Monday, January 31, 2011
Brit School Run By Followers of Beatles' Yogi To Teach Meditation Daily
A private school in Britain run by followers of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the spiritualist who taught The Beatles transcendental meditation, is set to daily impart the technique to students.
The Maharishi School in Ormskirk, Lancashire, will be part of the first batch of education secretary Michael Gove's free schools, that have been opened by parents, teachers and charities but funded by the taxpayer.
"Meditation brings balance to the nervous system. This leads to greater creativity, intelligence and harmony, and better behaviour," the Daily Mail quoted head Derek Cassells as saying.
He added that the school would be run along traditional lines and pupils would study the same subjects as in other state schools.
The Maharishi School in Ormskirk, Lancashire, will be part of the first batch of education secretary Michael Gove's free schools, that have been opened by parents, teachers and charities but funded by the taxpayer.
"Meditation brings balance to the nervous system. This leads to greater creativity, intelligence and harmony, and better behaviour," the Daily Mail quoted head Derek Cassells as saying.
He added that the school would be run along traditional lines and pupils would study the same subjects as in other state schools.
Source: Sify News
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Meditation Modifies Brain Signals
If you think meditation is just something practiced by religious groups in order to commune with the Higher Being, studies will have to make you rethink again.
A recent research published in the Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging suggests that individuals who meditate benefit from the changes experienced by the brain. Specifically, the study says that people who meditate for a duration of around 30 minutes in a single day for eight weeks had measurable modifications in the gray-matter density in the brain. These gray areas are linked with sense of self, empathy and stress as well as memory.
Lead researcher Britta Hölzel of the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School simply related, “The main idea is to use different objects to focus one’s attention, and it could be a focus on sensations of breathing, or emotions or thoughts, or observing any type of body sensations. But it’s about bringing the mind back to the here and now, as opposed to letting the mind drift.”
Apart from that, previous studies have also showed that meditation reduced blood pressure and increased attention span.
A recent research published in the Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging suggests that individuals who meditate benefit from the changes experienced by the brain. Specifically, the study says that people who meditate for a duration of around 30 minutes in a single day for eight weeks had measurable modifications in the gray-matter density in the brain. These gray areas are linked with sense of self, empathy and stress as well as memory.
Lead researcher Britta Hölzel of the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School simply related, “The main idea is to use different objects to focus one’s attention, and it could be a focus on sensations of breathing, or emotions or thoughts, or observing any type of body sensations. But it’s about bringing the mind back to the here and now, as opposed to letting the mind drift.”
Apart from that, previous studies have also showed that meditation reduced blood pressure and increased attention span.
Source: SeerPress.com
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Mindfulness Meditation Improves Well-being, Researchers Report
Sit down. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Observe your thoughts objectively as if you were a scientist.
There, you’ve achieved it: mindfulness, a heightened awareness and acceptance of the present moment without judgment.
As simple as it seems, mindfulness, with its origins in the 2,500-year-old Buddhist practices of meditation and yoga, has become the latest buzzword in wellness, as study after study confirms its power to relieve anxiety and improve mood when combined with Western therapies.
Last month University of Toronto researchers reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which mixes mindfulness meditation with cognitive behavioral therapy, is as effective as antidepressants for preventing relapses in depression.
Dr. Zindel Segal, head of the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Clinic at the University of Toronto, and his colleagues gathered 84 participants who had all recuperated from at least two spells of depression.
Participants were then divided into three groups. One group underwent weekly group therapy. Another received an antidepressant. The third took a placebo. (MORE)
There, you’ve achieved it: mindfulness, a heightened awareness and acceptance of the present moment without judgment.
As simple as it seems, mindfulness, with its origins in the 2,500-year-old Buddhist practices of meditation and yoga, has become the latest buzzword in wellness, as study after study confirms its power to relieve anxiety and improve mood when combined with Western therapies.
Last month University of Toronto researchers reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which mixes mindfulness meditation with cognitive behavioral therapy, is as effective as antidepressants for preventing relapses in depression.
Dr. Zindel Segal, head of the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Clinic at the University of Toronto, and his colleagues gathered 84 participants who had all recuperated from at least two spells of depression.
Participants were then divided into three groups. One group underwent weekly group therapy. Another received an antidepressant. The third took a placebo. (MORE)
Source: Medill Reports Chicago
Friday, January 28, 2011
Meditation Opens Path to Inner Peace
When stress is high, meditation can ease tension, produce mental clarity and create a climate of tranquility in your life, instructors and practitioners say.
Some use the practice to help relieve anxiety, pain, depression, stress, insomnia or physical or emotional symptoms of chronic illnesses.
“People who need to slow down, who are very stressed and overworked, can benefit a lot,” said Carol Crenshaw, co-director of the Inner Peace Yoga Center in Indianapolis, where meditation is routinely practiced with yoga.
Those looking for something in life they haven’t found — a spiritual experience — also are drawn to meditation, said Crenshaw, long-time meditation and yoga instructor.
“It’s a practice that helps you during personal difficulties to keep yourself centered, focused and grounded,” said Connie Tellman. She practices alone, in her house, escaping to the solitude of her grown daughter’s former room.
“After a good session, my mind is not focused on past or future concerns but the present moment,” she said. “I’m ready to face the day with a new awareness of what’s before me.”
Many types of meditation exist, but most originated in ancient Eastern religious and spiritual traditions. Yet you don’t need to practice those religions to meditate. (MORE)
Some use the practice to help relieve anxiety, pain, depression, stress, insomnia or physical or emotional symptoms of chronic illnesses.
“People who need to slow down, who are very stressed and overworked, can benefit a lot,” said Carol Crenshaw, co-director of the Inner Peace Yoga Center in Indianapolis, where meditation is routinely practiced with yoga.
Those looking for something in life they haven’t found — a spiritual experience — also are drawn to meditation, said Crenshaw, long-time meditation and yoga instructor.
“It’s a practice that helps you during personal difficulties to keep yourself centered, focused and grounded,” said Connie Tellman. She practices alone, in her house, escaping to the solitude of her grown daughter’s former room.
“After a good session, my mind is not focused on past or future concerns but the present moment,” she said. “I’m ready to face the day with a new awareness of what’s before me.”
