| Since the 1970's there has been a steady flow of | | | | mentally. But there is more.... |
| research data on the effects and benefits of | | | | Neuroscientists have found that meditators shift |
| meditation. The results overwhelmingly show | | | | their brain activity to different areas of the brain. |
| there are numerous benefits to meditation. In this | | | | Activity in the stress indicating right frontal cortex |
| article we are going to concentrate on the | | | | moves to the calmer left frontal cortex. This |
| physiological and health benefits. | | | | mental shift reduces the negative effects of |
| Nearly all forms of meditation have one thing in | | | | stress, and indeed mild depression and anxiety. |
| common, that is relaxing the body. When the | | | | There is also less activity in the amygdala, the |
| body relaxes, the mind follows. Directly | | | | flight or fight center, where the brain processes |
| experiencing the inter-relationship of the body and | | | | fear. Multiple studies have shown that participants |
| mind, is then a significant benefit of meditation. | | | | who meditated for even a small amount of time |
| This awareness is a doorway to increasing self | | | | develop more alpha waves with decreases in |
| awareness and self empowerment. | | | | anxiety and depression. |
| The relationship between body and mind is a | | | | In 2003 Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn, from the University of |
| parallel direction of scientific and medical study. | | | | Massachusetts Medical School, did a research |
| That they do effect each other in positive and | | | | study of stressed-out employees of a high-tech |
| negative ways is now pretty much undisputed, | | | | company in Madison, Wisconsin. The subjects |
| and the complexity of ways and means continues | | | | were separated into two random groups. One |
| to be revealed. With this understanding has | | | | group of 25 people learnt meditation for two |
| emerged the significant role that stress place in | | | | months. Sixteen others were used as the control |
| the development of illness and dis-ease. | | | | group. The brain activity of all those taking part |
| Combine then the positive benefits of regular, | | | | was scanned three times during the study: first, |
| conscious relaxation and the development of self | | | | at the beginning of the experiment, second, when |
| awareness, including the presence of stress and | | | | meditation lessons were completed eight weeks |
| you have a winning formulae. It is this later point | | | | later and finally again four months after that. The |
| which means that there is a whole dimension of | | | | brain scans showed that the meditators had a |
| greater benefit from meditation over simple | | | | definite transfer in brain activity to the left frontal |
| relaxation practices. | | | | lobe, the brains happiness and joy center. |
| Let us now look at the relaxation component, in | | | | Here then as a list are the physiological benefits of |
| order to understand it's health benefits. To do this | | | | meditating |
| justice we need to understand the autonomic | | | | * It stabilizes the autonomous nervous system. |
| nervous system, or ANS. The ANS governs and | | | | * It reduces the heart beat. |
| regulates involuntary functions of the body, which | | | | * It reduces the speed of breathing. |
| means all the wonderful things your body does on | | | | * Blood pressure drops. |
| autopilot. We do not have to tell our bodies to | | | | * The Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases. |
| breath, or our heart to beat, or have our food | | | | * EMG activity increases. (the electrical impulses of |
| digested, our our immune system to protect our | | | | muscles at rest and during contraction.) |
| biological environment, or our pupils to adjust as | | | | * Cardiovascular effectivity goes up. |
| the light source changes. All of these things and | | | | * Breathing effectivity increases. |
| more, are handled for our best interest and well | | | | * The skin receives more blood. |
| being by the ANS. The purpose of all these | | | | * Stomach function and bowel function improve. |
| functions of the ANS is to maintain homeostasis - | | | | * The endocrine function is heightened. |
| a stable constant condition. | | | | * Muscle flexibility increases. |
| There are two aspects to the ANS, the | | | | * The intake of oxygen gets stronger. |
| Parasympathetic and the Sympathetic systems, | | | | * Mobility and flexibility increase. |
| which we can view as two different survival | | | | * The hand-eye co-ordination increases. |
| functions that have the opposite effect on the | | | | * Reaction-speed increases. |
| ANS. Most people will know the Sympathetic | | | | * Body posture is improved. |
| system as 'fight or flight' which occurs when | | | | * Strength and resistance increase. |
| there is the perception of immanent danger. | | | | * Stamina increases. |
| When this response is activated, all available | | | | * There is a heightened energy level and vitality. |
| energy is readied to fight or flee for survival. In | | | | * Peoples weight is stabilized at an ordinary level. |
| this state the function of the immune, digestive, | | | | * The ability to sleep increases and the time |
| and reproductive systems decreases or stops. At | | | | people need to fall asleep decreases. |
| the same time adrenalin is pumped into the body, | | | | * Pain is weakened. |
| heart rate and breathing speedup and blood | | | | * Stability is improved. |
| moves to the exterior of the body to power the | | | | * Depth perception increases. |
| muscles. In addition the higher functions of the | | | | * There is a heightened degree of relaxation. |
| mind give way to the powerful emotional impulses | | | | * There is a lessened degree of muscle tension. |
| that drive survival. This is more or less what | | | | * The production of serotonin increases. |
| happens when we are 'stressed out'. | | | | * Menstruation pains are softened. |
| The Parasympathetic is then the opposite, it is | | | | * Increases serotonin which influences moods and |
| the creation of homeostasis I described earlier, in | | | | behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are associated |
| which each bodily system function to its best | | | | with depression, headaches and insomnia. |
| current capacity. | | | | * Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels |
| It is easy to see then how the regular and | | | | of blood lactate. |
| accumulative experience of stress, depletes the | | | | * Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to |
| bodies ability to maintain healthy function of its | | | | tension) and headaches. |
| systems. On the other hand we can also | | | | * Helps in post-operative healing. |
| understand how conscious relaxation is a beneficial | | | | * Enhances the immune system. |
| factor in maintaining health, both physically and | | | | |