Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Brain Marvel: Meditation Keeps You Focused While Day-Dreaming Causes Depression
As it turns out, learning to apply meditation in your life is critical to mental health. It may just be what we all need to make our lives happier, encourage higher cognitive skills, and move us to advanced states of consciousness.
“Anything you train to do, you do it better” says Judson Brewer, Yale University Psychiatrist who is conducting a study of the brains of two types of meditators: 12 experienced meditators and 12 novice meditators. During the study, he found that the brains of experienced meditators were fitter and more “on task” than inexperienced meditators.
Meditation is described as an inwardly oriented personal practice that cultivates a state of consciousness, free from distraction. It is a form of discipline for the brain that when called upon to act is capable of performing at higher levels, as well as achieving well-being.
Meditation can positively affect vital organs of the body and has been known to reduce blood pressure, pulse rate, and lower body temperature.
Interestingly, persons who are new at meditation are likely to become depressed with less control over wellness. They are more vulnerable to factors such as stress, anxiety, and a lowered immune system.
The study, led by Brewer, compared the brains of highly experienced meditators and those of novices. They found that: the “Default Mode Network” – a newly identified cluster of brain region that allows daydreams—sparked up widely in the posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex of novice meditators, but remained quiet in advanced meditators.
According to Brewer, “this is brain training at work.” Meditators have more skill in guiding their wandering thoughts and bringing the brain back to specialized attention.
What this means is that individuals who meditate are able to control brain patterns and functions. A trained brain can generate increased connectivity between cognitive pathways and default mode network (the wandering side of the brain). (MORE)
“Anything you train to do, you do it better” says Judson Brewer, Yale University Psychiatrist who is conducting a study of the brains of two types of meditators: 12 experienced meditators and 12 novice meditators. During the study, he found that the brains of experienced meditators were fitter and more “on task” than inexperienced meditators.
Meditation is described as an inwardly oriented personal practice that cultivates a state of consciousness, free from distraction. It is a form of discipline for the brain that when called upon to act is capable of performing at higher levels, as well as achieving well-being.
Meditation can positively affect vital organs of the body and has been known to reduce blood pressure, pulse rate, and lower body temperature.
Interestingly, persons who are new at meditation are likely to become depressed with less control over wellness. They are more vulnerable to factors such as stress, anxiety, and a lowered immune system.
The study, led by Brewer, compared the brains of highly experienced meditators and those of novices. They found that: the “Default Mode Network” – a newly identified cluster of brain region that allows daydreams—sparked up widely in the posterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex of novice meditators, but remained quiet in advanced meditators.
According to Brewer, “this is brain training at work.” Meditators have more skill in guiding their wandering thoughts and bringing the brain back to specialized attention.
What this means is that individuals who meditate are able to control brain patterns and functions. A trained brain can generate increased connectivity between cognitive pathways and default mode network (the wandering side of the brain). (MORE)
Source: Technorati
Monday, November 28, 2011
Meditation Relieves IBS Severity, Randomized Study Finds
Benefits of Mindfulness Therapy Extend Beyond Formal 8-Week Treatment Program
Mindfulness meditation is as much as four times more effective than group support in relieving the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, according to research presented at the 2011 Digestive Disease Week meeting (abstract 219). Patients with IBS who participated in eight weekly meditation sessions and meditated daily at home experienced residual symptom relief three months after ending treatment.
Lucinda A. Harris, MD, who was not involved in the study, said the research confirms that modalities like mindfulness need to be integrated into a holistic approach to treating IBS, which also includes diet, exercise and sleep modification, in addition to symptom-oriented pharmacotherapy.
“In my opinion, the most significant feature of IBS is that the pain and symptoms can be all-consuming,” said Dr. Harris, associate professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn. “Mindfulness therapy provides a way to break the cycle. It’s not ‘the answer,’ but it seems like a promising adjunctive therapy that can really benefit IBS patients without side effects.”
The study’s primary investigator Susan Gaylord, PhD, director of the Program on Integrative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, described mindfulness meditation as a behavioral technique that teaches patients to “attend to present-moment experience and nonjudgmental awareness of sensations and emotions, as well as to let go of fixations on thoughts of past and future.” A growing body of evidence shows the approach reduces symptom severity and improves the quality of life in patients with a spectrum of conditions and diseases, ranging from fibromyalgia to anxiety.
