| The 'secret benefits' of Guided Meditation are the | | | | operation. |
| subtle effects that happen quietly in the | | | | But in the hectic world we live in today - many of |
| background without your conscious awareness. | | | | us remain in 'go-mode'. It is common to feel |
| The first term I will introduce is Homeostasis. | | | | stressed out. How many times have you said, 'I |
| (Just read it slowly and that is how it is meant to | | | | Need a Holiday!' and for just half a second |
| sound). Homeostasis is when the different | | | | pictured yourself on a tropical beach before the |
| systems of the body work together to regulate | | | | real world smothered you again. You don't have |
| the optimal conditions for you internal function. | | | | the time, you don't have the money, and how |
| And to put that more simply... it's the body | | | | could you get rid of the kids! |
| striving for 'balance'. Now, the body is made up of | | | | But if you function in Fight or Flight mode for too |
| 11 major organ systems. I will run through them | | | | long the body starts to get worn out. It's a |
| here to give you a better idea of the complexities | | | | proven fact. Placing too much continual stress on |
| involved in this process. | | | | the body can lead to poor health - both physical |
| (1) integumentary - (skin), | | | | and emotional. It's easy to get trapped in a |
| (2) skeletal, | | | | downward spiral. Even though you don't feel good, |
| (3) muscular, | | | | you try to do just as much when you were |
| (4) nervous, | | | | 100%. But you don't do it as good, it takes longer |
| (5) endocrine - (hormones), | | | | than before, you make silly mistakes and create |
| (6) circulatory, | | | | more work for yourself... We have all been there. |
| (7) lymphatic - (disease defense), | | | | The further trap many of us fall into is to try |
| (8) respiratory, | | | | even harder. We put in more effort, work longer |
| (9) digestive, | | | | hours, and sacrifice the few of life's pleasures we |
| (10) urinary, and | | | | have for what we call the necessities. It's a |
| (11) reproductive. | | | | slippery slope. Burn out and disease can be the |
| Every second of your existence is monitored and | | | | body's way of demanding rest. Unfortunate but |
| continual adjustments are made to each and | | | | true. |
| every system. | | | | So back to Homeostasis... The balance of the |
| Yes, the Human body is Amazing! | | | | body. The balance of the influences in your life. |
| Practically... when you eat, your body must create | | | | There will always be times when you need to |
| specific enzymes and focus blood flow for | | | | Go-Go-Go. And they are often the most exciting |
| digestion to occur. When you go for a run, your | | | | and fun times of life. But how do you Rest and |
| body must regulate your temperature or you will | | | | Digest? (And that's not sitting on the couch after |
| overheat. If you tread on a rusty nail, several | | | | dinner rubbing your full belly.) |
| body systems must work together to repair the | | | | When do you dedicate yourself time - to escape |
| injury site and protect you against infection. The | | | | from the stresses of the day? |
| practical examples are the easiest to imagine. | | | | Well taking time to balance is best in frequent |
| But let's consider stress. Although stress is not a | | | | doses. They can be short - but frequent respite |
| physical influence, think of a deadline, or financial | | | | from stress is very important. Committing to |
| concern, or relationship conflict... and you will know | | | | regular practice is giving yourself the opportunity |
| this definitely affects your function. The body | | | | to life your life to the best of your ability. |
| must continually monitor and adjust to a variety | | | | Meditation is a great way to assist homeostasis. |
| of influencing conditions. | | | | In a short Guided Meditation you mind follows the |
| Homeostasis is in continual motion to keep you | | | | words of the story so you are given time away |
| balanced. | | | | from your regular day. While your mind is |
| The second terms I will introduce make up your | | | | entertained and your body relaxed, the 11 |
| autonomic nervous system. The two divisions are | | | | systems can focus on keeping you happy and |
| the sympathetic and parasympathetic. Too much | | | | healthy. With practice, it only takes a minute to |
| of a mouthful? Well try this. You are either in | | | | relax into your healing parasympathetic nervous |
| 'Fight or Flight' mode... Or 'Rest and Digest' mode... | | | | division. |
| The easiest imagery to help with the explanation | | | | Some results of meditation are obvious and |
| is from a time long ago. A caveman had to Fight | | | | immediate. Your breathing is deeper, you feel |
| to kill his dinner, or Flight from a predator so that | | | | lighter and refreshed... But the many deeper |
| he wasn't dinner. Adrenalin was pumping through | | | | benefits of meditation work secretly in the |
| his body either way. That is operating in the | | | | background; Longevity and good health. |
| sympathetic nervous system. Then, when all was | | | | Either way, Guided Meditation is good for you. |
| quiet and he sat in his cave poking his fire with a | | | | Don't just 'remember' that balance in your life is |
| stick for entertainment... he could really unwind. | | | | important... Practice It. Take 10 minutes now to |
| And with no job, no bills and no phone he could | | | | improve your life. |
| have really relaxed! The parasympathetic mode of | | | | |