…to
meditate. Many people are surprised to learn that meditation merely augments
natural, positive body processes that occur many times during one’s waking
hours. During meditation, alpha brain waves, typically 7 to 14 cycles per
second, are prominent. Everyone, whether formally meditating or not,
enters this state many times each day, based on the brain’s need to rest (as
with the muscles or any other part of the body). A typical cycle of
prominent alpha wave brain activity occurs naturally every 1 ½ to 2
hours. For 10 to 20 minutes at regular intervals, the cognitive brain
shuts down. During sleep, this brief (but potent) interval manifests as
dreaming. During waking hours, this interval causes lapses in attention
that range from barely perceptible to overtly obvious. This lack of focus
is often commonly called daydreaming.
Especially with people who push themselves without accommodating the brain’s normal physiological cycles, even one correctly performed daily meditation session helps the brain de-stress and provides needed rest.
In Western culture, we have become so out
of balance emotionally, mentally and physically, that a daily meditation
session may not be a luxury, but a necessity. The main components of meditation
are a quiet environment, comfortable position, receptive attitude and an
auditory or visual cue. Some people meditate as part of their spiritual
practice while others do it to simply relax. I will address the physical,
mental and emotional clarity and leave the spiritual component to personal
choice.
One
of the most widely known meditation techniques is Transcendental Meditation
programs or TM for short. The TM technique utilizes a silently voiced
mantra, consisting of a one or two syllable Sanskrit word. TM is promoted
as inducing a settle, peaceful mind and imparting physical benefits that
include decreased heart beat rate, increased skin resistance to electrical
current, decreased blood pressure, an increase in alpha brain waves and
decreased blood lactase levels. Over time, people enjoy faster reflexes,
increased perceptual ability, better motor coordination, a need for less sleep
and generally improved health.
During
the past few decades, considerable research has been conducted on TM. The
official TM website is packed with dozens of citations of articles from such
respected publications as Scientific American, American Journal of Physiology,
Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology and International Journal
of Neuroscience. The authors publishing in these journals have PhD and MD
degrees and some of them work in prestigious universities. I read a number of
studies on the web. One study reported on the medical effects of TM on
two thousand people across the United States who practiced regular meditation
and the more advanced TM Sidhi programs found a marked decrease in the number
of medical services required over the course of five years. Their rate of
overall hospitalization was an astounding 56% lower than average.
When sorted into specific conditions, the
meditators, compared to the control group were impressive. The meditators
rate of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease was 87% lower, for cancer,
55% lower, for conditions of the nervous system, 87% lower and for noses,
throat, and lung problems 73% lower. No one could possibly rationalize
these figures as statistical accidents! Meditation can also profoundly
affect pain levels.
In a 2006 study, using imaging techniques of the brain that highlighted
its structure, function and pharmacology scientists found a 40 – 50% lower
brain response to pain in long term meditators.
The most basic form of meditation is giving your
full attention to whatever you are doing, be it preparing a meal, driving a car, or simply talking
to another person. Another word for this focus of being in the present is
mindfulness. Our culture does not encourage us to slow down and be mindful. If
we were so focused, we would naturally gravitate towards holism.
Whatever definition of meditation you prefer,
distressing and becoming more mindful are imperative in order to function in
today’s world.
Here is a
link to the TM website. http://www.tm.org/ Here you will find easy meditation
sessions that you can download. You can even ready Oprah’s article on the
benefits of TM meditation. If you
are an iPhone user, there is an app for that. iPhone has applications for
mediations that you can do anywhere – while waiting for an appointment, 10
minutes on your lunch break or on an airplane.
Remember
it’s no longer a luxury to meditate; it’s truly a necessity.
