Friday, July 29, 2011
Mindfulness Meditation Eases IBS, Study Finds
A therapy that combines mindfulness meditation and gentle yoga may help soothe symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, according to a U.S. study.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, found that, of the 75 women with the digestive disorder involved in the study, those assigned to "mindfulness training" - a type of meditation - saw a bigger improvement in their symptoms over three months than women who were assigned to a support group.
The study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests that the mindfulness technique should be an option for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers said.
"This randomized, controlled trial demonstrated that mindfulness training has a substantial therapeutic effect on bowel symptom severity, improves health-related quality of life, and reduces distress," wrote lead researcher Susan Gaylord.
People with IBS have repeated bouts of abdominal cramps, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Typical treatment included diet changes, as well as antidiarrheal medication and, for constipation, laxatives or fibre supplements.
The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but anxiety and less-than-ideal coping strategies, such as avoiding going out because of symptoms, are thought to make IBS worse for many people. (MORE)
Researchers at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, found that, of the 75 women with the digestive disorder involved in the study, those assigned to "mindfulness training" - a type of meditation - saw a bigger improvement in their symptoms over three months than women who were assigned to a support group.
The study, published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, suggests that the mindfulness technique should be an option for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), researchers said.
"This randomized, controlled trial demonstrated that mindfulness training has a substantial therapeutic effect on bowel symptom severity, improves health-related quality of life, and reduces distress," wrote lead researcher Susan Gaylord.
People with IBS have repeated bouts of abdominal cramps, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. Typical treatment included diet changes, as well as antidiarrheal medication and, for constipation, laxatives or fibre supplements.
The exact cause of IBS is unknown, but anxiety and less-than-ideal coping strategies, such as avoiding going out because of symptoms, are thought to make IBS worse for many people. (MORE)
Source: Times-Colonist
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Re-Wiring Your Brain for Happiness: Research Shows How Meditation Can Physically Change the Brain
A quiet explosion of new research indicating that meditation can physically change the brain in astonishing ways has started to push into mainstream.
Several studies suggest that these changes through meditation can make you happier, less stressed -- even nicer to other people. It can help you control your eating habits and even reduce chronic pain, all the while without taking prescription medication.
Watch the full story on "Nightline" tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET
Meditation is an intimate and intense exercise that can be done solo or in a group, and one study showed that 20 million Americans say they practice meditation. It has been used to help treat addictions, to clear psoriasis and even to treat men with impotence.
The U.S. Marines are testing meditation to see if it makes more focused, effective warriors. Corporate executives at Google, General Mills, Target and Aetna Insurance, as well as students in some of the nation's classrooms have used meditation. (MORE)
Several studies suggest that these changes through meditation can make you happier, less stressed -- even nicer to other people. It can help you control your eating habits and even reduce chronic pain, all the while without taking prescription medication.
Watch the full story on "Nightline" tonight at 11:35 p.m. ET
Meditation is an intimate and intense exercise that can be done solo or in a group, and one study showed that 20 million Americans say they practice meditation. It has been used to help treat addictions, to clear psoriasis and even to treat men with impotence.
The U.S. Marines are testing meditation to see if it makes more focused, effective warriors. Corporate executives at Google, General Mills, Target and Aetna Insurance, as well as students in some of the nation's classrooms have used meditation. (MORE)
Source: ABC News
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Yoga Daddy
Just call Richard Gere "Zen Daddy." The Buddhist actor accompanied his son, Homer James, 11, to the Knicks Basketball Clinic in East Hampton Saturday afternoon, but he didn't merely stand on the sidelines. Instead, Gere practiced yoga while watching his son play. A source spotted the star sitting in the "lotus position" through most of the two-hour clinic. He also did some "complicated floor stretches." Once Gere mellowed out, spies said, he was gracious to other parents before scooping up Homer and heading out. Gere's rep had no comment. (We were hoping for "Ohhmmmm.")
Source: NY Post
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Yoga Does Promote Good Health
A new study led by an Indian-origin scientist has proved that meditation actually eases stress and promotes better health.
