Archive for the ‘Benefits of Meditation’ Category

The benefits of meditation for the elderly are bountiful

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Many elderly people are in need of practices that benefit the mind and body. This presents issues for some who do not have the ability to engage in rigorous exercise or want to avoid taking prescription medications.

Luckily, there are many benefits of meditation for the elderly, not least of which that the holistic practice has been shown to have positive mental and physical effects.

This kind of holistic health care has been used for centuries by individuals of all ages to strengthen the self through weeding negative thoughts from the mind. In doing so, people are able to achieve a more positive way of thinking, which has been shown to significantly reduce stress, a main trigger of health issues for many people.

Since senior citizens often experience mental anguish due to physical ills and the loss of family members and friends, this kind of holistic health care may be much needed in nursing homes and hospice care facilities.

Elderly individuals who are having a difficult time coping with old age, as well as those who want to ensure healthy aging, should consider using meditation to strengthen the body, mind and spirit.

 

Discover the benefits of meditation when stressed

Friday, January 13th, 2012

 

Too often, when people are feeling stressed out, they turn to drugs, alcohol or other unhealthy behaviors in order to temporarily release tension. Not only are these harmful substances ineffective, but they are also known to cause bodily damage and exacerbate mental conditions in the long run.

As a result, the benefits of meditation when stressed should be touted by employers, teachers and healthcare providers.

Meditation is a mind-body practice in which an individual simply sits in a comfortable position with eyes closed or relaxed on a soothing image and attempts to slow or even stop their thought process. The exercise has been shown to potentially lead to a lower pain response, heightened consciousness and a strengthened immune system.

The scientific benefits of meditation have been supported in several clinical trials. This is great news, as the research has lead to a number of healthcare providers recommending the practice to individuals who do not wish to take pharmaceuticals.

Considering that meditation requires no equipment and has no side effects or risks, it may be worth giving it a try to see how it affects stress levels.

The benefits of meditation when stressed are plentiful

Friday, November 18th, 2011

Meditation allows the practitioner to clear their mind of all stressful, hateful thoughts, ideas and memories. Attaining a clutter-free brain may be the key to living a life free of negativity.

The benefits of meditation when stressed cannot be overstated. Chronic anxiety is thought to be the root of a host of illnesses, from those that affect the mind to conditions of the body.

In order to practice meditation, simply sit or lie down with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. When a thought enters your mind, acknowledge it but do not judge it, allowing your consciousness to rise above the petty idea. Continue to focus on the breath as it passes the tip of your nose until you feel that your practice has ended.

The scientific benefits of meditation continue to be uncovered in clinical studies. More and more each day, the medical and holistic healing community is convinced that regular meditation may help a person overcome mental anguish, as well as improve their physical health.

Benefits of meditation when stressed may extend to offspring

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

It's relatively well known that when pregnant women are stressed, their children are at risk of developing behavioral or anxiety problems. Now, researchers believe that mental issues in the father may also have an adverse effect on offspring.

In a mouse study, a team of scientists from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York found that the children of males with depression or anxiety tended to have the same problems as their fathers.

"This type of translational animal work is important to help scientists focus their work in humans," said lead author Eric Nestler, from the New York institution. "These findings in mice raise the possibility that part of an individual's risk for clinical depression or other stress-related disorders may be determined by his or her father's life exposure to stress, a provocative suggestion that now requires direct study in humans."

Results of this study suggest that the benefits of meditation when stressed can reach farther than the immediate alleviation of anxiety that the practitioner experiences. Additionally, the findings underscore the importance of gaining a clear mind and eliminating negativity from the brain.

People looking to conceive should consider using holistic health care to treat their conditions, since many pharmaceutical solutions come with side effects, some which may affect a person's physical health.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that all people should seek out a more peaceful existence that is free of stress. It's been shown that chronic anxiety is a cause of a host of illnesses and conditions. As a result, healing the mind may also go a long way toward a healthier body.

Elderly individuals should favor holistic health care to alleviate depression

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Often, when people get older they begin to experience difficulties in their mental health and are subsequently prescribed antidepressants to help alleviate depressive symptoms. However, such pharmaceuticals may actually be doing more harm than good.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) increase the risk of stroke, falls, fractures and epilepsy for people 65 and older.

"This was an unexpected finding, and so further research using other data sources is needed to confirm these findings as well as provide more evidence on the benefits of different antidepressants in this group of people," said researcher Carol Coupland.

Authors of the study said SSRIs are commonly used among older adults, so the finding may be of significance to a large segment of the population.

The results of the research also point to a greater need for best holistic health practices, especially for older individuals who want to improve their minds. Cognitive decline among these individuals has been extensively studied in past years because of the great detrimental effect it can have on the quality of life of those who experience it.

In fact, the scientific benefits of meditation are well documented. Extensive research has shown that meditation – the act of focusing on the present moment while pushing out negative thoughts and energy – can make a big difference in alleviating anxiety, feelings of depression and helping to clear the mind of negativity.

Additionally, meditation has been shown to have physical effects. Calming the mind may improve cardiovascular function, boost the metabolism and keep blood pressure at a normal level.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in holistic approaches to wellness as alternative to harmful pharmaceuticals and invasive procedures.

Meditators are highly tuned into their emotions, study finds

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Maintaining good overall health involves more than just eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise. While these factors are important, they do little to stimulate mental health or repair the mind-body-spirit connection. For this, brain training programs like meditation are extremely important.

In fact, a recent study from a team of University of California, Berkeley researchers found that individuals who regularly practice meditation have more highly tuned mind-body connection than most other people.

The researchers compared the degree to which the emotions of meditators followed physical changes in their bodies, like increased heart rate and rapid breathing. They found that compared to dancers – another group of people who are trained to be highly dialed into their physical bodies – and the general public, meditators were more aware of their emotional.

“We all talk about our emotions as if they are intimately connected to our bodies – such as the ‘heartache of sadness’ and ‘bursting a blood vessel’ in anger,” said Robert Levenson, who led the study.

The findings confirm many of the teachings of Ilchi Lee, who believes that meditation plays an important role in both physical and mental health.