Meditation
Yoga meditation guidance was described thousands of years
ago by ancient and mystical sages. Since civilized societies
began to emerge, meditation has evolved into a structured
practice. Although there is not a lot of recorded information
dealing with the history of meditation, its roots can be traced
back to ancient times.
Some meditation experts suggest thinking of your mind as a
glass of muddy water and meditation helps bring clarity. Many
forms of meditation result in the clearing of ones mind.
Meditation promotes a sense of calm and heightened awareness.
And thats the real benefit of meditation: teaching your mind to
accept whatever thoughts, feelings and sensations come along,
without judging them or yourself.
Scientific studies show that the regular practice of
meditation can be a powerful healing tool. Meditation helps
reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve
concentration, clarity and creativity. Additionally, many
studies have shown meditation can significantly lower stress,
chronic pain and anxiety.
From the dawn of time, meditation has been a vital part of
self transformation and holistic health. Many physicians
consider meditation a key element of an integrated health
program.
While scientists are studying whether meditation may afford
meaningful health benefits, they are also looking at how it may
do so. Researchers say that meditation works at least in part
by lowering your bodys responsiveness to the stress hormone
norepinephrine. But meditation interrupts that flood of stress
chemicals, so you dont feel on guard or tense. As your entire
being becomes absorbed in meditation, every stress and strain
of daily life will fall from your shoulders. Through
meditation, one can cultivate a wonderful inner quiet that will
melt away stress and nervousness.
In general, meditation produces a reduction in multiple
biological systems, resulting in a state of relaxation. Studies
of brain physiology during meditation have most frequently
employed the electroencephalograph (EEG) for the measurement of
brain wave electrical activity. During meditation, the brains
activity, as mapped by an EEG, alters significantly. These
results reveal that meditation can have a deep and very
profound influence on the heart and its activity.
The most well-known brain waves evident during many kinds of
meditation are called alpha waves. The scans provide remarkable
clues about what goes on in the brain during meditation.
Although study results vary, there were similar findings:
meditation lowers bodily metabolism, slows brain waves, and
induces relaxation. Those most deeply involved in the
meditation showed the greatest changes in brain structure.
This is accomplished as Meditation brings the brainwave
pattern into an alpha state, which is a level of consciousness
that promotes the healing state.
The researchers observed that the variability of
beat-to-beat heart rate was directly affected by meditation.
These results reveal that meditation can have a deep and very
profound influence on the heart and its activity. If meditation
is practiced regularly, these beneficial changes become
relatively permanent.
One of many benefits of meditation is that it opens your
mind to new ideas. What is more important is the acquisition of
the purity and concentration of mind in moments of meditation.
Purity of the mind achieved during meditation is essential to
gain access to Higher Self.
Rob Daniels is a long term practitioner of Yoga and
Pilates additional articles available at Religious Podcasts
http://www.religious-podcasts.net
and Yoga Store http://www.yoga-store.net
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