Many types of meditation exist, but most originated in ancient Eastern religious and spiritual traditions. Yet you don’t need to practice those religions to meditate. (MORE)
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Meditation Improves Brain Structures Involved With Memory
Meditation may significantly impact brain regions that are associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress, according to a study published in the journal Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging.
A team of scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found that meditating does not only lend a sense of peace and physical relaxation, but it may also provide cognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout an individual's day.
"This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure underlie some of these reported improvements and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing," said senior author Sara Lazar of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program.
Images were taken of the brain structure of 16 participants two weeks before and after they enrolled in the eight week-long Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program. These images revealed that their gray-matter density increased in the hippocampus, a region that is important in learning and memory.
The researchers concluded that meditation can improve brain structure, and that such a practice could also ensure mental and emotional well-being.
Memory problems are common among those with Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than five million Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
A team of scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have found that meditating does not only lend a sense of peace and physical relaxation, but it may also provide cognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout an individual's day.
"This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure underlie some of these reported improvements and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing," said senior author Sara Lazar of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program.
Images were taken of the brain structure of 16 participants two weeks before and after they enrolled in the eight week-long Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program. These images revealed that their gray-matter density increased in the hippocampus, a region that is important in learning and memory.
The researchers concluded that meditation can improve brain structure, and that such a practice could also ensure mental and emotional well-being.
Memory problems are common among those with Alzheimer's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than five million Americans, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
Source: DrCutler.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Meditation Appears to Cause Changes in Brain's Gray Matter
MRI scans show increased volume in parts of brain linked to empathy, awareness
A mindfulness meditation training program can trigger measurable changes in brain areas associated with awareness, empathy and sense of self within eight weeks, a new study has found.
Mindfulness meditation focuses on nonjudgmental awareness of one's feelings, sensations and state of mind, which often results in greater peacefulness and relaxation, the researchers explained.
They used MRI to assess the brain structure of 16 volunteers two weeks before and after they took the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. The program included weekly meetings to practice mindfulness meditation and audio recordings for guided meditation practice. The participants were asked to keep track of how much time they practiced each day.
The researchers also analyzed MRI scans of a control group of people who did not meditate for comparison.
The meditation group participants spent an average of 27 minutes a day doing mindfulness meditation exercises. The MRI scans taken after the eight-week program revealed increased gray matter density in the hippocampus (important for learning and memory) and in structures associated with compassion and self-awareness.
The investigators also found that participant-reported reductions in stress were associated with decreased gray matter density in the amygdala, which plays a role in anxiety and stress.
None of these brain structure changes were seen in the control group. (MORE)
A mindfulness meditation training program can trigger measurable changes in brain areas associated with awareness, empathy and sense of self within eight weeks, a new study has found.
Mindfulness meditation focuses on nonjudgmental awareness of one's feelings, sensations and state of mind, which often results in greater peacefulness and relaxation, the researchers explained.
They used MRI to assess the brain structure of 16 volunteers two weeks before and after they took the eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness. The program included weekly meetings to practice mindfulness meditation and audio recordings for guided meditation practice. The participants were asked to keep track of how much time they practiced each day.
The researchers also analyzed MRI scans of a control group of people who did not meditate for comparison.
The meditation group participants spent an average of 27 minutes a day doing mindfulness meditation exercises. The MRI scans taken after the eight-week program revealed increased gray matter density in the hippocampus (important for learning and memory) and in structures associated with compassion and self-awareness.
The investigators also found that participant-reported reductions in stress were associated with decreased gray matter density in the amygdala, which plays a role in anxiety and stress.
None of these brain structure changes were seen in the control group. (MORE)
Source: Business Week
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Calm Amid Chaos
The members of Buffalo Mindfulness Community have one trait in common: They are incredibly calm.
They gather weekly to meditate together -- a practice that leaves them refreshed, relaxed and energized. They come from varied spiritual backgrounds, range in age from 18 to 80, and include lawyers, health care professionals, school counselors, university professors and computer technology experts.
"It's about grounding yourself, so if your day gets hectic or if you get challenged by a very abrasive personality, you understand you have a choice on how you react," said Eric Carlson, 36, a computer technology consultant. "I run into that every day. My practice [of mindfulness] allows me to stay calm and cool and ensures that I'm hearing what they're saying."
The techniques of mindfulness -- also called Vipassana or Insight Meditation -- are drawn from the teachings of Buddha but are nonsectarian. They are used by health care professionals to treat a variety of psychological disorders, including depression in adults and attention deficit disorder in children.
Practical applications include the treatment of anxiety, borderline personality disorders, chronic pain, obesity and addiction, according to Paul Lukasik, a mental health counselor who founded Buffalo Mindfulness Community in 2003. (MORE)
They gather weekly to meditate together -- a practice that leaves them refreshed, relaxed and energized. They come from varied spiritual backgrounds, range in age from 18 to 80, and include lawyers, health care professionals, school counselors, university professors and computer technology experts.
"It's about grounding yourself, so if your day gets hectic or if you get challenged by a very abrasive personality, you understand you have a choice on how you react," said Eric Carlson, 36, a computer technology consultant. "I run into that every day. My practice [of mindfulness] allows me to stay calm and cool and ensures that I'm hearing what they're saying."
The techniques of mindfulness -- also called Vipassana or Insight Meditation -- are drawn from the teachings of Buddha but are nonsectarian. They are used by health care professionals to treat a variety of psychological disorders, including depression in adults and attention deficit disorder in children.
Practical applications include the treatment of anxiety, borderline personality disorders, chronic pain, obesity and addiction, according to Paul Lukasik, a mental health counselor who founded Buffalo Mindfulness Community in 2003. (MORE)
Source: Buffalo News
Monday, January 24, 2011
Train Your Mind
Chanting is not mindless; it disciplines the mind,
Read more: Train your mind - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/faith-and-ritual/Train-your-mind/articleshow/7353042.cms#ixzz1BxSdnrPx
Japa or chanting is the repetition of a word or short sentence during meditation. The letter ja denotes putting an end to the cycle of birth and death and the letter pa denotes the removal and destruction of all impurities and obstructions. Therefore, japa is an indirect means for attaining moksha or liberation. By destroying a variety of obstructions to knowledge, japa paves the way for liberation. Japa, then, is more than a mere discipline or technique used in meditation.
