Monday, November 29, 2010
Yoga And Healing The Mind
The mind is like mercury and slips like an eel; it's very difficult to control the mind. Yet it is possible to bring the mind, stability and quietness. Cosmic intelligence in each individual develops individual consciousness known as chitta. This chitta has three parts, ahankara or ego, buddhi or intelligence and manas or the mind; they are all ingrained in the consciousness. The absolute consciousness has no shape. The soul has no shape; both are nirankara.
When ahankara is broken into two parts, it becomes aham akara, (aham means I, akara means shape). The chitta is placed in such a way that on one side, is the pride of the individual and on the other side, is the divinity of the individual. The manas or mind and human body has got five bhootas or elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. (MORE)
When ahankara is broken into two parts, it becomes aham akara, (aham means I, akara means shape). The chitta is placed in such a way that on one side, is the pride of the individual and on the other side, is the divinity of the individual. The manas or mind and human body has got five bhootas or elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. (MORE)
Source: Times of India
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder And Meditation For Veterans
Post traumatic stress disorder in soldiers is a common occurrence. David Lynch, a filmmaker inspired by a World War II veteran fighter pilot, is trying to help soldiers who have suffered from the malady; through a meditation program.
Lynch’s “Operation Warrior Wellness,” is a meditation-based program focused on helping veterans weather and win the battle against stress-related disorders.
Meditation has thousands of years of practice and a growing body of research to support it’s benefits. It may just be uniquely appropriate as a treatment for PSTD in vets since it involves stillness and a calming of the mind, usually the opposite state of what overburdened the soldiers to begin with.
Reports show that the rate of post traumatic stress disorder in veterans could be as high as 35%.
Although the rates of PTSD in veterans is high, authorities say combat and war are not the only stressors that can lead to the disorder. Any number of high-stress events or traumatic injuries can precipitate post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Such events are: war, rape, a major medical procedure (especially in kids), violent assault, car accidents, or sexual or physical abuse. (MORE)
Lynch’s “Operation Warrior Wellness,” is a meditation-based program focused on helping veterans weather and win the battle against stress-related disorders.
Meditation has thousands of years of practice and a growing body of research to support it’s benefits. It may just be uniquely appropriate as a treatment for PSTD in vets since it involves stillness and a calming of the mind, usually the opposite state of what overburdened the soldiers to begin with.
Reports show that the rate of post traumatic stress disorder in veterans could be as high as 35%.
Although the rates of PTSD in veterans is high, authorities say combat and war are not the only stressors that can lead to the disorder. Any number of high-stress events or traumatic injuries can precipitate post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Such events are: war, rape, a major medical procedure (especially in kids), violent assault, car accidents, or sexual or physical abuse. (MORE)
Source: Daily Infusion
Friday, November 26, 2010
Study: Yoga Helps With Fibromyalgia Pain
Yoga that includes gentle stretching exercises combined with meditation can lessen the symptoms of fibromyalgia, a U.S. study found.
Twenty-five women diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome, took part in a 2-hour weekly yoga class for eight weeks.
At the end of the study, the group reported improvements in both physical and psychological aspects of fibromyalgia, including decreased pain, fatigue, tenderness, anxiety and better sleep and mood, HealthDay reported Thursday.
"The women were somewhat apprehensive when we started, but once they got into the rhythm of it they found it to be very helpful," said lead study author James Carson, a clinical psychologist and pain specialist at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. (MORE)
Twenty-five women diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome, took part in a 2-hour weekly yoga class for eight weeks.
At the end of the study, the group reported improvements in both physical and psychological aspects of fibromyalgia, including decreased pain, fatigue, tenderness, anxiety and better sleep and mood, HealthDay reported Thursday.
"The women were somewhat apprehensive when we started, but once they got into the rhythm of it they found it to be very helpful," said lead study author James Carson, a clinical psychologist and pain specialist at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. (MORE)
Source: UPI
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thanksgiving Day Prayer
Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.
Mary Fairchild
We bow our hearts to You and pray.
We give You thanks for all You've done
Especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son.
For beauty in nature, Your glory we see
For joy and health, friends and family,
For daily provision, Your mercy and care
These are the blessings You graciously share.
So today we offer this response of praise
With a promise to follow You all of our days.
Mary Fairchild
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
De-Stress on Thanksgiving: Meditate and Create Gratitude List
Greetings, fellow yoganons! Now, I don’t know what your upcoming week looks like. Some of you may be doing the traditional Thanksgiving dinner thing, and some of you may not. Some of you may be from countries other than the USA, and not even be familiar with Thanksgiving at all. The whole history of the holiday is worth looking into. There is the 1637 massacre of the Pequot Tribe, the vegetarian activists that try to free the turkeys, and all of the modern ways that average American families gather, celebrate togetherness, meditate on gratitude, and occasionally push each other’s buttons. It’s really an interesting, multifaceted event.
