| I had a routine physical examination recently and | | | | society, danger signals are also sent to our brain |
| the doctor was impressed with my blood | | | | and our heart starts beating faster and our blood |
| pressure. Why? Because it was not too high like it | | | | pressure rises. However, we don't usually run |
| is in many of the other people she sees every | | | | away and we usually don't start fighting physically. |
| day. When she learned that I was a vegetarian, | | | | We hold it all in, perhaps showing a smile on the |
| she became interested, making a connection | | | | outside. If this is kept up all day, the stress builds |
| between vegetarianism and controlled blood | | | | and if it continues over a long time it can damage |
| pressure. | | | | our heart. |
| But the real secret for my good showing on the | | | | If you were to withdraw yourself completely |
| blood pressure examination has as much to do | | | | from society you might be able to escape the |
| with meditation, as it does with my vegetarian | | | | stress, but this is not an option for most of us. |
| diet. Meditation is the best remedy, the best | | | | However, it is possible to "withdraw" yourself two |
| "medicine" for high blood pressure and heart | | | | times a day and sit in meditation. |
| disease, and I haven't missed a day in the last 37 | | | | In fact, one of the important aspects of |
| years. | | | | meditation is that it is a form of sense withdrawal. |
| Why is meditation so effective against one of the | | | | You sit quietly and follow instructions that will help |
| biggest health problems of today? Meditation | | | | you to forget the world around you and focus on |
| de-stresses a person. Stress is one of the biggest | | | | an inner peace that is inside of you. When you |
| causes of hypertension, and it is a part of | | | | become adept at this technique it relieves stress |
| everyday life that everyone has to face. | | | | and is just as effective as going away to the top |
| Our ancestors, the proto-human beings who lived | | | | of a forested mountain or sitting alone on a sandy |
| thousands of years ago, mainly had physical | | | | beach. |
| challenges to deal with. If they saw a large | | | | Meditation also helps you to slow down your |
| predator, then danger messages were sent to | | | | breathing. Our mind is directly related to our |
| their brains, and then more messages went to | | | | breathing. When we are agitated or in distress we |
| the rest of their bodies. Their bodies were made | | | | will take short quick breaths. When we are |
| ready to either fight or flee. | | | | relaxed or concentrated then our breathing slows |
| Scientists call this a "fight or flight" reflex. The | | | | down and becomes deeper as well. Proper |
| heart starts beating faster, the blood pressure | | | | meditation helps to calm the mind and slow down |
| increases, hormones are secreted. It is a useful | | | | the breathing. This combination of sense |
| reaction when you have to deal with a | | | | withdrawal and slow, deep breathing works |
| saber-tooth tiger, but what about when you face | | | | wonders. Try and it one day you too will impress |
| your boss at work? | | | | your physician with a healthy blood pressure |
| When we are upset by someone at work or in | | | | reading. |