When the mind is in a listless mode, the practitioner does not know what his next thought is going to be. But, in japa one definitely knows what is coming next. When you repeat a japa, which is usually a word, a short sentence, or a verse, then you instinctively know when you are off track.
There is no method to learn about the mind. We only know that we are subject to a particular type of thinking. For example, we might get into a reverie, and only until something else arrests our attention, do we come back.
Is there anything in our thoughts that is based on our life that can help us understand our way of thinking? For instance, can we direct our thinking for a certain amount of time and have the mind at our disposal? (MORE)
Read more: Train your mind - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/faith-and-ritual/Train-your-mind/articleshow/7353042.cms#ixzz1BxSdnrPx
Japa or chanting is the repetition of a word or short sentence during meditation. The letter ja denotes putting an end to the cycle of birth and death and the letter pa denotes the removal and destruction of all impurities and obstructions. Therefore, japa is an indirect means for attaining moksha or liberation. By destroying a variety of obstructions to knowledge, japa paves the way for liberation. Japa, then, is more than a mere discipline or technique used in meditation.
When the mind is in a listless mode, the practitioner does not know what his next thought is going to be. But, in japa one definitely knows what is coming next. When you repeat a japa, which is usually a word, a short sentence, or a verse, then you instinctively know when you are off track.
There is no method to learn about the mind. We only know that we are subject to a particular type of thinking. For example, we might get into a reverie, and only until something else arrests our attention, do we come back.
Is there anything in our thoughts that is based on our life that can help us understand our way of thinking? For instance, can we direct our thinking for a certain amount of time and have the mind at our disposal? (MORE)
Source: The Times of India
Sunday, January 23, 2011
How to Meditate: The Three Parts of Meditation
There are three traditional aspects to meditation: approach, practice and integration.
Approach
Approach is about how you view both the contents of your mind and the technique. Get this right and your meditation will fly; get it wrong and it could seem like an endless struggle.
It's difficult not to expect the perfect result first time around – that's just how we seem to be programmed these days. But the reality is that meditation takes a little practice – like learning any new skill.
First, accept that your mind isn't going to stop whirring just because you want it to – and that's not the point, anyway. The point is to develop a new relationship with your thoughts and feelings that allows positive feelings to simply unfold. (MORE)
Approach
Approach is about how you view both the contents of your mind and the technique. Get this right and your meditation will fly; get it wrong and it could seem like an endless struggle.
It's difficult not to expect the perfect result first time around – that's just how we seem to be programmed these days. But the reality is that meditation takes a little practice – like learning any new skill.
First, accept that your mind isn't going to stop whirring just because you want it to – and that's not the point, anyway. The point is to develop a new relationship with your thoughts and feelings that allows positive feelings to simply unfold. (MORE)
Source: The Guardian
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Mindfulness Meditation Changes the Brain in Just 8 Weeks
Many people say meditation makes them feel more relaxed, peaceful, and focused, but does it do anything physically to the brain? Yes, say researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), who have documented changes in the brain’s gray matter after just 8 weeks of mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness meditation changes brain structure
According to the study’s senior author, Sara Lazar, PhD, of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program, “This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure may underlie some of these reported improvement and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing.”
In previous studies, including those by Lazar’s group, researchers have found structural differences and signaling changes in the brains of experienced meditation practitioners when compared with people who do not meditate. These studies, however, could not document that the changes were the result of meditation.
In a similar vein, a scientific team from the University of California, Davis, reported that the psychological changes associated with meditation are linked to the activity of an enzyme called telomerase. Their study was the first to show a relationship between positive effects of meditation and levels of telomerase. (MORE)
Mindfulness meditation changes brain structure
According to the study’s senior author, Sara Lazar, PhD, of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program, “This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure may underlie some of these reported improvement and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing.”
In previous studies, including those by Lazar’s group, researchers have found structural differences and signaling changes in the brains of experienced meditation practitioners when compared with people who do not meditate. These studies, however, could not document that the changes were the result of meditation.
In a similar vein, a scientific team from the University of California, Davis, reported that the psychological changes associated with meditation are linked to the activity of an enzyme called telomerase. Their study was the first to show a relationship between positive effects of meditation and levels of telomerase. (MORE)
Source: eMaxHealth.com
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Relaxing Breath
This is an excercise that I use daily, before I meditate, and if I just need to chill a bit during the day. This excercise was inspired by Dr. Andrew Weil. It is his 4-7-8 breathing technique.
First you exhale through your mouth.
Then you inhale through your nose, with your mouth closed and your tongue in a yogic position, (that is just lightly touching the little bit of skin just behind your front teeth) to a count of four.
Hold your breath for a count of seven.
Exhale through your mouth for a count of eight.
Repeat the process four times.
This always helps me to relax and I know it will help you as well..
First you exhale through your mouth.
Then you inhale through your nose, with your mouth closed and your tongue in a yogic position, (that is just lightly touching the little bit of skin just behind your front teeth) to a count of four.
Hold your breath for a count of seven.
Exhale through your mouth for a count of eight.
Repeat the process four times.
This always helps me to relax and I know it will help you as well..
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Jon Bon Jovi Proud of Yoga, 30 Inch Waist and No Plastic Surgery
Jon Bon Jovi and yoga create harmony for the Bon Jovi frontman who says hitting down dog is his secret to staying fit (ahem, his 30-inch waist) and not having to turn to plastic surgery. In addition to finding his inner yoga love, Bon Jovi also balances yin with yang by using the hard-hitting game of football as a way to release stress and - believe it or not - make the world a better place.
JON BON JOVI AND YOGA: "I'M A 21ST CENTURY MAN"
Cutting through the tough, heavy-metal exterior, the 48-year-old "Blaze of Glory" rocker admits turning to yoga in his later years to keep in shape. Slashing typical gym workouts from his regimen after years of pounding the weights, Jon Bon Jovi finds yoga to be his new workout go-to.