Meditation triggers a change in electrical activity of the brain, improving the mind and body in measurable ways, revealed Dr Ramesh Manocha at Sydney University, lead researcher of the study on work stress.
Within the context of meditation and stress, it's the largest study in the world and we've applied some rigorous conditions, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Dr Manocha as saying.
The secret to the success of the study, he said, was the mental silence traditional approach used in Sahaja Yoga.
What authentic techniques should do is show you how to widen space between thoughts until the space is so large you have no thoughts whatsoever in that moment, he stated.
In the study, 178 full-time workers practised meditation twice daily at home for 10 to 20 minutes over eight weeks.
The improvements for mood and depression were twice as high for those practising mental silence compared to the relaxation and placebo groups. (MORE)
Meditation triggers a change in electrical activity of the brain, improving the mind and body in measurable ways, revealed Dr Ramesh Manocha at Sydney University, lead researcher of the study on work stress.
Within the context of meditation and stress, it's the largest study in the world and we've applied some rigorous conditions, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Dr Manocha as saying.
The secret to the success of the study, he said, was the mental silence traditional approach used in Sahaja Yoga.
What authentic techniques should do is show you how to widen space between thoughts until the space is so large you have no thoughts whatsoever in that moment, he stated.
In the study, 178 full-time workers practised meditation twice daily at home for 10 to 20 minutes over eight weeks.
The improvements for mood and depression were twice as high for those practising mental silence compared to the relaxation and placebo groups. (MORE)
Monday, July 11, 2011
There's Nothing To It And Science Agrees - Meditation Works
YOGIS have sworn by it for years, but now there is scientific proof that meditation eases stress and promotes better health.
Meditation triggers change in electrical activity of the brain, improving the mind and body in measurable ways, the latest study on work stress, led by Dr Ramesh Manocha at Sydney University, reveals.
"Within the context of meditation and stress, it's the largest study in the world … and we've applied some rigorous conditions," Dr Manocha said.
The secret to the success of the study, he said, was the ''mental silence'' traditional approach used in Sahaja Yoga.
"What authentic techniques should do is show you how to widen space between thoughts until the space is so large you have no thoughts whatsoever in that moment," he said. (MORE)
Meditation triggers change in electrical activity of the brain, improving the mind and body in measurable ways, the latest study on work stress, led by Dr Ramesh Manocha at Sydney University, reveals.
"Within the context of meditation and stress, it's the largest study in the world … and we've applied some rigorous conditions," Dr Manocha said.
The secret to the success of the study, he said, was the ''mental silence'' traditional approach used in Sahaja Yoga.
"What authentic techniques should do is show you how to widen space between thoughts until the space is so large you have no thoughts whatsoever in that moment," he said. (MORE)
Source: Sydney Morning News
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Patients Put Heart Into Meditation
Chennai cardiologists are nudging their patients to good heart health the yogic way.
With 9-year American study revealing that 20 minutes of meditation performed twice daily can lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with cardiovascular disease, doctors here offer complementary meditation and yoga packages, along with routine heart and BP drugs.
The study, authored by College of Maharishi Consciousness Based Health Care dean Robert Schneider, investigated for nine years subjects diagnosed with early stage cardiovascular disease.
Half the group was taught ‘transcendal meditation’ that involves repeating a word or phrase over and over again (usually ‘Om’), while performing soothing breathing exercises.
At the end of the study period, those who regularly meditated had reduced their chances of dying or having a heart attack or stroke by 47 per cent compared with those who received traditional care.
The study, funded by the National Institute of Health, is expected to be printed soon in the Archives of Internal Medicine. (MORE)
With 9-year American study revealing that 20 minutes of meditation performed twice daily can lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients with cardiovascular disease, doctors here offer complementary meditation and yoga packages, along with routine heart and BP drugs.
The study, authored by College of Maharishi Consciousness Based Health Care dean Robert Schneider, investigated for nine years subjects diagnosed with early stage cardiovascular disease.