(MORE)
Mindfulness meditation is as much as four times more effective than group support in relieving the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, according to research presented at the 2011 Digestive Disease Week meeting (abstract 219). Patients with IBS who participated in eight weekly meditation sessions and meditated daily at home experienced residual symptom relief three months after ending treatment.
Lucinda A. Harris, MD, who was not involved in the study, said the research confirms that modalities like mindfulness need to be integrated into a holistic approach to treating IBS, which also includes diet, exercise and sleep modification, in addition to symptom-oriented pharmacotherapy.
“In my opinion, the most significant feature of IBS is that the pain and symptoms can be all-consuming,” said Dr. Harris, associate professor, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn. “Mindfulness therapy provides a way to break the cycle. It’s not ‘the answer,’ but it seems like a promising adjunctive therapy that can really benefit IBS patients without side effects.”
The study’s primary investigator Susan Gaylord, PhD, director of the Program on Integrative Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, described mindfulness meditation as a behavioral technique that teaches patients to “attend to present-moment experience and nonjudgmental awareness of sensations and emotions, as well as to let go of fixations on thoughts of past and future.” A growing body of evidence shows the approach reduces symptom severity and improves the quality of life in patients with a spectrum of conditions and diseases, ranging from fibromyalgia to anxiety.
(MORE)
Source: gastroendonews.com
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Meditation May Help Brain Tune Out Distractions
People who meditate may be able to use their brain in ways others can't to tune out distractions and focus on the task at hand.
A new study shows that experienced meditators may have less activity in parts of the brain associated with daydreaming and distraction while meditating and in their day-to-day lives.
Researchers say this brain network, known as the "default mode network," has also been linked to anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Alzheimer's disease.
"The default mode is when you ruminate, think about yourself, or daydream," says study researcher Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, medical director of the Yale Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic. "Everybody has it, but experienced meditators have a different type."
Brewer found that people who meditate are able to link up other parts of their brains to monitor activity in the default mode network that tell them to get back on task when distractions arise and be present in the moment.
The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Experts say the results help explain the benefits of meditation on concentration and open the door to future research using meditation to treat and potentially prevent a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Meditation Modifies Brain Networks
In the study, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze brain activity in 12 experienced meditators (more than 10 years of experience practicing mindfulness meditation) and 12 novice meditators. The scans were done as they practiced three different types of mindfulness meditation as well as at rest.
The results showed that experienced meditators had less activity in the default mode network, regardless of the type of meditation they practiced.
In addition, the scans showed that when the default mode network was active, other brain regions responsible for self-monitoring and thought control were also activated in experienced, but not novice meditators.
"This new default mode in meditators has these other components that are monitoring and telling you to get back on task and be present," Brewer tells WebMD. (MORE)
A new study shows that experienced meditators may have less activity in parts of the brain associated with daydreaming and distraction while meditating and in their day-to-day lives.
Researchers say this brain network, known as the "default mode network," has also been linked to anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Alzheimer's disease.
"The default mode is when you ruminate, think about yourself, or daydream," says study researcher Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, medical director of the Yale Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic. "Everybody has it, but experienced meditators have a different type."
Brewer found that people who meditate are able to link up other parts of their brains to monitor activity in the default mode network that tell them to get back on task when distractions arise and be present in the moment.
The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Experts say the results help explain the benefits of meditation on concentration and open the door to future research using meditation to treat and potentially prevent a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders.
Meditation Modifies Brain Networks
In the study, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze brain activity in 12 experienced meditators (more than 10 years of experience practicing mindfulness meditation) and 12 novice meditators. The scans were done as they practiced three different types of mindfulness meditation as well as at rest.
The results showed that experienced meditators had less activity in the default mode network, regardless of the type of meditation they practiced.
In addition, the scans showed that when the default mode network was active, other brain regions responsible for self-monitoring and thought control were also activated in experienced, but not novice meditators.
"This new default mode in meditators has these other components that are monitoring and telling you to get back on task and be present," Brewer tells WebMD. (MORE)
Source: CBS.com
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Brain Imaging Illuminates Neuro Basis of Meditation
Sharon Salzberg said her mind might be very different if it weren't for meditation, and new neurologic research suggests that she might be right.
Troubled by a traumatic, stressful childhood, Salzberg traveled to India as a college student and discovered meditation. Not only did it help her deal with her painful past, Salzberg said, but the practice helped change the way her mind worked.