"I was doing Workout 101 for years: treadmill, elliptical, weights," Jon Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native, said of his transition from heavy gyms to the yoga studio. "Now I'm going to do yoga. I went for my first time, and I enjoyed it. I'm a 21st-century man." (MORE)
JON BON JOVI AND YOGA: "I'M A 21ST CENTURY MAN"
Cutting through the tough, heavy-metal exterior, the 48-year-old "Blaze of Glory" rocker admits turning to yoga in his later years to keep in shape. Slashing typical gym workouts from his regimen after years of pounding the weights, Jon Bon Jovi finds yoga to be his new workout go-to.
"I was doing Workout 101 for years: treadmill, elliptical, weights," Jon Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native, said of his transition from heavy gyms to the yoga studio. "Now I'm going to do yoga. I went for my first time, and I enjoyed it. I'm a 21st-century man." (MORE)
Source: Examiner
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Being Here And Now!
To be here and now is meditation or the result of meditation that is most sought after by seekers.
A short story of Lao Tzu reveals the meditation of the butcher, who led people to be here and now.
Lao Tzu, sent his disciples to the royal butcher to master the art of being here and now.
Once the emperor approached Lao Tzu and requested him to show the way to remain here and now.
Lao Tzu said, “Your butcher is the right person to learn from. Go to him, for I send my own disciples to your butcher”
The emperor was shocked, “My Butcher? What does he know about it?”
Lao Tzu instructed the emperor to just watch the butcher while at work.
The emperor was in fact fascinated by the way the butcher worked with his knife at the meat.
He asked the butcher, “Your knife is so sharp and shinning. Where did you get it from?”
The butcher replied, “Well, this was given to me by my father forty years ago. For forty years I have been working with the same knife”
The king was dumbfounded, “For forty years you have been working with the same knife?” (MORE)
A short story of Lao Tzu reveals the meditation of the butcher, who led people to be here and now.
Lao Tzu, sent his disciples to the royal butcher to master the art of being here and now.
Once the emperor approached Lao Tzu and requested him to show the way to remain here and now.
Lao Tzu said, “Your butcher is the right person to learn from. Go to him, for I send my own disciples to your butcher”
The emperor was shocked, “My Butcher? What does he know about it?”
Lao Tzu instructed the emperor to just watch the butcher while at work.
The emperor was in fact fascinated by the way the butcher worked with his knife at the meat.
He asked the butcher, “Your knife is so sharp and shinning. Where did you get it from?”
The butcher replied, “Well, this was given to me by my father forty years ago. For forty years I have been working with the same knife”
The king was dumbfounded, “For forty years you have been working with the same knife?” (MORE)
Source: One India
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I'm a Meditation Addict: Introduction to Meditation for Life
Let me begin with full disclosure: I'm a meditation addict. I do it daily, and I do it because I love it. But like many people, I began meditating not because I expected to like it, or even for the sake of spiritual growth. I started meditating because I hoped it would help me feel better. I was looking for a way to short circuit the unbroken mentalogue that played through my mind day and night, to chill out the energy of a busy and stressful life as a New York journalist, and to find a way past the subtle feeling of low-grade suffering that seemed to be part of my inner feeling state. Meditation was just beginning to get some press as a life-transforming strategy. I went for it.
For the first year I sat, my mind never once—never once—got quiet. Even so, I quickly discovered that the practice activated some center of stillness and contentment that carried over into the rest of the day. When things got rough in my world, when doors were slamming and work mates challenging my ideas, I found out that if I could sit for three or four minutes in silence, solutions would arise and emotions cool down. Meditation seemed to activate some mysterious alchemical process that went far beyond what I actually did on the mat. (MORE)
For the first year I sat, my mind never once—never once—got quiet. Even so, I quickly discovered that the practice activated some center of stillness and contentment that carried over into the rest of the day. When things got rough in my world, when doors were slamming and work mates challenging my ideas, I found out that if I could sit for three or four minutes in silence, solutions would arise and emotions cool down. Meditation seemed to activate some mysterious alchemical process that went far beyond what I actually did on the mat. (MORE)
Source: Patheos
Monday, January 17, 2011
Three Minutes To a Better You
Putting our focus on the breath is a meditation technique that can be used at any time, while sitting in your car in traffic, getting prepared for a big presentation, or sitting at your desk.
When we focus on the breath, we free ourselves from anxious thought patterns that keep us in states of stress.
Take 1 minute to breathe with a focus on the exhalation.
Take another minute to breathe with a focus on inhalation.
Then, take a final minute to breathe evenly, focusing on both inhalations and exhalations.
This three minute excercise is a little stepping stone to a stress free you.
When we focus on the breath, we free ourselves from anxious thought patterns that keep us in states of stress.
Take 1 minute to breathe with a focus on the exhalation.
Take another minute to breathe with a focus on inhalation.
Then, take a final minute to breathe evenly, focusing on both inhalations and exhalations.
This three minute excercise is a little stepping stone to a stress free you.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Deeper Meditation Takes Intention and Preparation
When I meditate, the depth of my experience varies widely. In the morning my mind is so active, I concentrate on relaxing in a cross-legged posture and observe the nature of my thoughts. Although these meditations don’t go very deep, they leave me feeling ready for the day — my priorities in order.
So, how do you have deep meditations? The ones where you feel remade from the inside out? As if you’ve had an internal massage? You’ve become aware of a universe inside? Or like you’ve connected with your very best self? Hmm. That’s a little trickier. What I can say from my experience is that going deeper often takes preparation and one or more of the following variables:
I’m with a group of people also meditating.
I’m on vacation.
I’ve been alone all day, writing, and everything poking at me is on paper.
I’ve just finished a workout or a hatha yoga session.
I’ve set the intention to go deeper and scheduled at least 45 minutes. (MORE)
So, how do you have deep meditations? The ones where you feel remade from the inside out? As if you’ve had an internal massage? You’ve become aware of a universe inside? Or like you’ve connected with your very best self? Hmm. That’s a little trickier. What I can say from my experience is that going deeper often takes preparation and one or more of the following variables:
I’m with a group of people also meditating.
I’m on vacation.
I’ve been alone all day, writing, and everything poking at me is on paper.
I’ve just finished a workout or a hatha yoga session.