Half the group was taught ‘transcendal meditation’ that involves repeating a word or phrase over and over again (usually ‘Om’), while performing soothing breathing exercises.
At the end of the study period, those who regularly meditated had reduced their chances of dying or having a heart attack or stroke by 47 per cent compared with those who received traditional care.
The study, funded by the National Institute of Health, is expected to be printed soon in the Archives of Internal Medicine. (MORE)
Source: Deccan Chronicle
Friday, July 8, 2011
Befriending Anger with Meditation and Guided Imagery
Anybody can become angry -- that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way -- that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.
--Aristotle
Anger has been getting a bad rap for centuries. Medieval Christianity decreed anger as one of the seven deadly sins. Buddha teaches that anger side-tracks enlightenment and is rooted in illusion. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna regards anger as a sign of ignorance that leads to perpetual bondage. And the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, a source of Judaic law, advises, "Anger is a very evil trait and it should be avoided at all costs. You should train yourself not be become angry even if you have a good reason to be angry." Even current medical research conducted through the American Heart Association lists its negative health consequences, including anger as a trigger for heart attacks.
And yet anger is built into our DNA to help us survive. It can invigorate, motivate and set boundaries to protect. It defends space for our voice and point of view. Many important social changes were called into action through the energy of anger, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Civil Rights and women's suffragette movements. And perhaps because the messages about anger are so polarized, so are our ways of dealing with it. We either tend to avoid, ignore and become passive with anger, or inflame it and lash out. So what is a healthy relationship with anger, and how can we employ it in daily life? (MORE)
--Aristotle
Anger has been getting a bad rap for centuries. Medieval Christianity decreed anger as one of the seven deadly sins. Buddha teaches that anger side-tracks enlightenment and is rooted in illusion. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna regards anger as a sign of ignorance that leads to perpetual bondage. And the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, a source of Judaic law, advises, "Anger is a very evil trait and it should be avoided at all costs. You should train yourself not be become angry even if you have a good reason to be angry." Even current medical research conducted through the American Heart Association lists its negative health consequences, including anger as a trigger for heart attacks.
And yet anger is built into our DNA to help us survive. It can invigorate, motivate and set boundaries to protect. It defends space for our voice and point of view. Many important social changes were called into action through the energy of anger, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Civil Rights and women's suffragette movements. And perhaps because the messages about anger are so polarized, so are our ways of dealing with it. We either tend to avoid, ignore and become passive with anger, or inflame it and lash out. So what is a healthy relationship with anger, and how can we employ it in daily life? (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Dalai Lama Fans Congregate, Meditate at Start of 10-Day Peace Festival
Buddhist monks robed in red and gold meandered on the floor of Verizon Center. Tibetan families dressed in colorful silk brocade filled the stadium seats, sitting next to men and women dressed like they were about to head to the office. Some came from around the world and others from across the street, but all were seeking something similar: a bit more peace.
They’d come for the 2011 Kalachakra for World Peace, which began Wednesday with chanting, meditation and speeches in the first portion of the 11-day ceremony led by the Dalai Lama. The spiritual leader, who stepped down in March as head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, also celebrated his 76th birthday.(MORE)
They’d come for the 2011 Kalachakra for World Peace, which began Wednesday with chanting, meditation and speeches in the first portion of the 11-day ceremony led by the Dalai Lama. The spiritual leader, who stepped down in March as head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, also celebrated his 76th birthday.(MORE)
Source: Washington Post
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Find Peace Through Meditation
It's not a religion or a life commitment but a technique that lets you relax and let go
Sharon Salzberg's father left home when she was 4. Her mother died when she was 9. She went to live with her grandparents, but her grandfather died soon after. Her father returned, tried to kill himself and ended up a mental patient for the rest of his life.
By the time Sharon left for college, she'd lived in five different households, all chaotic and confusing. She felt abandoned and angry.
And then, when she was 18 — convinced she was unworthy of love — Sharon went to India. And her life changed in wonderful ways.