Regardless of whether this particular day fills you with joy or ire, we are aware that the experience of gratitude is really useful for the yogini to feel in her body. Regardless of what we do on Thursday, we want embodied thankful energy flowing through all of our energy channels. We live to feel the joy of our place in the universe, an appreciation of our simple and pure beingness. (MORE)
Regardless of whether this particular day fills you with joy or ire, we are aware that the experience of gratitude is really useful for the yogini to feel in her body. Regardless of what we do on Thursday, we want embodied thankful energy flowing through all of our energy channels. We live to feel the joy of our place in the universe, an appreciation of our simple and pure beingness. (MORE)
Source: Opposing Views
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Disgraced Ex-Congressman Bob Ney Studying Buddhism at Indian Temple
He's traveled quite a path. Former Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) served six terms in Congress, then spent 17 months in federal prison for his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal. Now he is studying meditation at a Buddhist Temple in India.
Ney, 56, told the National Journal in a phone interview that since September he has lived in a $10-a-day rented room in Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's headquarters-in-exile for more than 50 years. The ex-congressman quit drinking, dropped 60 pounds and spends his days meditating with monks and learning the Tibetan language.
Ney, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the government and making false statements, said he started to try to meditate while in prison to help him cope with the stress of being locked up. Something about it clicked with him, he said, and now he practices meditation daily. (MORE)
Ney, 56, told the National Journal in a phone interview that since September he has lived in a $10-a-day rented room in Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's headquarters-in-exile for more than 50 years. The ex-congressman quit drinking, dropped 60 pounds and spends his days meditating with monks and learning the Tibetan language.
Ney, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the government and making false statements, said he started to try to meditate while in prison to help him cope with the stress of being locked up. Something about it clicked with him, he said, and now he practices meditation daily. (MORE)
Source: Politics Daily
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Meditation On Gratitude Can Lift Your Spirits- Part 2
One way that helps me get out of a funk is listing everything I’m grateful for. I start with the obvious - the people in my life that support me and love me. Next I ask, what else? Usually this goes to my health, even if I’m sick or injured. I focus on what is working well. For example, right now I have a cold, but I’m still able to write. I’m sure you get the idea. (MORE)
Source: Ann Arbor
Related Post: Meditation On Gratitude Can Lift Your Spirits - Part I
Saturday, November 20, 2010
To Reduce Pain (and Alter Your Brain), Try Meditation
Meditation is a known painkiller, easing people's pain perception even after brief sessions. Now a study reveals why: Meditation changes the way the brain processes pain signals.
In a study presented Nov. 16 in San Diego at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, researchers reported that practicing a mindful awareness of the body and consciousness for just four days affects pain responses in the brain.
Brain activity decreases in areas devoted to the painful body part and in areas responsible for relaying sensory information. Meanwhile, regions that modulate pain get busy, and volunteers report that pain is less intense and less unpleasant.
Earlier studies suggested meditation reduces anxiety, promotes relaxation and helps people regulate their emotions, said study author Fadel Zeidan, a post-doctoral researcher at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Also, meditation may reduce pain by essentially making the physical sensations less distressing. "It's really all about the context of the situation, of the environment," Zeidan told LiveScience. "Meditation seems to have an overarching sense of attenuating that type of response." (MORE)
In a study presented Nov. 16 in San Diego at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, researchers reported that practicing a mindful awareness of the body and consciousness for just four days affects pain responses in the brain.
Brain activity decreases in areas devoted to the painful body part and in areas responsible for relaying sensory information. Meanwhile, regions that modulate pain get busy, and volunteers report that pain is less intense and less unpleasant.
Earlier studies suggested meditation reduces anxiety, promotes relaxation and helps people regulate their emotions, said study author Fadel Zeidan, a post-doctoral researcher at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Also, meditation may reduce pain by essentially making the physical sensations less distressing. "It's really all about the context of the situation, of the environment," Zeidan told LiveScience. "Meditation seems to have an overarching sense of attenuating that type of response." (MORE)
Source: Fox News
Friday, November 19, 2010
Soothe Pain With Meditation
A study presented November 16 in San Diego, California, at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, suggests that practicing meditation for one half-hour each day for four days decreases pain responses in the brain.
Taking brain scans of voluteers who practiced meditation, researchers discovered that brain activity drops in areas devoted to the painful body part and in areas responsible for relaying sensory information, even when the person isn't meditating. In the study, volunteers reported a 40 percent reduction in their perceived pain four days after beginning a meditation program.