I’ve set the intention to go deeper and scheduled at least 45 minutes. (MORE)
Source: AnnArbor.com
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Yoga Gets a Transformation
With everything stepping towards modernization now-a-days, yoga too has got a makeover. A highly recommended medication to beat the stress and tension, it is the sum total of all the activities of speech, mind and body.
Hot Yoga, as now called is the transformed version of the earlier-practiced classical yoga. Followed in the rooms with temperature ranging from 106 to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, it involves exercises, which increases the endurance and lowers down the tension.
Observing the growing likeness towards the new version of yoga, one of the largest gyms, GoodLife Fitness has opened nine new hot yoga studios in its pre-existing gyms. In addition, many independent studios have cropped up as well.
Those who took classes from these accounted for more flexibility, descended stress and the need for lesser sleep.
The transformation was commended by some of its followers so much so that they are thinking of becoming a trainer for this field.
However, there are other trends marked, which includes fusion Yoga, which is the combination of hot yoga and classical yoga and anti-gravity yoga. (MORE)
Hot Yoga, as now called is the transformed version of the earlier-practiced classical yoga. Followed in the rooms with temperature ranging from 106 to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, it involves exercises, which increases the endurance and lowers down the tension.
Observing the growing likeness towards the new version of yoga, one of the largest gyms, GoodLife Fitness has opened nine new hot yoga studios in its pre-existing gyms. In addition, many independent studios have cropped up as well.
Those who took classes from these accounted for more flexibility, descended stress and the need for lesser sleep.
The transformation was commended by some of its followers so much so that they are thinking of becoming a trainer for this field.
However, there are other trends marked, which includes fusion Yoga, which is the combination of hot yoga and classical yoga and anti-gravity yoga. (MORE)
Source: Top News
Friday, January 14, 2011
Aetna Building a Case for a “Mind-Body” Approach to Stress Management
Aetna (NYSE:AET) today announced that early results from randomized controlled pilot studies of two stress-reduction programs showed significant reductions in stress as compared to the control group. Aetna’s review of medical claims’ data showed a positive correlation between costs and study participants’ stress levels, suggesting potential health care costs savings could be realized by reducing stress. Additionally, health improvements were suggested in the treatment groups over controls, leading to further studies.
Aetna collaborated with eMindful Inc.’s research team headed by Ruth Q. Wolever, PhD, Director of Research at Duke Integrative Medicine, and Gary Kraftsow, MA, E-RYT 500 of the American Viniyoga Institute, to test whether mind-body approaches, such as mindfulness meditation and therapeutic yoga, can reduce stress and improve overall health. The success of both programs offers evidence that certain mind-body approaches can be an effective complement to conventional medicine, a field broadly known as Integrative Medicine.
“Helping people take control of their health is a critical step in achieving better health and reducing the cost of health care,” said Aetna CEO and President Mark Bertolini. “Stress takes a significant toll on physical and mental health. We want to understand, and also demonstrate, whether integrative medicine can offer our members options that both better suit their lifestyles and can be proven to improve their health. We will continue to build an evidence base for the mind-body approach to health.” (MORE)
Aetna collaborated with eMindful Inc.’s research team headed by Ruth Q. Wolever, PhD, Director of Research at Duke Integrative Medicine, and Gary Kraftsow, MA, E-RYT 500 of the American Viniyoga Institute, to test whether mind-body approaches, such as mindfulness meditation and therapeutic yoga, can reduce stress and improve overall health. The success of both programs offers evidence that certain mind-body approaches can be an effective complement to conventional medicine, a field broadly known as Integrative Medicine.
“Helping people take control of their health is a critical step in achieving better health and reducing the cost of health care,” said Aetna CEO and President Mark Bertolini. “Stress takes a significant toll on physical and mental health. We want to understand, and also demonstrate, whether integrative medicine can offer our members options that both better suit their lifestyles and can be proven to improve their health. We will continue to build an evidence base for the mind-body approach to health.” (MORE)
Source: InsuranceNewsNet.com
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Yoga Blossoms in Canton Prison
Yoga is hardly the first thing that comes to mind as an activity for male prisoners. But two inmates who teach yoga classes at a state prison near Canton believe it is ideal for prison life.
“Yoga is my sunrise,” says Marshawn Feltus. “I want yoga every day.” Quite a few others at the Illinois River Correctional Center agree with him. More than 150 prisoners attend yoga classes at the medium security prison every week. It is the first prison in Illinois to include yoga in recreation activities, but it joins hundreds of prisons across the country that have incorporated it as an aid to rehabilitating prisoners.
Cory Foster, a senior policy advisor with the Illinois Department of Corrections, says yoga provides prisoners with skills and mindsets that can ease their transition into the community and reduce the number of repeat offenders. In April the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet introduced a volunteer-run rehabilitation program that incorporates yoga techniques. (MORE)
“Yoga is my sunrise,” says Marshawn Feltus. “I want yoga every day.” Quite a few others at the Illinois River Correctional Center agree with him. More than 150 prisoners attend yoga classes at the medium security prison every week. It is the first prison in Illinois to include yoga in recreation activities, but it joins hundreds of prisons across the country that have incorporated it as an aid to rehabilitating prisoners.
Cory Foster, a senior policy advisor with the Illinois Department of Corrections, says yoga provides prisoners with skills and mindsets that can ease their transition into the community and reduce the number of repeat offenders. In April the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet introduced a volunteer-run rehabilitation program that incorporates yoga techniques. (MORE)
Source: Illinois Times
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Stressed Out? Try Mindfulness Meditation
Zindel Segal was in a Toronto bookstore a few weeks ago, when a title caught his eye. The book, The Mindful Investor, caused him a moment of shock and panic.
“I turned to someone and said, ‘This is the beginning of the end,’ ” recalls Dr. Segal, who heads the cognitive behaviour therapy clinic at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
The book, which purports to explain how a calm mind can help a person achieve financial security, is a sign that the concept of mindfulness is making a leap into mass popularity. But that doesn’t mean people actually understand it, he says.
