (MORE)
If we are not romanticising the past, we are trying to blame others for the way things eventually happened. I have come across so many people who have failed to accept the past; whether it is in terms of broken relationships or lost fortunes.
Unfortunately, none of them could do much about their present because their past always intruded. Depression finds an easy dwelling in the minds of such people. And then things go downhill. (MORE)
Source: The Deccan Chronicle
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Finding a Source of Meditation in Nature
Learning from the animal world
I believe nature and its creatures have no place!
I know that after reading this statement, you have jumped to conclusions! Do not!
I mean that nature and its creatures have any place they want. Think about it: They can move around freely as they wish, eat anytime they wish and rest wherever they wish ... and get together with who and when they wish!
We human beings should have such privileges! Think about it again. We are always told where we should go, what is offered for lunch, what we are to do, when to get there ... the list goes on! Always being told!
So try this (I have and it works for me): At some point during your life, take a peaceful moment. Think about nature and its creatures and how you envy them. We all have a special spot in our hearts where we feel good, peaceful and content. It may be a private spot and you have not told anyone about it. That makes it better. (MORE)
I believe nature and its creatures have no place!
I know that after reading this statement, you have jumped to conclusions! Do not!
I mean that nature and its creatures have any place they want. Think about it: They can move around freely as they wish, eat anytime they wish and rest wherever they wish ... and get together with who and when they wish!
We human beings should have such privileges! Think about it again. We are always told where we should go, what is offered for lunch, what we are to do, when to get there ... the list goes on! Always being told!
So try this (I have and it works for me): At some point during your life, take a peaceful moment. Think about nature and its creatures and how you envy them. We all have a special spot in our hearts where we feel good, peaceful and content. It may be a private spot and you have not told anyone about it. That makes it better. (MORE)
Source: Suburban Journals
Friday, July 9, 2010
6 Other Reasons to Meditate
Meditation isn't just for relaxing. Here are six other benefits.
Why meditate? Outside of religious contexts, the most common reason is stress management. But as these latest research findings demonstrate, meditation is much more than just a relaxation technique. Here are a half-dozen more good reasons to take up meditation.
To enhance concentration
Meditation has an undeserved reputation for being esoteric and difficult to learn. In truth, it's really nothing more than the practice of focusing the mind intently on a particular thing or activity. It seems logical that regular meditation would hone a person's powers of concentration, and a recent study in the Journal of Neuroscience found just that. In the study, three months of intensive meditation training led to improvements in attentional stability - the ability to sustain attention without frequent lapses. (MORE)
Why meditate? Outside of religious contexts, the most common reason is stress management. But as these latest research findings demonstrate, meditation is much more than just a relaxation technique. Here are a half-dozen more good reasons to take up meditation.
To enhance concentration
Meditation has an undeserved reputation for being esoteric and difficult to learn. In truth, it's really nothing more than the practice of focusing the mind intently on a particular thing or activity. It seems logical that regular meditation would hone a person's powers of concentration, and a recent study in the Journal of Neuroscience found just that. In the study, three months of intensive meditation training led to improvements in attentional stability - the ability to sustain attention without frequent lapses. (MORE)
Source: Psychology Today
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Angelic Message of Love: Learn How To Meditate
If we take time to listen we will always hear messages of love from the angelic realms. That love can be so comforting and it can make the difference between a happy, joyous life and one filled with trauma, drama and fear. It is sad that more of us aren't taught how to listen.
The key to listening is developing the ability to quiet our mind enough so that we can hear the gentle whisperings of our spirit. The love is there it is a matter of tuning into that station. Meditation allows us to do that and here is a simple, fool proof way for you to learn how to meditate.
I have been teaching people how to meditate for over twenty years and invariably people make it harder than it is. If you are new to meditating allow yourself to enjoy the process, it can be fun, easy and effortless. Just follow these steps and before you know it you will be an experienced meditator. (MORE)
The key to listening is developing the ability to quiet our mind enough so that we can hear the gentle whisperings of our spirit. The love is there it is a matter of tuning into that station. Meditation allows us to do that and here is a simple, fool proof way for you to learn how to meditate.
I have been teaching people how to meditate for over twenty years and invariably people make it harder than it is. If you are new to meditating allow yourself to enjoy the process, it can be fun, easy and effortless. Just follow these steps and before you know it you will be an experienced meditator. (MORE)
Source: Beliefnet
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Julia Roberts’ New Film Inspires Meditation Tours to India
Julia Roberts’ much-anticipated new movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ has inspired tour planners to offer a package that gives travellers a chance to dine in Italy, meditate in India and fall in love with Bali.
Roberts recreates author Elizabeth Gilbert’s year-long cultural and spiritual trip to India, Italy and Bali in the movie, reports the Daily Express.
And the film has inspired a large number of merchandise, which includes tie-in items from furnishings to jewellery.
Producers have given various companies rights to link new products to the film, which will release in August 2010.