Meditation may also reduce pain by essentially making the physical sensations less distressing. "It's really all about the context of the situation, of the environment," said study author Fadel Zeidan in an interview with science news website LiveScience. "Meditation seems to have an overarching sense of attenuating that type of response."
Also, you don't need to have monk-like abilities to experience reduced pain, said Zeidan. New to meditation but still want to reap the benefits? Try these tips for quieting an unquiet mind: (MORE)
Taking brain scans of voluteers who practiced meditation, researchers discovered that brain activity drops in areas devoted to the painful body part and in areas responsible for relaying sensory information, even when the person isn't meditating. In the study, volunteers reported a 40 percent reduction in their perceived pain four days after beginning a meditation program.
Meditation may also reduce pain by essentially making the physical sensations less distressing. "It's really all about the context of the situation, of the environment," said study author Fadel Zeidan in an interview with science news website LiveScience. "Meditation seems to have an overarching sense of attenuating that type of response."
Also, you don't need to have monk-like abilities to experience reduced pain, said Zeidan. New to meditation but still want to reap the benefits? Try these tips for quieting an unquiet mind: (MORE)
Source: The Independent
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Meditation Can Bring Peace
I learned to meditate in the most unlikely of places.
In the bathroom I shared with my older brother, I would find the most interesting reading material. It was there that I became fascinated with the human mind thanks to his Psych 101 textbook.
For several months, he left a book on meditation. So that's where I began my journey to master my mind and my emotions - not in a temple, a Zen garden or an ashram, but in the cold green-tiled bathroom of our basement.
I learned that I could find refuge from the anxieties of my teens and learn to tame the torrent of difficult emotions without drugs or alcohol.
I learned that though I had no control over most of the circumstances of my life, I could choose how I would react to them.
I learned that real peace cannot be found lying in the sun on a faraway beach, and real happiness is not a future time when everything is perfect. (MORE)
In the bathroom I shared with my older brother, I would find the most interesting reading material. It was there that I became fascinated with the human mind thanks to his Psych 101 textbook.
For several months, he left a book on meditation. So that's where I began my journey to master my mind and my emotions - not in a temple, a Zen garden or an ashram, but in the cold green-tiled bathroom of our basement.
I learned that I could find refuge from the anxieties of my teens and learn to tame the torrent of difficult emotions without drugs or alcohol.
I learned that though I had no control over most of the circumstances of my life, I could choose how I would react to them.
I learned that real peace cannot be found lying in the sun on a faraway beach, and real happiness is not a future time when everything is perfect. (MORE)
Source: The Record
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Can Mindfulness Help Manage Pain And Mental Illness?
In the German night sky, there were hundreds of parachutes falling in a routine army training exercise.
It was this jump that would cause former United States Army Ranger Monty Reed more than two decades of pain. Reed fell from about 100 feet after another parachute interfered with his descent. He broke his ankle and back and to this day has trouble walking and feels discomfort when he breathes.
"I felt like the physical pain that I deal with every day was an enemy I had to fight," says Reed, 45, of Seattle, Washington.
But eventually, says Reed, a therapy technique that incorporates mindfulness helped him deal with this pain and the flashbacks he got from various army training situations. Mindfulness as a concept comes from Buddhism and is key to meditation in that tradition. It means being present and in the moment, and observing in a nonjudgmental way, says Susan Albers, psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Mindfulness encourages you to accept who you are, and trust yourself. Don't judge yourself for having the feelings you have -- just allow yourself to feel them. (MORE)
It was this jump that would cause former United States Army Ranger Monty Reed more than two decades of pain. Reed fell from about 100 feet after another parachute interfered with his descent. He broke his ankle and back and to this day has trouble walking and feels discomfort when he breathes.
"I felt like the physical pain that I deal with every day was an enemy I had to fight," says Reed, 45, of Seattle, Washington.
But eventually, says Reed, a therapy technique that incorporates mindfulness helped him deal with this pain and the flashbacks he got from various army training situations. Mindfulness as a concept comes from Buddhism and is key to meditation in that tradition. It means being present and in the moment, and observing in a nonjudgmental way, says Susan Albers, psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Mindfulness encourages you to accept who you are, and trust yourself. Don't judge yourself for having the feelings you have -- just allow yourself to feel them. (MORE)
Source: CNN
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Meditation and Addiction: A Two-Way Street?
Not too long ago, I had dinner with a neuroscientist who in addition to being a genius is a dedicated meditator. The way he explained the wonders of neuroplasticity -- how our thoughts and actions can change our very brain structure in ways that ameliorate anxiety, compulsive behavior and addiction -- was more electrifying than the endorphin jolt provided by the Nirvana-like pizza and the caffeinated Cokes we inhaled.