Mindfulness is a technique for slowing down and examining one’s thought processes, and learning to be in the moment. Based on Buddhist principles, it became popular in the United States in the 1970s, and was taken up by celebs such as Meg Ryan and Goldie Hawn. Today, researchers are studying its benefits for everything from depression to stress. (MORE)
“I turned to someone and said, ‘This is the beginning of the end,’ ” recalls Dr. Segal, who heads the cognitive behaviour therapy clinic at Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
The book, which purports to explain how a calm mind can help a person achieve financial security, is a sign that the concept of mindfulness is making a leap into mass popularity. But that doesn’t mean people actually understand it, he says.
Mindfulness is a technique for slowing down and examining one’s thought processes, and learning to be in the moment. Based on Buddhist principles, it became popular in the United States in the 1970s, and was taken up by celebs such as Meg Ryan and Goldie Hawn. Today, researchers are studying its benefits for everything from depression to stress. (MORE)
Source: The Globe and Mail
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Children Need More Meditation and Less Stimulation
A remote diocese in Australia is leading the way by allowing regular periods of silent meditation in the classroom
If you want your children to feel more relaxed and less stressed, give them silence, not iPods.
This unthinkable idea came to mind after listening to Ernie Christie and Dr Cathy Day, two educationists from Queensland, Australia. They were addressing an audience at Regent's College, London, on the benefits of allowing children to experience regular periods of silent meditation in the classroom.
A pilot study in 2005, involving teaching meditation to five- to 17-year-olds, had shown that children are not only capable of meditation, they actually enjoy it. The benefits to children's wellbeing were so obvious to teachers that it persuaded Cathy Day, director of Townsville Catholic Education Office, to spend precious funds implementing the first Christian meditation programme for all schools in the diocese.
The initiative had two important catalysts: a diocesan bishop sympathetic to meditation, Michael Putney, and the input of Laurence Freeman OSB, leader of the World Community for Christian Meditation. Without their help, Day admitted, nothing would have got off the ground. When an almost pathological "busyness" is the norm, valuing stillness and silence is counter-cultural. When our culture trains us to be winners, to compete and to consume, we all sense society's imbalance, said Freeman. We need to give children an experience of another way of relating to themselves and to others. (MORE)
If you want your children to feel more relaxed and less stressed, give them silence, not iPods.
This unthinkable idea came to mind after listening to Ernie Christie and Dr Cathy Day, two educationists from Queensland, Australia. They were addressing an audience at Regent's College, London, on the benefits of allowing children to experience regular periods of silent meditation in the classroom.
A pilot study in 2005, involving teaching meditation to five- to 17-year-olds, had shown that children are not only capable of meditation, they actually enjoy it. The benefits to children's wellbeing were so obvious to teachers that it persuaded Cathy Day, director of Townsville Catholic Education Office, to spend precious funds implementing the first Christian meditation programme for all schools in the diocese.
The initiative had two important catalysts: a diocesan bishop sympathetic to meditation, Michael Putney, and the input of Laurence Freeman OSB, leader of the World Community for Christian Meditation. Without their help, Day admitted, nothing would have got off the ground. When an almost pathological "busyness" is the norm, valuing stillness and silence is counter-cultural. When our culture trains us to be winners, to compete and to consume, we all sense society's imbalance, said Freeman. We need to give children an experience of another way of relating to themselves and to others. (MORE)
Source: The Guardian
Monday, January 10, 2011
Yoga Has Avatars in America
Yoga seems to have been "reincarnated" in America and some other parts of the world.
Various organizations are promoting "Christian Yoga", claiming to provide a Christian approach to yoga. There are DVDs like "Christoga: Yoga Filled Body - Christ Filled Soul" (60 minutes of Yoga with bible scriptures recited by Janine. Yoga with Christ as the meditation focus!). There is a "Christian Yoga Magazine". There are books like "Yoga for Christians: A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health through Yoga"," Holy Yoga: Exercise for the Christian Body and Soul", etc.
Welcoming the widespread interest in yoga, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, yoga was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. One could still practice one''s respective faith and do yoga. Yoga would rather help one in achieving one''s spiritual goals in whatever religion one believed in.
"Yoga DVD" search on January nine at amazon yielded 4,828 results.
Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago (Illinois) is teaching "Catholic Yoga" whose announcement says: "explore the multiple spiritual and physical benefits of yoga practice while explicitly integrating prayers and spiritual themes of our Catholic faith". (MORE)
Various organizations are promoting "Christian Yoga", claiming to provide a Christian approach to yoga. There are DVDs like "Christoga: Yoga Filled Body - Christ Filled Soul" (60 minutes of Yoga with bible scriptures recited by Janine. Yoga with Christ as the meditation focus!). There is a "Christian Yoga Magazine". There are books like "Yoga for Christians: A Christ-Centered Approach to Physical and Spiritual Health through Yoga"," Holy Yoga: Exercise for the Christian Body and Soul", etc.
Welcoming the widespread interest in yoga, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, yoga was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. One could still practice one''s respective faith and do yoga. Yoga would rather help one in achieving one''s spiritual goals in whatever religion one believed in.
"Yoga DVD" search on January nine at amazon yielded 4,828 results.
Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago (Illinois) is teaching "Catholic Yoga" whose announcement says: "explore the multiple spiritual and physical benefits of yoga practice while explicitly integrating prayers and spiritual themes of our Catholic faith". (MORE)
Source: Times of India
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Mindfulness Therapy is no Fad, Experts Say
There is solid evidence that mindfulness therapy, which combines elements of Buddhism and yoga, can relieve anxiety and improve mood.
Of all fields of medicine, psychology seems especially prone to fads. Freudian dream analysis, recovered memory therapy, eye movement desensitization for trauma — lots of once-hot psychological theories and treatments eventually fizzled.
Now along comes mindfulness therapy, a meditation-based treatment with foundations in Buddhism and yoga that's taking off in private practices and university psychology departments across the country.
"Mindfulness has become a buzzword, especially with younger therapists," said Stefan Hofmann, a professor of psychology at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.
Mindfulness therapy encourages patients to focus on their breathing and their body, to notice but not judge their thoughts and to generally live in the moment. It may sound a bit squishy and New Agey to some, but Hofmann and other experts say mindfulness has something that discredited theories of the past never had: solid evidence that it can help.