Sharon learned to meditate, to look deep within, and what she discovered is what she's been living and teaching ever since: that goodness exists in everyone; that she was wildly worthy of love; that everyone deserves to be happy and can be happy, once you learn to be mindful, compassionate and free of judgments. (MORE)
Sharon Salzberg's father left home when she was 4. Her mother died when she was 9. She went to live with her grandparents, but her grandfather died soon after. Her father returned, tried to kill himself and ended up a mental patient for the rest of his life.
By the time Sharon left for college, she'd lived in five different households, all chaotic and confusing. She felt abandoned and angry.
And then, when she was 18 — convinced she was unworthy of love — Sharon went to India. And her life changed in wonderful ways.
Sharon learned to meditate, to look deep within, and what she discovered is what she's been living and teaching ever since: that goodness exists in everyone; that she was wildly worthy of love; that everyone deserves to be happy and can be happy, once you learn to be mindful, compassionate and free of judgments. (MORE)
Source: Democrat and Chronicle
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fitness: Spend Quality Time With Self By Meditating
Meditation, or the art of being with yourself, has become a very popular concept. In mainstream USA, things once considered purely spiritual have become fashionable images and are as much cosmopolitan as they are healing. Store windows display Buddhas with candles, advertisements use images of models sitting cross-legged to sell products, and even yoga master Rodney Yee is featured meditating for mattress sales.
At the most basic level, mediation is the art of being with oneself. Meditation is an invitation to take time out from our busy lives and spend some real time, some quality time, with ourselves on a deeper level. It is time to find out what's really going on inside us.
In Western society, meditation offers an antidote to our incredibly busy, overstimulated, Blackberry-addicted, iPod-plugged-in life, which can lead to heightened stress, anxiety and a sense of losing touch with our core values. Conversely in the East, where general health, well-being and life expectancies outweigh and outlast ours, meditation has been a traditional spiritual practice for thousands of years. It's part of a tried and tested path to peace of mind.
Before you begin, there are a few things you'll need to know if you want to tune in to this calming art. (MORE)
At the most basic level, mediation is the art of being with oneself. Meditation is an invitation to take time out from our busy lives and spend some real time, some quality time, with ourselves on a deeper level. It is time to find out what's really going on inside us.
In Western society, meditation offers an antidote to our incredibly busy, overstimulated, Blackberry-addicted, iPod-plugged-in life, which can lead to heightened stress, anxiety and a sense of losing touch with our core values. Conversely in the East, where general health, well-being and life expectancies outweigh and outlast ours, meditation has been a traditional spiritual practice for thousands of years. It's part of a tried and tested path to peace of mind.
Before you begin, there are a few things you'll need to know if you want to tune in to this calming art. (MORE)
Source: news-press.com
Monday, July 4, 2011
'We Waste Lot of Time Criticizing Others'
Can somebody always remain calm or in a meditative state even when solving maths questions, cooking, sleeping and doing daily chores? Yes, it is possible, as the master of self, with a title of the most stable mind in the world, 96-yearold Dadi Janki was here to demonstrate. Dadi Janki is the head of the 10-lakh member strong spiritual movement Brahma Kumari, which has 9,000 branches in 170 countries.
A study was conducted on her brain waves by the Texas University only to find that she emits delta waves even at trying times, leaving examiners surprised. She attributes her mental state to Raj Yoga meditation. Sharing tips for a calm mind, she said, "We waste a lot of time criticizing others instead of focusing on ourselves."
For her, "Negativity is wasting energy," and she lives in this moment, worrying neither for the past nor future. She gets up at 3am and goes to bed around 10pm and conducts lectures, does meditation and meets people except for lunch break even at this age. She is often asked where does she gets her energy from, to which Dadi replies, "I receive blessings of God in abundance in the form of energy and distribute it in the same measure amongst people." (MORE)
A study was conducted on her brain waves by the Texas University only to find that she emits delta waves even at trying times, leaving examiners surprised. She attributes her mental state to Raj Yoga meditation. Sharing tips for a calm mind, she said, "We waste a lot of time criticizing others instead of focusing on ourselves."