"I hadn't really looked within," said Salzberg, a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and author of seven books on meditation. "I felt much more presence, rather than being distracted. It felt like the whole world opened up for me."
A new study from Yale University suggests that the brains of experienced meditators like Salzberg may actually work differently than brains of those who don't meditate. The study gives scientists a window into the meditating mind, providing evidence that the practice appears to change the way the brain works and could give meditators a leg up when it comes to dealing with mental disorders. (MORE)
Troubled by a traumatic, stressful childhood, Salzberg traveled to India as a college student and discovered meditation. Not only did it help her deal with her painful past, Salzberg said, but the practice helped change the way her mind worked.
"I hadn't really looked within," said Salzberg, a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and author of seven books on meditation. "I felt much more presence, rather than being distracted. It felt like the whole world opened up for me."
A new study from Yale University suggests that the brains of experienced meditators like Salzberg may actually work differently than brains of those who don't meditate. The study gives scientists a window into the meditating mind, providing evidence that the practice appears to change the way the brain works and could give meditators a leg up when it comes to dealing with mental disorders. (MORE)
Source: ABC News.com
Source: ABC News.com
Sunday, November 20, 2011
10-Minute Meditation For a More Peaceful Holiday Season
This is the first article in a monthly series of 10 minute meditations to nourish your body, heart and soul. Each entry will address the physical, psychological and spiritual facets of a unique life challenge. While stressful circumstances can't always change immediately, the ways we relate to them can. No matter what your situation, there is always room for meeting your experiences with a more tranquil mind and compassionate awareness.
While these meditations are intentionally brief, they are also intentionally deep, offering the potential for tapping immediately into experiences and perspectives that sustain a meaningful life. And they are simple, so even if you have never tried meditation or contemplation before, they are easy to do anytime, anywhere. If you are a seasoned meditator, whether part of a tradition or uniquely eclectic, my hope is that these will be touchstones that connect you to your practice in day-to-day moments.(MORE)
While these meditations are intentionally brief, they are also intentionally deep, offering the potential for tapping immediately into experiences and perspectives that sustain a meaningful life. And they are simple, so even if you have never tried meditation or contemplation before, they are easy to do anytime, anywhere. If you are a seasoned meditator, whether part of a tradition or uniquely eclectic, my hope is that these will be touchstones that connect you to your practice in day-to-day moments.(MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Please Meditate: Make a Gratitude List
Why does the human mind have a tendency to drift toward the negative? Why is it effortless to complain mentally, while it requires some concentration and effort to direct the mind toward gratitude? It may be a leftover survival habit acquired after enduring, for generations, the recent history of our species, which seems to be riddled with war, religious persecution and crisis. But which came first, negative mental states or the conflict-ridden state of humanity? I'm not sure, and I've not yet figured out the chicken and the egg dilemma, either.
Certainly, the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday seems to have been initiated in a moment of peaceful and tolerant co-existence between humans. Could gratitude be a way to inner peace, and perhaps worldly peace? Indeed, there seems to be evidence for that possibility. And because gratitude leads to inner peace, it can also be qualified as a type of meditation. (MORE)
Certainly, the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday seems to have been initiated in a moment of peaceful and tolerant co-existence between humans. Could gratitude be a way to inner peace, and perhaps worldly peace? Indeed, there seems to be evidence for that possibility. And because gratitude leads to inner peace, it can also be qualified as a type of meditation. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Monday, November 7, 2011
Street Dharma: Teaching Meditation to the Homeless
A few months ago, I met a man named Kiley Jon Clark who teaches meditation to the homeless in San Antonio, Texas. My curiosity piqued. I asked him to tell me more about what he calls HMP Street Dharma (HMP stands for Homeless Meditation Practitioners).
What's the purpose of meditation?
"In Tibetan, the word for meditation means, 'To become familiar.' We are trying to become familiar with ourselves -- with how our minds work. It all starts with being here, in the present moment.
It can be very unsettling when you realize just how frantic your mind really is. Just try it. Stop, sit down, stay in the present moment and think of nothing but your own breathing. You may find, like Buddhist elders have said, that the mind is like a crazy monkey swinging from thought to thought and from past to future. Our brains do not know how to relax."
But how can the homeless meditate if they are in a critical situation like homelessness?
"Our main aim of working with the homeless is just being with them. It is about everyday interactions. And those who ask for meditation instruction will gladly get it.