"I was skeptical at first." Hofmann said. "I wondered, 'Why on Earth should this work?' But it seems to work quite well." (MORE)
Of all fields of medicine, psychology seems especially prone to fads. Freudian dream analysis, recovered memory therapy, eye movement desensitization for trauma — lots of once-hot psychological theories and treatments eventually fizzled.
Now along comes mindfulness therapy, a meditation-based treatment with foundations in Buddhism and yoga that's taking off in private practices and university psychology departments across the country.
"Mindfulness has become a buzzword, especially with younger therapists," said Stefan Hofmann, a professor of psychology at Boston University's Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.
Mindfulness therapy encourages patients to focus on their breathing and their body, to notice but not judge their thoughts and to generally live in the moment. It may sound a bit squishy and New Agey to some, but Hofmann and other experts say mindfulness has something that discredited theories of the past never had: solid evidence that it can help.
"I was skeptical at first." Hofmann said. "I wondered, 'Why on Earth should this work?' But it seems to work quite well." (MORE)
Source: LA Times
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Meditation Helps us Listen to the ‘Still, Small Voice Within’
Diane VanDerWerff’s letter in Wednesday’s Sentinel criticizes a column by Bill Freeman, and cautions readers not to equate Christian meditation with that of Eastern religious traditions. However, Mr. Freeman was entirely correct in identifying some common features of the contemplative practices of different religious traditions, including Christianity. What Freeman and VanDerWerff call “thinking about nothing,” “clearing one’s mind of all thought,” and listening to that “still, small voice within” are merely mental tools that people of diverse religious traditions have developed to help them open their minds to the divine, however they define it.
We all know how difficult it is not to think about our mundane daily tasks, our interactions with other people or even the perfume of the person sitting next to us in the pew. And while meditation of the sort mentioned by Freeman is not a conspicuous part of most modern Christian services, some of the techniques that he mentions have a long history in Judeo-Christian tradition and are still used by many Christians today. (MORE)
We all know how difficult it is not to think about our mundane daily tasks, our interactions with other people or even the perfume of the person sitting next to us in the pew. And while meditation of the sort mentioned by Freeman is not a conspicuous part of most modern Christian services, some of the techniques that he mentions have a long history in Judeo-Christian tradition and are still used by many Christians today. (MORE)
Source: Holland Sentinel
Friday, January 7, 2011
Keeping the Mind in Shape
MEDITATION is more than just a self-imposed quiet time and could make people smarter, calmer and healthier.
Research published in New Scientist found meditation could affect people's memories, attention and focus, as well as their relationships and their physical and emotional health.
The magazine noted the results of an investigation that followed 60 experienced meditators at an intensive three-month meditation retreat and watched their changes in physical and psychological health.
The volunteers became progressively more accurate and better at staying focused for long periods.
Mediation teacher Kate James, of Total Balance, has been practising meditation for more than 20 years.
"It helps you sleep better. It strengthens your memory,'' she said.
"Honestly, I could go on listing benefits all day.''
Research published in New Scientist found meditation could affect people's memories, attention and focus, as well as their relationships and their physical and emotional health.
The magazine noted the results of an investigation that followed 60 experienced meditators at an intensive three-month meditation retreat and watched their changes in physical and psychological health.
The volunteers became progressively more accurate and better at staying focused for long periods.
Mediation teacher Kate James, of Total Balance, has been practising meditation for more than 20 years.
"It helps you sleep better. It strengthens your memory,'' she said.
"Honestly, I could go on listing benefits all day.''
Source Hearld Sun
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Deepak Chopra on Dr. Oz Today: Lose Weight and Reverse Aging with Meditation
Dr. Oz continues his New Year’s theme of losing weight with his guest today: Deepak Chopra. According to Chopra, meditation can help you lose weight and even reverse the effects of aging on your body. Finally a way to get healthier that doesn’t involve busting your butt! I love it! Dr. Oz comes on at 4:00 p.m. EST, and Dr. Oz calls Chopra an “Alternative Health All-Star” and Chopra explains how your thoughts can effect your health. The best way to recover is to re-wire your brain, and meditation is the key to that process. According to Chopra, four months of meditation are enough to turn off the aging genes and turn on the good genes. And, if you’re a Deepak Chopra fan, you have the opportunity to win a weekend with him. Submit a 250-word essay on why you are Chopra’s biggest fan and you could win the chance to attend his SincroDestiny Empowerment Workshop in California. Go to Dr. Oz’s website to submit your winning essay and good luck!
Source: CMR
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Dr. Oz: Make Meditation Your New Year's Resolution
According to polls, the most popular New Year's resolutions for 2011 are: lose weight, quit drinking and/or smoking, exercise, manage your debt, reduce stress, get a better job, fall in love and volunteer to help others.
But if Dr. Mehmet Oz is correct, perhaps "learn to meditate" should be added to the top of everyone's list.
Meditation is emerging as a powerful stress-buster. Research shows that it can have health benefits equivalent to or better than some of the leading medications for reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Dr. Oz, a meditator himself, spoke at the "Change Begins Within" benefit on Dec. 13 in New York City. The event was sponsored by the David Lynch Foundation, to raise funds to teach 10,000 veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder how to meditate. Addressing the impact of stress and its toll on the human heart, Dr. Oz explained how the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces the three main risk factors for heart disease. (MORE)
But if Dr. Mehmet Oz is correct, perhaps "learn to meditate" should be added to the top of everyone's list.
Meditation is emerging as a powerful stress-buster. Research shows that it can have health benefits equivalent to or better than some of the leading medications for reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Dr. Oz, a meditator himself, spoke at the "Change Begins Within" benefit on Dec. 13 in New York City. The event was sponsored by the David Lynch Foundation, to raise funds to teach 10,000 veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder how to meditate. Addressing the impact of stress and its toll on the human heart, Dr. Oz explained how the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces the three main risk factors for heart disease. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Mindfulness Therapy Seen as Aid to Stress Reduction
It’s a simple concept that appears to help people deal more effectively with depression, chronic illness or just the stress of everyday life.
“Mindfulness-based stress reduction” — a modern take on an ancient Buddhist practice — teaches people to be more aware of what’s happening in the moment, instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
A form of complementary medicine that has increasingly gained acceptance in the mainstream, mindfulness has been linked to a variety of health benefits when added to conventional treatment, including relief from chronic pain, anxiety and digestive disorders.