For her, "Negativity is wasting energy," and she lives in this moment, worrying neither for the past nor future. She gets up at 3am and goes to bed around 10pm and conducts lectures, does meditation and meets people except for lunch break even at this age. She is often asked where does she gets her energy from, to which Dadi replies, "I receive blessings of God in abundance in the form of energy and distribute it in the same measure amongst people." (MORE)
Source: Times of India
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Walking Meditation
Meditation is so often thought of as a practice of sitting still that we often think if we can't sit still we can't meditate. Truthfully, many of us don't even know what meditation really is; there are stereotypes galore, rife with images of oval-fingered, palm-facing-upward serenity and placid facial expressions, candles and gently closed eyelids.
Although we've heard vague notions of stress relief and bliss, many Westerners-- unless you've purposely led yourself toward meditation or were born into a family which practiced it--do not understand what it is all about. Can you text during a meditation session? Is it all right if the television is on in the background? Do you fall asleep? (MORE)
Although we've heard vague notions of stress relief and bliss, many Westerners-- unless you've purposely led yourself toward meditation or were born into a family which practiced it--do not understand what it is all about. Can you text during a meditation session? Is it all right if the television is on in the background? Do you fall asleep? (MORE)
Source: EmpowHer
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Provena Nurse Touts Benefits of Regular Meditation
The latest research on the benefits of meditation didn’t surprise a local psychiatric nurse. Christine Daniel, a behavioral health liaison nurse with Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, said she’s been practicing meditation for a while and feels its calming, refreshing effects immediately.
“I usually get my best meditation times on vacation by the water,” she said. “Afterward, I feel like I’ve had the best sleep in my life.”
Research published in April in the medical journal, Brain Research Bulletin, found that meditation may actually modify alpha rhythm waves in the brain, which help regulate sensory input from the surrounding environment.
Previous research has found other changes in the body during meditative states. Studies even show a long-term health benefit from regular meditation — a reduction in the occurrence of depression for those who have the condition. Areas of the brain associated with learning and anxiety may actually undergo physical changes with daily meditation. (MORE)
“I usually get my best meditation times on vacation by the water,” she said. “Afterward, I feel like I’ve had the best sleep in my life.”
Research published in April in the medical journal, Brain Research Bulletin, found that meditation may actually modify alpha rhythm waves in the brain, which help regulate sensory input from the surrounding environment.
Previous research has found other changes in the body during meditative states. Studies even show a long-term health benefit from regular meditation — a reduction in the occurrence of depression for those who have the condition. Areas of the brain associated with learning and anxiety may actually undergo physical changes with daily meditation. (MORE)
Source: Hearld-News
Friday, July 1, 2011
"Mindfulness" May Ease Irritable Bowel Symptoms
A therapy that combines mindfulness meditation and gentle yoga may help soothe symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a small clinical trial suggests.
In a study of 75 women with the digestive disorder, researchers found that those assigned to "mindfulness training" saw a bigger improvement in their symptoms over three months than women who were assigned to a support group.
The findings, they say, suggest that the mindfulness technique should be an option for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A doctor not involved in the study agreed.
"I think people with IBS should learn mindfulness skills," said Dr. Delia Chiaramonte, director of education for the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Medicine in Baltimore.
Learning such skills, she said in an interview, is "100 percent safe," and it could offer people a way to help manage IBS symptoms on their own, long term. (MORE)
In a study of 75 women with the digestive disorder, researchers found that those assigned to "mindfulness training" saw a bigger improvement in their symptoms over three months than women who were assigned to a support group.
The findings, they say, suggest that the mindfulness technique should be an option for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A doctor not involved in the study agreed.
"I think people with IBS should learn mindfulness skills," said Dr. Delia Chiaramonte, director of education for the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Medicine in Baltimore.
Learning such skills, she said in an interview, is "100 percent safe," and it could offer people a way to help manage IBS symptoms on their own, long term. (MORE)
Source: Reuters
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