But when my friend waxed a bit too proudly about his meditation practice -- two hours every day in full lotus position! -- my fascination veered towards envy. Leaving aside the fact that sitting in full lotus position would be as feasible for me as diving in full pike position, I couldn't help thinking that maybe I could be a genius too if only I meditated longer and better.
The stress-reducing benefits of meditation notwithstanding, most people would rather do just about anything than sit still and do nothing. For those trying to develop a regular practice, even washing the dishes or doing laundry can seem like scintillating alternatives.
Then there are those few for whom meditation can become compulsive, even addictive. The irony here is that an increasing body of research shows that meditation -- in particular Buddhist Vipassana meditation -- is an effective tool in treating addiction. (MORE)
But when my friend waxed a bit too proudly about his meditation practice -- two hours every day in full lotus position! -- my fascination veered towards envy. Leaving aside the fact that sitting in full lotus position would be as feasible for me as diving in full pike position, I couldn't help thinking that maybe I could be a genius too if only I meditated longer and better.
The stress-reducing benefits of meditation notwithstanding, most people would rather do just about anything than sit still and do nothing. For those trying to develop a regular practice, even washing the dishes or doing laundry can seem like scintillating alternatives.
Then there are those few for whom meditation can become compulsive, even addictive. The irony here is that an increasing body of research shows that meditation -- in particular Buddhist Vipassana meditation -- is an effective tool in treating addiction. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Monday, November 15, 2010
Many Swear by Yoga's Healing Techniques
Many of those who practice yoga swear by its healing techniques.
A few ladies gathered at the Yoga Room in Warren to learn about "energy medicine." Yoga enthusiasts claim energy medicine helps bolster the immune system, relieve stress, and alleviate pain.
Yoga Room owner Maureen Lauer-Gatta says getting rid of stress can help your body in the long run.
"Just relax the body. We have so much stress in this area. People have lost their jobs or they can't find jobs and this is just a way to reduce stress and gain flexibility," explained Lauer-Gatta. "You don't have to have any kind of flexibility to do yoga. I like to tell people, 'if you can breathe, you can do yoga.'"
Experts say non-invasive yoga techniques help the body heal naturally.
A few ladies gathered at the Yoga Room in Warren to learn about "energy medicine." Yoga enthusiasts claim energy medicine helps bolster the immune system, relieve stress, and alleviate pain.
Yoga Room owner Maureen Lauer-Gatta says getting rid of stress can help your body in the long run.
"Just relax the body. We have so much stress in this area. People have lost their jobs or they can't find jobs and this is just a way to reduce stress and gain flexibility," explained Lauer-Gatta. "You don't have to have any kind of flexibility to do yoga. I like to tell people, 'if you can breathe, you can do yoga.'"
Experts say non-invasive yoga techniques help the body heal naturally.
Source: wkbn.com
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Meditation On Gratitude Can Lift Your Spirits - Part I
In the same way our bodies relax when we’re laughing, our spirits rise when we are appreciating what we have.
In today’s meditation I suggest you keep your eyes open after you get in your meditation posture. Scan the room and notice items that you regularly pass by without even a thought. Don’t forget to pay attention to the construction of the room - the walls, ceiling, light fixtures, windows. Take your time with each object. I find that just doing this part of the exercise is very relaxing.
Now chose one thing you see. Don’t think about it. Pick something you feel drawn to. Now observe it more carefully. Take in the colors, textures or perhaps sounds. Examine it to find out something about it that you’ve never noticed before.
With closed eyes, now feel your appreciation for the object you’ve chosen - for its function, for its beauty, whatever draws you to it. Feel the gratitude you have for this item. Allow this feeling to spread to other things you enjoy and benefit from in your life. (MORE)
In today’s meditation I suggest you keep your eyes open after you get in your meditation posture. Scan the room and notice items that you regularly pass by without even a thought. Don’t forget to pay attention to the construction of the room - the walls, ceiling, light fixtures, windows. Take your time with each object. I find that just doing this part of the exercise is very relaxing.
Now chose one thing you see. Don’t think about it. Pick something you feel drawn to. Now observe it more carefully. Take in the colors, textures or perhaps sounds. Examine it to find out something about it that you’ve never noticed before.
With closed eyes, now feel your appreciation for the object you’ve chosen - for its function, for its beauty, whatever draws you to it. Feel the gratitude you have for this item. Allow this feeling to spread to other things you enjoy and benefit from in your life. (MORE)
Source: annarbor.com
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Veterans Day: Can Meditation Help Veterans Overcome PTSD?
Inspired by one of the last surviving, decorated World War II fighter pilots, filmmaker David Lynch is teaming up with friends to launch "Operation Warrior Wellness," a meditation-based program to help veterans overcome stress-related disorders.