A study this month in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that mindfulness-based therapy worked as well as antidepressants in preventing relapses of depression over an 18-month period.
“What mindfulness-based stress reduction has in its favor is all of the research behind it, which gives it a decent amount of credibility,” said Maggie Crowley, a clinical psychologist at the Northwestern Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness.
Crowley noted that mindfulness isn’t a substitute for conventional treatment but can improve the body’s response to stress for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. (MORE)
“Mindfulness-based stress reduction” — a modern take on an ancient Buddhist practice — teaches people to be more aware of what’s happening in the moment, instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
A form of complementary medicine that has increasingly gained acceptance in the mainstream, mindfulness has been linked to a variety of health benefits when added to conventional treatment, including relief from chronic pain, anxiety and digestive disorders.
A study this month in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that mindfulness-based therapy worked as well as antidepressants in preventing relapses of depression over an 18-month period.
“What mindfulness-based stress reduction has in its favor is all of the research behind it, which gives it a decent amount of credibility,” said Maggie Crowley, a clinical psychologist at the Northwestern Center for Integrative Medicine and Wellness.
Crowley noted that mindfulness isn’t a substitute for conventional treatment but can improve the body’s response to stress for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. (MORE)
Source: Chicago Sun Times
Monday, January 3, 2011
Waiting Without Waiting: Another Benefit of Meditation
I'm sitting here at Los Angeles International Airport, and my flight has been delayed for two hours. I'm on my way to Vancouver to see some dear, close friends, including speaker and author Eckhart Tolle. I first met Eckhart more than 10 years ago, when he was not famous, just a quiet man with a powerful message. Although what he teaches is similar to Advaita Vedanta, Zen and many other meditation traditions, he hasn't proposed a formal practice or system. Instead, he recommends bringing meditation principles into every moment of life. Furthermore, he proposes that how this unfolds in your life is up to you.
He used to stay in the guest room of my home whenever he came to Los Angeles to give a talk or host a workshop. My partner and I adored his visits because we always learned so much about happiness from him, even when he didn't speak a word. I brought him his coffee in the morning, and the newspaper. We spent time together in silence, and we also did a lot of laughing. I remember sitting on the front steps watching birds play in the jasmine, enjoying the flight of a cloud through the blue sky. This was my first time acknowledging the profound peace and joy in the simple experiences of life, and it opened my eyes to the simple joy of being. (MORE)
He used to stay in the guest room of my home whenever he came to Los Angeles to give a talk or host a workshop. My partner and I adored his visits because we always learned so much about happiness from him, even when he didn't speak a word. I brought him his coffee in the morning, and the newspaper. We spent time together in silence, and we also did a lot of laughing. I remember sitting on the front steps watching birds play in the jasmine, enjoying the flight of a cloud through the blue sky. This was my first time acknowledging the profound peace and joy in the simple experiences of life, and it opened my eyes to the simple joy of being. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Hey There Men: Give Yoga a Try to Bboost Your Golf Game
Knowing ahead of time I was going to write about the benefits of yoga for golfers, I decided to interview my oldest son -- a staunch yoga advocate who was at the time visiting us from New Orleans.
Erroneously, I began by asking, "why do you believe yoga is so beneficial specifically for men?" It took only seconds for him to produce a concise, three-part answer -- which I can`t print. That aside, yoga is one of the fastest growing areas of fitness designed for golfers, as it is by far the best method of improving flexibility, strength and range of motion for greater distance. Dr. Robert Schwartz supports that theory by stating, "As a four-handicap senior golfer, I have made remarkable strides in my game as a result of the increased strength and flexibility I`ve gained from yoga." Further, Jim Deiters, a Class A PGA professional, stated, "Yoga is a critical part of our instruction program ... I refer all my clients to classes."
Notwithstanding, the majority of yoga participants tend to be women, which is why I specifically asked my son why he espouses yoga for men.
Once I reined him in a bit from his initial response, I obtained a long list of reasons he enjoys yoga and feels it is beneficial. Yoga: (MORE)
Erroneously, I began by asking, "why do you believe yoga is so beneficial specifically for men?" It took only seconds for him to produce a concise, three-part answer -- which I can`t print. That aside, yoga is one of the fastest growing areas of fitness designed for golfers, as it is by far the best method of improving flexibility, strength and range of motion for greater distance. Dr. Robert Schwartz supports that theory by stating, "As a four-handicap senior golfer, I have made remarkable strides in my game as a result of the increased strength and flexibility I`ve gained from yoga." Further, Jim Deiters, a Class A PGA professional, stated, "Yoga is a critical part of our instruction program ... I refer all my clients to classes."
Notwithstanding, the majority of yoga participants tend to be women, which is why I specifically asked my son why he espouses yoga for men.
Once I reined him in a bit from his initial response, I obtained a long list of reasons he enjoys yoga and feels it is beneficial. Yoga: (MORE)
Source: Broomfieldenterprises.com
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Too Much to Drink? Try Yoga
If the holiday festivities have left you feeling like your body needs a good wringing out, a trip to the yoga studio — or your own yoga mat at home — may be just what the doctor ordered. Whether you choose a gentle, restorative approach or a more vigorous one like Power Yoga, designed for the exceptionally fit, yoga can help to revive a fuzzy mind or aching body and bring relief from that bane of New Year’s Day: the hangover.
Though there is no evidence to support claims that yoga will eliminate alcohol’s toxic effects, “we do feel that yoga reduces stress and has health benefits,” said Dr. Debbie L. Cohen, a kidney specialist at the University of Pennsylvania who is studying yoga as an alternative to medication to lower high blood pressure. She cites studies showing that yoga can reduce chronic stress, ease arthritic conditions and improve the quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. (MORE)
Though there is no evidence to support claims that yoga will eliminate alcohol’s toxic effects, “we do feel that yoga reduces stress and has health benefits,” said Dr. Debbie L. Cohen, a kidney specialist at the University of Pennsylvania who is studying yoga as an alternative to medication to lower high blood pressure. She cites studies showing that yoga can reduce chronic stress, ease arthritic conditions and improve the quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. (MORE)
Source NY Times
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