Bosses at STA Tours will soon be offering the ‘Eat, Pray, Love Experience’ – the chance to dine in Italy, meditate in India and fall in love with Bali.
U.S. chain Cost Plus will offer exclusive furnishings, replicas of those featured in the film, Dogeared jewellers are offering ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ bracelets and necklaces inspired by the film.
In fact, there will even be an eau de parfum from Fresh, T-shirts from Signorelli, and ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ tea.
Roberts recreates author Elizabeth Gilbert’s year-long cultural and spiritual trip to India, Italy and Bali in the movie, reports the Daily Express.
And the film has inspired a large number of merchandise, which includes tie-in items from furnishings to jewellery.
Producers have given various companies rights to link new products to the film, which will release in August 2010.
Bosses at STA Tours will soon be offering the ‘Eat, Pray, Love Experience’ – the chance to dine in Italy, meditate in India and fall in love with Bali.
U.S. chain Cost Plus will offer exclusive furnishings, replicas of those featured in the film, Dogeared jewellers are offering ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ bracelets and necklaces inspired by the film.
In fact, there will even be an eau de parfum from Fresh, T-shirts from Signorelli, and ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ tea.
Source: Baharat Chronicle
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
How You Can Unhook From Negativity
No one likes to be in a negative situation, but we don't always get along with everyone all the time. Once, when we were with the Dalai Lama, he said to us, If we were together all the time then we would quarrel!
However, if someone is being dismissive, fault-finding or disapproving and this is making us feel unworthy, insecure or lacking in self-esteem, then it may be because there's a hook somewhere in us for that negativity to latch on too, a place where it can land that triggers all these hidden self-doubts.
For instance, imagine your mind is like a beautiful garden. If you let a pig in your garden you will have a hard time getting it out, as pigs really like tasty gardens! In the same way, negativity is like a pig that gets in your garden and causes havoc.
How can we get unhooked? Rather than adding fire to fire by being equally as negative, there is another way. Last week we shared the story of how Helen, who had a critical and negative boss, was able to turn the situation around by focusing on kind and caring thoughts toward both herself and her superior. (MORE)
However, if someone is being dismissive, fault-finding or disapproving and this is making us feel unworthy, insecure or lacking in self-esteem, then it may be because there's a hook somewhere in us for that negativity to latch on too, a place where it can land that triggers all these hidden self-doubts.
For instance, imagine your mind is like a beautiful garden. If you let a pig in your garden you will have a hard time getting it out, as pigs really like tasty gardens! In the same way, negativity is like a pig that gets in your garden and causes havoc.
How can we get unhooked? Rather than adding fire to fire by being equally as negative, there is another way. Last week we shared the story of how Helen, who had a critical and negative boss, was able to turn the situation around by focusing on kind and caring thoughts toward both herself and her superior. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Monday, July 5, 2010
How Yoga Can Help End Binge Eating
One breath at a time, end the suffering of binge-eating.
Binge eating feels like the ultimate loss of control. Those who suffer from it often worry that their self-destructive relationship with food will define their lives forever.
However, a recent study identifies a path to healing: yoga. The study, conducted by researchers at Deakin University in Australia, found that yoga can help obese women who struggle with binge eating [1-2]. The 12-week yoga program included postures, breathing, relaxation, and meditation. All of the practices emphasized mindfulness, or non-judgmental awareness and acceptance of thoughts, sensations, and emotions. The women attended one 60-minute yoga class per week and were encouraged to practice at home for 30 minutes a day.
By the end of the 12-week program, the women reported less binge-eating, higher self-esteem, and a more positive body image. The group also showed statistically significant decreases in BMI as well as hip and waist measurements. (MORE)
Binge eating feels like the ultimate loss of control. Those who suffer from it often worry that their self-destructive relationship with food will define their lives forever.
However, a recent study identifies a path to healing: yoga. The study, conducted by researchers at Deakin University in Australia, found that yoga can help obese women who struggle with binge eating [1-2]. The 12-week yoga program included postures, breathing, relaxation, and meditation. All of the practices emphasized mindfulness, or non-judgmental awareness and acceptance of thoughts, sensations, and emotions. The women attended one 60-minute yoga class per week and were encouraged to practice at home for 30 minutes a day.
By the end of the 12-week program, the women reported less binge-eating, higher self-esteem, and a more positive body image. The group also showed statistically significant decreases in BMI as well as hip and waist measurements. (MORE)
Source: Psychology Today
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Meditate to Relax and Relax to Meditate
En route to the Albuquerque airport Monday evening, I was aware of the difference in how much more relaxed I felt than on the trip to the Detroit airport. The contrast got me thinking about what makes me tense and what helps me relax. Of course, leaving town has many more challenges. I feel like I have to peel away from all the tasks and “shoulds” pulling at me. There’s nothing holding on to me when I end a vacation. Beyond that, though, I consider all the things that I let go when out of town, that I could also let go at home. Why not live like I do when on vacation? I don’t mean slacking off. I mean living in the present moment.