At the upcoming benefit Change Begins Within, Lynch will be joined by Clint Eastwood, Russell Simmons, Mehmet Oz, Russell Brand, Katy Perry, Donna Karan and others in support of a project to provide Transcendental Meditation instruction to 10,000 veterans and their families. The event will be December 13 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Thirty-five percent of U.S. soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001 are said to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). David Lynch Foundation spokesman Robert Roth: "We believe Operation Warrior Wellness has great potential for treating PTSD by affecting the neurophysiology that underlies the disorder, eliminating rather than masking its symptoms."
The nonprofit program is being guided by a team of psychiatrists, PTSD researchers and medical school faculty across the country. (MORE)
At the upcoming benefit Change Begins Within, Lynch will be joined by Clint Eastwood, Russell Simmons, Mehmet Oz, Russell Brand, Katy Perry, Donna Karan and others in support of a project to provide Transcendental Meditation instruction to 10,000 veterans and their families. The event will be December 13 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Thirty-five percent of U.S. soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001 are said to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). David Lynch Foundation spokesman Robert Roth: "We believe Operation Warrior Wellness has great potential for treating PTSD by affecting the neurophysiology that underlies the disorder, eliminating rather than masking its symptoms."
The nonprofit program is being guided by a team of psychiatrists, PTSD researchers and medical school faculty across the country. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Friday, November 12, 2010
Meditation Tips For Stress-Relief At Workplace
Modern days, with the hustle-bustle of life, owing to fast paced run in the competitive arena, calls for stress. Stress may be caused due to various pressures in life, stemming from work, family, disease etc. Though everyone experience stress from all of these, it is the individual's capacity to handle, which marks the difference in stress levels. Of all these, work stress is what most people experience today.
Simple meditation tips calls for stress relief at your workplace. It is a well known fact that meditation heals the body and mind and hence the most sought after resort for stress control. It reduces stress by connecting one to the source of silence within, bringing about a soothing calmness. In today's hectic life, simple meditation tips can be followed at your workplace for stress control. You can simply relax for five minutes in your chair. It instantly brings down the stress level. A few minutes is suffice to infuse fresh energy to drive out stress. (MORE)
Simple meditation tips calls for stress relief at your workplace. It is a well known fact that meditation heals the body and mind and hence the most sought after resort for stress control. It reduces stress by connecting one to the source of silence within, bringing about a soothing calmness. In today's hectic life, simple meditation tips can be followed at your workplace for stress control. You can simply relax for five minutes in your chair. It instantly brings down the stress level. A few minutes is suffice to infuse fresh energy to drive out stress. (MORE)
Source: Oneindia.com
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Yoga Asanas For A Healthy Heart
Scientific studies show that risk factors for heart disease such as hypertension, diabetes, bad cholesterol, triglycerides and stress can be significantly lowered with Yoga. Here are some yoga asanas that are good for the heart.
Yogic way of life offers a solution to elevate the health of body, mind and soul. Yoga is a cure for many diseases - diabetes, obesity and psychiatric illnesses - as much as it offers immense benefits to alleviate heart diseases. Yoga has an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases that includes recurrence of heart attacks, hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Yoga influences the hypothalamus directly, the area of the brain that controls endocrine activity, and helps prevent heart attacks. (MORE)
Yogic way of life offers a solution to elevate the health of body, mind and soul. Yoga is a cure for many diseases - diabetes, obesity and psychiatric illnesses - as much as it offers immense benefits to alleviate heart diseases. Yoga has an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases that includes recurrence of heart attacks, hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Yoga influences the hypothalamus directly, the area of the brain that controls endocrine activity, and helps prevent heart attacks. (MORE)
Source: MyBangalore.com
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Meditation: Positive Psychological Changes
U.S. researchers have linked activities fostering one's sense of well-being -- such as meditation -- to cell health.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, San Francisco, link positive psychological changes during meditation training to higher activity of an enzyme important for cell health called telomerase.
The study, published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, finds people who practice meditation show the greatest improvement on various psychological measures had the highest levels of telomerase.
"The take-home message from this work is not that meditation directly increases telomerase activity and therefore a person's health and longevity," Clifford Saron of Davis said in a statement. "Rather, meditation may improve a person's psychological well-being and in turn these changes are related to telomerase activity in immune cells, which has the potential to promote longevity in those cells. Activities that increase a person's sense of well-being may have a profound effect on the most fundamental aspects of their physiology."
Telomeres are sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes which can shorten each time a cell divides. When telomeres drop below a critical length, the cell no longer divides properly and dies. However, the enzyme telomerase can rebuild and lengthen telomeres, the researchers say.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, San Francisco, link positive psychological changes during meditation training to higher activity of an enzyme important for cell health called telomerase.