"Like most of us, the homeless have been listening to the same negative thoughts in their heads for years. 'I'm so stupid.' 'I'm such a mess.' 'I can't do this anymore.' 'I wish I were dead.' Everyone has this negative mental chatter going on all the time and we don't even recognize it. (MORE)
What's the purpose of meditation?
"In Tibetan, the word for meditation means, 'To become familiar.' We are trying to become familiar with ourselves -- with how our minds work. It all starts with being here, in the present moment.
It can be very unsettling when you realize just how frantic your mind really is. Just try it. Stop, sit down, stay in the present moment and think of nothing but your own breathing. You may find, like Buddhist elders have said, that the mind is like a crazy monkey swinging from thought to thought and from past to future. Our brains do not know how to relax."
But how can the homeless meditate if they are in a critical situation like homelessness?
"Our main aim of working with the homeless is just being with them. It is about everyday interactions. And those who ask for meditation instruction will gladly get it.
"Like most of us, the homeless have been listening to the same negative thoughts in their heads for years. 'I'm so stupid.' 'I'm such a mess.' 'I can't do this anymore.' 'I wish I were dead.' Everyone has this negative mental chatter going on all the time and we don't even recognize it. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Naomie Harris Doing Yoga For Next Bond Film
Naomie Harris, who will play Miss Moneypenny in the latest Bond Film, has revealed that she is doing yoga, practising stunt driving and firing machine guns for the film.
The 35-year-old will be the first black actress to play the role.
Harris was announced for the franchise’s latest film ‘Skyfall’ just after the new Bond girl Berenice Marlohe was revealed.
The actress confirmed that she would play Eve, a field agent, at a London press conference for the film.
“I’ve been doing yoga three times a week, stunt driving and firing machine guns – which I discovered I had a real taste for. I’m raring to go!” People Magazine quoted Harris as saying.
The upcoming movie is the James Bond franchise’s 23rd instalment.
The 35-year-old will be the first black actress to play the role.
Harris was announced for the franchise’s latest film ‘Skyfall’ just after the new Bond girl Berenice Marlohe was revealed.
The actress confirmed that she would play Eve, a field agent, at a London press conference for the film.
“I’ve been doing yoga three times a week, stunt driving and firing machine guns – which I discovered I had a real taste for. I’m raring to go!” People Magazine quoted Harris as saying.
The upcoming movie is the James Bond franchise’s 23rd instalment.
Source: Zee News
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Christian Meditation Leader Says Practice Is Spreading Across Protestant, Secular World
There was a time, the Rev. Laurence Freeman says, when meditation was taboo in much of Christianity.
“Protestants thought it was too Catholic, and Catholics thought it was too Protestant in that it was relying heavily on personal experience,” said Freeman, a Catholic monk who heads the World Center for Christian Meditation.
But that’s changed a lot in the past few years. His organization now has more than 2,000 groups around the world, including its U.S. headquarters in Neptune Beach and another 10 groups up and down the First Coast.
Freeman was in Jacksonville this week meeting with Christian meditation leaders from Canada to Mexico. The British priest sat down with the Times-Union to discuss the ancient Christian practice he said is sweeping across denominations and is even taking root in the secular world, Freeman said. (MORE)
“Protestants thought it was too Catholic, and Catholics thought it was too Protestant in that it was relying heavily on personal experience,” said Freeman, a Catholic monk who heads the World Center for Christian Meditation.
But that’s changed a lot in the past few years. His organization now has more than 2,000 groups around the world, including its U.S. headquarters in Neptune Beach and another 10 groups up and down the First Coast.
Freeman was in Jacksonville this week meeting with Christian meditation leaders from Canada to Mexico. The British priest sat down with the Times-Union to discuss the ancient Christian practice he said is sweeping across denominations and is even taking root in the secular world, Freeman said. (MORE)
Source: Jacksonville.com
Friday, November 4, 2011
Managing Stress Through Meditation
There's usually a point in time throughout semesters where everything piles up. The homework, work, and projects all become too much to handle all at once. There are simple steps one can take to ensure that all of this gets done while maintaining positive energy and a lower stress level. Stress Management and Meditation workshops are held in Plymouth State University's Counseling Center lead by Regina Kelly PhD, APRN. These workshops are held in both the fall and spring semesters and include a full curriculum for a six-week period in learning how to manage one's stress via meditation. The classes are held in a homely environment of soothing music and burning incense.