When I’m in a new environment, I have to pay attention or I’d get lost. Driving around, checking street signs, learning the ins and outs of the hotel all keep me in the present. When I’m in the moment, I’m automatically more relaxed. Nothing is pulling or pushing me. There’s stillness inside me and I’m operating from that stillness. Consequently, it is easier for me to meditate. (MORE)
When I’m in a new environment, I have to pay attention or I’d get lost. Driving around, checking street signs, learning the ins and outs of the hotel all keep me in the present. When I’m in the moment, I’m automatically more relaxed. Nothing is pulling or pushing me. There’s stillness inside me and I’m operating from that stillness. Consequently, it is easier for me to meditate. (MORE)
Source: AnnArbor.com
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Phil Jackson's Return as Lakers Coach as Explained by Zen Buddhism
The story of Phil Jackson is already the stuff of legends, but after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to yet another championship victory this year, the so-called "Zen Master" isn't ready to close the book on his sports career just yet.
Today, 65-year-old Jackson -- whose health has reportedly been ailing in recent years -- reversed course on earlier statements indicating he would retire and announced that he will, in fact, be returning to coach the Lakers for a record-setting 11th tenured season.
Besides the possibility of achieving a flabbergasting 12th NBA championship -- and a fourth "three-peat" at that (that's four sets of three years of consecutive championships, for all those non-NBA fans out there) (trademark Pat Riley) -- why else would the winningest coach in NBA history elect to put himself into the stressful, demanding situation of attempting to steer a larger-than-life team to victory yet again? (MORE)
Today, 65-year-old Jackson -- whose health has reportedly been ailing in recent years -- reversed course on earlier statements indicating he would retire and announced that he will, in fact, be returning to coach the Lakers for a record-setting 11th tenured season.
Besides the possibility of achieving a flabbergasting 12th NBA championship -- and a fourth "three-peat" at that (that's four sets of three years of consecutive championships, for all those non-NBA fans out there) (trademark Pat Riley) -- why else would the winningest coach in NBA history elect to put himself into the stressful, demanding situation of attempting to steer a larger-than-life team to victory yet again? (MORE)
Source: AOL News
Friday, July 2, 2010
Real World Meditation: Why Being Present Matters
Last Wednesday night I completed a 12 day silent meditation retreat at Karme Choling, Shambhala International's Buddhist Meditation Center in Vermont. Literally as soon as it was over at 11:30 p.m. I said my goodbyes, got in my car with a friend and drove the six hours back to New York City. After driving all night I arrived home at around 6 a.m. I slipped into bed with Cyndi and Leroy Brown (our chocolate toy poodle) and took a nap for an hour, then got up, re-packed my bag, put on my black suit, and grabbed a taxi to go to JFK Airport at 10 a.m.
Landing in LA, I picked up a rental car and drove straight to the Beverly Hilton just in time for the ASCAP Film and TV awards. The very next night I headed over to the Westin Bonaventure for the Daytime Emmy Awards. I was up for one for the music we composed for One Life to Live. (MORE)
Landing in LA, I picked up a rental car and drove straight to the Beverly Hilton just in time for the ASCAP Film and TV awards. The very next night I headed over to the Westin Bonaventure for the Daytime Emmy Awards. I was up for one for the music we composed for One Life to Live. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Om Mani Padme Hum
New UC Davis study finds that practicing meditation can indeed improve perception
Repeat the ancient mantra—Om mani padme hum (“Hail the jewel in the lotus”), om mani padme hum—again and again until the chaos of your thoughts quiets, the thump of your heart becomes clearly evident and your attention turns to the easy movement of breath through your nostrils … in and out … in and out. You’re no longer lost in thought. You’re not spaced out. You’re paying attention to what’s going on in the present moment. You’re meditating.
Buddhists have been practicing meditations like this one and hundreds of variations for more than 2,500 years. It’s only in recent years, though, that the contemplative practice has moved into the mainstream. In 2007, more than 9 percent of Americans were meditating according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The fascination with meditation continues perhaps driven by a desire to gain health benefits, find spiritual comfort or to say “no” to high-velocity lives that leave us disconnected from ourselves and others. (MORE)
Repeat the ancient mantra—Om mani padme hum (“Hail the jewel in the lotus”), om mani padme hum—again and again until the chaos of your thoughts quiets, the thump of your heart becomes clearly evident and your attention turns to the easy movement of breath through your nostrils … in and out … in and out. You’re no longer lost in thought. You’re not spaced out. You’re paying attention to what’s going on in the present moment. You’re meditating.
Buddhists have been practicing meditations like this one and hundreds of variations for more than 2,500 years. It’s only in recent years, though, that the contemplative practice has moved into the mainstream. In 2007, more than 9 percent of Americans were meditating according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The fascination with meditation continues perhaps driven by a desire to gain health benefits, find spiritual comfort or to say “no” to high-velocity lives that leave us disconnected from ourselves and others. (MORE)
Source: NewsReview.com
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