The study, published in Psychoneuroendocrinology, finds people who practice meditation show the greatest improvement on various psychological measures had the highest levels of telomerase.
"The take-home message from this work is not that meditation directly increases telomerase activity and therefore a person's health and longevity," Clifford Saron of Davis said in a statement. "Rather, meditation may improve a person's psychological well-being and in turn these changes are related to telomerase activity in immune cells, which has the potential to promote longevity in those cells. Activities that increase a person's sense of well-being may have a profound effect on the most fundamental aspects of their physiology."
Telomeres are sequences of DNA at the end of chromosomes which can shorten each time a cell divides. When telomeres drop below a critical length, the cell no longer divides properly and dies. However, the enzyme telomerase can rebuild and lengthen telomeres, the researchers say.
Source UPI.com
Monday, November 8, 2010
Battle-Stressed Warriors Try Meditation To Ease Anxiety
At the Warrior Relaxation Response Center, the road to recovery is paved with creature comforts.
Plush couches, soothing green walls and dimmed lights create a welcoming environment. Fountains and top-of-the-line massage chairs further set the conditions for solitary reflection.
In an unconventional approach to the demons of war, the newly established center at 2535 Airport Road encourages combat veterans to confront their battle stress with self-guided meditation and prayer.
“You cannot be relaxed and anxious at the same time,” said Antoine Johnson, summarizing the center’s benefits.
Johnson, a former Fort Carson staff sergeant and public school teacher, opened the center with his wife, Wilma, in October.
They do not pretend to be therapists or physicians, but Johnson said they do draw from an established alternative-medicine program.
Johnson said the center follows the principles of physician Herbert Benson, who began extolling the physical benefits of meditation in his 1975 work “Relaxation Response.” Benson later helped found the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. (MORE)
Plush couches, soothing green walls and dimmed lights create a welcoming environment. Fountains and top-of-the-line massage chairs further set the conditions for solitary reflection.
In an unconventional approach to the demons of war, the newly established center at 2535 Airport Road encourages combat veterans to confront their battle stress with self-guided meditation and prayer.
“You cannot be relaxed and anxious at the same time,” said Antoine Johnson, summarizing the center’s benefits.
Johnson, a former Fort Carson staff sergeant and public school teacher, opened the center with his wife, Wilma, in October.
They do not pretend to be therapists or physicians, but Johnson said they do draw from an established alternative-medicine program.
Johnson said the center follows the principles of physician Herbert Benson, who began extolling the physical benefits of meditation in his 1975 work “Relaxation Response.” Benson later helped found the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. (MORE)
Source: Colorado Springs Gazette
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Meditation Can Help Tackle Alcoholism, Advise Doctors
Meditation and peace of mind are essential for the rehabilitation of alcoholics and addicts. The message was conveyed during an awareness talk organized by a group of city-based doctors.
Addressing an awareness talk on 'Alcoholism-The way out' on Friday, experts deliberated on how to combat the habit of drinking. Director-principal of Government Medical College and Hospital-32 Dr Raj Bahadur, while expressing serious concern about youngsters' increasing drinking habit, said liquor affected every organ of the body. Painting an alarming picture of liquor consumption, head of psychiatry department at Government Multispecialty Hospital, Sector 16, Dr SK Bhalla said, "One-third of the world population consumes two-third of the total liquor supply and is potentially alcoholic."
Giving a clinical side of the disease, senior medical officer of GMSH-16 Dr Gopal Bhardwaj said, "Twenty percent of absenteeism and one-fourth of accidents are alcoholic-related."
A representative of Alcoholics Anonymous said, "The rehabilitation process itself is highly individual, adapted by each member to meet his/her own needs. We hold daily meetings to address the problems."
Addressing an awareness talk on 'Alcoholism-The way out' on Friday, experts deliberated on how to combat the habit of drinking. Director-principal of Government Medical College and Hospital-32 Dr Raj Bahadur, while expressing serious concern about youngsters' increasing drinking habit, said liquor affected every organ of the body. Painting an alarming picture of liquor consumption, head of psychiatry department at Government Multispecialty Hospital, Sector 16, Dr SK Bhalla said, "One-third of the world population consumes two-third of the total liquor supply and is potentially alcoholic."
Giving a clinical side of the disease, senior medical officer of GMSH-16 Dr Gopal Bhardwaj said, "Twenty percent of absenteeism and one-fourth of accidents are alcoholic-related."
A representative of Alcoholics Anonymous said, "The rehabilitation process itself is highly individual, adapted by each member to meet his/her own needs. We hold daily meetings to address the problems."