To start the session, Kelly introduced herself as well as those weeks' new comers to get all attendees acquainted and comfortable. Handouts and activities are used to express individual's stressors and thought process to better comprehend how one deals with a stressful situation. (MORE)
To start the session, Kelly introduced herself as well as those weeks' new comers to get all attendees acquainted and comfortable. Handouts and activities are used to express individual's stressors and thought process to better comprehend how one deals with a stressful situation. (MORE)
Source: theclockonline.com
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Why Mindfulness Meditation Makes Us Healthier
Previous research on mindfulness meditation has shown that it aids in lowering blood pressure, improves immune system and brain function and minimizes pain sensitivity. A new review of past literature on mindfulness now breaks down what exactly it is about the practice that seems to have these beneficial effects.
Researchers defined mindfulness as "the nonjudgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment" in the Perspectives on Psychological Science study. They identified the four acting components of mindfulness meditation: regulation of attention, body awareness, self-awareness and regulation of emotion.
Each of these elements helps us in different aspects of our lives, according to the study. For example, regulation of attention may help us be extra-aware of our bodily state. And by being aware of our bodies, we are able to recognize the emotions we are currently experiencing, researchers said.
The findings "unveil the conceptual and mechanistic complexity of mindfulness, providing the 'big picture' by arranging many findings like the pieces of a mosaic," study researcher Britta Holzel, of Justus Liebig University and Harvard Medical School, said in a statement.
Previous research from Holzel has shown that mindfulness meditation can actually change the structure of the brain, especially in the brain regions responsible for sense of self, stress, memory and empathy. (MORE)
Researchers defined mindfulness as "the nonjudgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment" in the Perspectives on Psychological Science study. They identified the four acting components of mindfulness meditation: regulation of attention, body awareness, self-awareness and regulation of emotion.
Each of these elements helps us in different aspects of our lives, according to the study. For example, regulation of attention may help us be extra-aware of our bodily state. And by being aware of our bodies, we are able to recognize the emotions we are currently experiencing, researchers said.
The findings "unveil the conceptual and mechanistic complexity of mindfulness, providing the 'big picture' by arranging many findings like the pieces of a mosaic," study researcher Britta Holzel, of Justus Liebig University and Harvard Medical School, said in a statement.
Previous research from Holzel has shown that mindfulness meditation can actually change the structure of the brain, especially in the brain regions responsible for sense of self, stress, memory and empathy. (MORE)
Source: Huffington Post
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Meditation Improves Quality Of Life
Mindfulness meditation, which is an essential part of Buddhist and Indian Yoga traditions, is now entering mainstream due to its effectiveness in combating stress and improving quality of life.
According to the research conducted by Britta Holzel, mindfulness meditation can have benefits for health and performance, including improved immune function, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced cognitive function.
By using a framework approach to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness, Holzel and her co-authors point out that what we think of as mindfulness is a multi-faceted mental practice that encompasses several mechanisms rather than being a single skill.
The authors of the study specifically identify four key components of mindfulness that may account for its effects: attention regulation, body awareness, emotion regulation, and sense of self.
Together, these components help in attending to and dealing with the mental and physiological effects of stress in ways that are non-judgmental.
Holzel says that although these components are theoretically distinct, they are closely intertwined and understanding the relationships between these components, and the brain mechanisms that underlie them, will allow clinicians to better tailor mindfulness interventions for their patients.
The study has been published in the latest issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science.
According to the research conducted by Britta Holzel, mindfulness meditation can have benefits for health and performance, including improved immune function, reduced blood pressure, and enhanced cognitive function.
By using a framework approach to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness, Holzel and her co-authors point out that what we think of as mindfulness is a multi-faceted mental practice that encompasses several mechanisms rather than being a single skill.
The authors of the study specifically identify four key components of mindfulness that may account for its effects: attention regulation, body awareness, emotion regulation, and sense of self.
Together, these components help in attending to and dealing with the mental and physiological effects of stress in ways that are non-judgmental.
Holzel says that although these components are theoretically distinct, they are closely intertwined and understanding the relationships between these components, and the brain mechanisms that underlie them, will allow clinicians to better tailor mindfulness interventions for their patients.
The study has been published in the latest issue of Perspectives on Psychological Science.
Source: Times of India
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