Source: Times of India
Saturday, November 6, 2010
When You Meditate What Do You Focus On?
Focus on breathing helps us live in present
Nearly every religion has a contemplative side to it where meditation may be used to help one connect with the sacred. Thomas Keating has written many books about “centering prayer” and/or “contemplative prayer” from the Christian perspective. Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield have written a great deal about Buddhist meditation.
There are many different types of meditation such as analytical meditation, placement or concentrated meditation, and dzogchen or mahamudra meditation. Basic Buddhist meditation practice is often referred to as “mindfulness practice.” It is a type of meditation known as “single-pointed meditation.” Single-pointed meditation focuses upon a single point –– as the name implies. Most Buddhist meditation places the focus of attention upon our breath. Why the breath? By focusing our attention upon our breath we are connecting the mind to the body. The goal of meditation is not to reach some transcendence or bliss, but rather to train the mind of the practitioner to be in the present moment. (MORE)
Nearly every religion has a contemplative side to it where meditation may be used to help one connect with the sacred. Thomas Keating has written many books about “centering prayer” and/or “contemplative prayer” from the Christian perspective. Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield have written a great deal about Buddhist meditation.
There are many different types of meditation such as analytical meditation, placement or concentrated meditation, and dzogchen or mahamudra meditation. Basic Buddhist meditation practice is often referred to as “mindfulness practice.” It is a type of meditation known as “single-pointed meditation.” Single-pointed meditation focuses upon a single point –– as the name implies. Most Buddhist meditation places the focus of attention upon our breath. Why the breath? By focusing our attention upon our breath we are connecting the mind to the body. The goal of meditation is not to reach some transcendence or bliss, but rather to train the mind of the practitioner to be in the present moment. (MORE)
Source: KansasCity.com
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/05/2399112/when-you-meditate-what-do-you.html#ixzz14VDi2cdP
Friday, November 5, 2010
Meditation Can Support An Individual’s State Of Well-Being
Individuals who experience stress may have difficulty sleeping or concentrating as well as feel depressed, anxious or have a loss of appetite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But according to new research, there may be healthy alternatives that these people can use in order to relieve their stress.
In a new study, researchers from the University of California, Davis and the University of California, San Francisco examined if meditation training was directly linked to a person's positive well-being and ability to cope with stress.
Telomerase is an enzyme that contributes to DNA sequencing. Tonya Jacobs, lead author of the investigation, said that the research shows "a relation between positive psychological change and telomerse activity."
The scientists analyzed 60 participants who were either in a control or retreat group. The subjects who were in the retreat group received meditation training and instructions. These individuals also practiced meditation on their own time. Meanwhile, those in the control group did not participate in the meditation training. (MORE)
In a new study, researchers from the University of California, Davis and the University of California, San Francisco examined if meditation training was directly linked to a person's positive well-being and ability to cope with stress.
Telomerase is an enzyme that contributes to DNA sequencing. Tonya Jacobs, lead author of the investigation, said that the research shows "a relation between positive psychological change and telomerse activity."
The scientists analyzed 60 participants who were either in a control or retreat group. The subjects who were in the retreat group received meditation training and instructions. These individuals also practiced meditation on their own time. Meanwhile, those in the control group did not participate in the meditation training. (MORE)
Source: Better Health Research
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Positive Psychological Changes From Meditation Training Linked To Cellular Health
Positive psychological changes that occur during meditation training are associated with greater telomerase activity, according to researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of California, San Francisco. The study is the first to link positive well-being to higher telomerase, an enzyme important for the long-term health of cells in the body.
The effect appears to be attributable to psychological changes that increase a person’s ability to cope with stress and maintain feelings of well-being.
"We have found that meditation promotes positive psychological changes, and that meditators showing the greatest improvement on various psychological measures had the highest levels of telomerase," said Clifford Saron, associate research scientist at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain.
"The take-home message from this work is not that meditation directly increases telomerase activity and therefore a person’s health and longevity," Saron said. "Rather, meditation may improve a person’s psychological well-being and in turn these changes are related to telomerase activity in immune cells, which has the potential to promote longevity in those cells. Activities that increase a person’s sense of well-being may have a profound effect on the most fundamental aspects of their physiology." (MORE)
The effect appears to be attributable to psychological changes that increase a person’s ability to cope with stress and maintain feelings of well-being.
"We have found that meditation promotes positive psychological changes, and that meditators showing the greatest improvement on various psychological measures had the highest levels of telomerase," said Clifford Saron, associate research scientist at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain.
"The take-home message from this work is not that meditation directly increases telomerase activity and therefore a person’s health and longevity," Saron said. "Rather, meditation may improve a person’s psychological well-being and in turn these changes are related to telomerase activity in immune cells, which has the potential to promote longevity in those cells. Activities that increase a person’s sense of well-being may have a profound effect on the most fundamental aspects of their physiology." (MORE)
Source: UC Davis
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
5,000-Year-Old Practice Comes Around Again.
Walking a labyrinth path into serene centeredness
She took each step carefully, circling and turning along the labyrinth's path, her long dungaree skirt sweeping at her heels. It was secluded behind St. Asaph's Church - quiet, with no cars, no highways.
And that's when Jill Horn, 68, said it happened, what she calls a "past life experience."
While walking the path at the Bala Cynwyd church, she felt her posture involuntarily straighten and her shoulders push back. She felt like a teenager, she said. And then - in the hushed solitude behind the churchyard's stone walls - she heard the noises of an outdoor market, what she thought sounded like "merry old England."
"It gives me goose bumps," she says of the experience that spurred her labyrinth fascination seven years ago. "And it's never happened again."
Horn, a sprightly labyrinth enthusiast who walks these winding and twisting paths as a way to meditate, is part of a modern resurgence of people spellbound by the 5,000-year-old practice. Not only are labyrinths now springing up on front lawns, the designs are the subject of a global celebration (the first Saturday in May is World Labyrinth Day). You can even become a trained labyrinth facilitator through Veriditas, a California-based organization that promotes them. (MORE)
She took each step carefully, circling and turning along the labyrinth's path, her long dungaree skirt sweeping at her heels. It was secluded behind St. Asaph's Church - quiet, with no cars, no highways.
And that's when Jill Horn, 68, said it happened, what she calls a "past life experience."
While walking the path at the Bala Cynwyd church, she felt her posture involuntarily straighten and her shoulders push back. She felt like a teenager, she said. And then - in the hushed solitude behind the churchyard's stone walls - she heard the noises of an outdoor market, what she thought sounded like "merry old England."
"It gives me goose bumps," she says of the experience that spurred her labyrinth fascination seven years ago. "And it's never happened again."
Horn, a sprightly labyrinth enthusiast who walks these winding and twisting paths as a way to meditate, is part of a modern resurgence of people spellbound by the 5,000-year-old practice. Not only are labyrinths now springing up on front lawns, the designs are the subject of a global celebration (the first Saturday in May is World Labyrinth Day). You can even become a trained labyrinth facilitator through Veriditas, a California-based organization that promotes them. (MORE)
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Center for Healthy Minds Opens Doors
Research to be focused on positive aspects of brain like empathy, kindness; facility received donation from Dalai Lama
An orange ribbon and deep maroon bow marked the opening celebration of a first-of-its-kind research center at the University of Wisconsin at the Waisman Center Monday.
The new Center for Investigating Healthy Minds focuses on the adaptability and nourishing of the mind to change it for the better, said Director Richard Davidson.
Research at the center examines positive aspects of the brain like kindness and compassion, Davidson said, in contrast to more traditional methods of studying fear and anxiety.
With the idea that through cultivation of positive qualities, an individual can transform their mind, the center aims to apply their research to individuals, such as children with autism, who can benefit from practices like meditation or yoga, Davidson said.
CIHM offers a unique splash of color compared to its surrounding stark white hallways. The entrance welcomes the visitor with deep maroon wall paint and orange and yellow paper cranes strung from the ceiling.
Inside, the center provides a home for scientists, graduate students, post docs and community members, said CIHM’s director of communications and marketing Mel Charbonneau.
But once inside the meditation room — a unique feature of the center — natural lighting and large, white archways transform maroon mats and pillows lining the floor into a calm, serene area. (MORE)
An orange ribbon and deep maroon bow marked the opening celebration of a first-of-its-kind research center at the University of Wisconsin at the Waisman Center Monday.
The new Center for Investigating Healthy Minds focuses on the adaptability and nourishing of the mind to change it for the better, said Director Richard Davidson.
Research at the center examines positive aspects of the brain like kindness and compassion, Davidson said, in contrast to more traditional methods of studying fear and anxiety.
With the idea that through cultivation of positive qualities, an individual can transform their mind, the center aims to apply their research to individuals, such as children with autism, who can benefit from practices like meditation or yoga, Davidson said.
CIHM offers a unique splash of color compared to its surrounding stark white hallways. The entrance welcomes the visitor with deep maroon wall paint and orange and yellow paper cranes strung from the ceiling.
Inside, the center provides a home for scientists, graduate students, post docs and community members, said CIHM’s director of communications and marketing Mel Charbonneau.
But once inside the meditation room — a unique feature of the center — natural lighting and large, white archways transform maroon mats and pillows lining the floor into a calm, serene area. (MORE)
Source: UW Badger Hearld
Monday, November 1, 2010
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