tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456676951558631802024-02-21T08:02:24.980-08:00Meditation for WomenUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-23025874118624335612012-11-07T17:46:00.000-08:002012-11-08T11:33:34.175-08:00Staying Centered During Stressful Times: How Meditation Can Help<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/258363/thumbs/s-MEDITATION-large.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/258363/thumbs/s-MEDITATION-large.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a meditation teacher, I find that people are often drawn to turning inward during periods of personal crisis, seeking to anchor themselves.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than numbing fears and anxieties with alcohol, drugs or something from outside themselves, it's encouraging that more and more people feel confident that the mind is powerful enough to provide strength and stability from within.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">an strengthening our connection to the calm, unchanging depths of our being through meditation bring steadiness and resilience in the face of change?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Neuroscience has found that a state of heightened EEG coherence is produced during Transcendental Meditation practice, which overtime improves brain performance and changes how our brain deals with stress.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> Other studies on the TM technique show faster recovery from sleep deprivation and a healthier response of the nervous system to stressful stimuli.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Scientists are identifying the physiology of deep transcendence during TM practice, as distinct from other mind/body states. A more restful heart rate, slower metabolism, increased skin resistance, stillness of breath, greater reduction of blood lactate and cortisol and widespread alpha coherence all indicate a neurophysiological state not seen during sleep or ordinary eyes-closed relaxation, and also very different from meditation practices like contemplation, concentration or watching your thoughts.</span></span></div>
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/transcendental-meditation_b_837472.html"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-4595902770133044982012-01-01T13:02:00.001-08:002012-11-08T11:09:46.111-08:00<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-31390326255755290972011-11-27T06:51:00.001-08:002012-11-08T11:36:55.089-08:00Occupy Consciousness: Healing the Collective Mind<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/417998/thumbs/s-MEDITATION-SOCIAL-CHANGE-large.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/417998/thumbs/s-MEDITATION-SOCIAL-CHANGE-large.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all want a better world, yet like many we don't have time to protest for social change. What if there was a way to uplift the collective mind through our own consciousness? Not by thinking about it, but by transcending to the deepest, most silent level of unity where we're all connected. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In support of social change, there's another powerful approach, one that's complimentary to all viewpoints -- an approach essential to social evolution, yet so quiet it's easily drowned out amid the general media's focus on the obvious and sensational.</span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; line-height: 20px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That approach: meditation.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">"Change Begins Within"</strong></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Real change begins within. Our world is as <em style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-style: italic !important; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">we</em> are. It will always be necessary to affect responsible change on the outside, but whatever good can be accomplished in society depends on the quality of heart and mind of those creating the change -- individually and collectively.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Besides, everybody needs to dissolve stress, and research shows that effective meditation is the most powerful stress buster there is. Stress wears you down. It clouds your mind and diverts you from right decisions. Doctors say it can </span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/02/24/Anger-stress-can-kill-you/UPI-92181235496424/" style="border-style: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="color: #134f5c;">kill you</span></a>.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And the total stress of all individuals coalesces to become collective stress--affecting the overall quality of life in society.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Imagine: countless numbers of people across the country, in their homes or together in meditation halls, sitting, closing their eyes and </span><em style="border-style: none; font-style: italic !important; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://meditationasheville.blogspot.com/2008/06/transcending-4th-state-of-consciousness.html" style="border-style: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink"><span style="color: #134f5c;">transcending</span></a></em><span style="color: #45818e;">, experiencing a level of consciousness where we're all interconnected. What if, by silently stirring this underlying, unified field, an influence of orderliness and cooperation could be created throughout collective consciousness -- dissolving social tensions and relieving government gridlock, stimulating economic confidence and supporting positive change? </span><a href="http://www.tm-women.org/how-to-learn/"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Learn how to meditate</span></a></span></div>
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/occupy-consciousness-heal_b_1106669.html?ref=mindful-living&ir=Mindful%20Living"><span style="color: #45818e;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-79570827311217893632011-09-02T14:53:00.000-07:002012-11-08T11:37:45.026-08:00Dr. Oz recommends meditation for heart health, high cholesterol and diabetes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meditation is emerging as a powerful stress-buster. Research shows that it can have health benefits equivalent to or better than some of the leading medications for reducing high blood pressure and high cholesterol. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dr. Oz, a meditator himself, talks about how the Transcendental Meditation technique reduces the three main risk factors for heart disease.</span></span><br />
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"As a heart surgeon, I see the effects of stress on the heart as the leading cause of death in the Western world. This meditation, we believe, can help a lot of people. It's important to understand exactly how TM reduces stress and stress-related disorders."</span><br />
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Stating that high <b>cholesterol is the first major risk factor</b> for heart disease, Dr. Oz cited a one-year study on people with high cholesterol who practiced the TM technique. The study found that cholesterol was reduced by 10 percent, or 30 milliliters. "Now, if you are on medication for cholesterol, we hope you can get 30 milliliters lower," he said.</span><br />
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The <b>second risk factor for heart disease</b>, cautioned Dr. Oz, <b>is high insulin or diabetes.</b> "A randomized clinical trial funded by the NIH found improvements in insulin resistance, glucose and even insulin levels themselves, after just four months of TM practice, in over 100 people who had coronary blocks. This dramatic change was significantly better than just teaching people about their health."</span><br />
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Meditation also helps reduce hypertension -- <b>the third main risk factor</b> -- according to a randomized control study on people suffering from <b>high blood pressure</b>. "Those practicing the TM technique had a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, of 11 and 6, respectively. Those are big numbers. We don't get these kind of results all the time with medications."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The outcome of a long-term randomized trial on patients with coronary heart disease showed similar promise. Those practicing the TM technique during this 10-year period were found to have 47 percent less incidence of mortality, heart disease and stroke. "This impact in the TM group is stunning -- unimaginable. When you talk about these causes of death and you can reduce them by that much, as well as non-fatal strokes and non-fatal heart attacks, these are spectacularly large impacts."</span><br />
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If we're under stress, it's even harder -- we're more likely to overeat and find ourselves less motivated to exercise and more susceptible to smoking, drinking and other addictive behaviors. Meditation adds a powerful engine to your health resolutions. What's more, it's easy! </span><b style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;"><br />
</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-32705758320465027112011-05-27T16:32:00.001-07:002012-11-08T11:38:47.074-08:00ADHD in Women: Is There a Role for Meditation?<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/283066/thumbs/s-ADHD-WOMEN-large.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="146" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/283066/thumbs/s-ADHD-WOMEN-large.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many women find meditation helps them stay focused and organized during their daily routine. Most women don't have time for a lengthy practice, so they appreciate the ease and effectiven<wbr></wbr>ess of the Transcende<wbr></wbr>ntal Meditation technique in relieving stress and bringing clarity of mind. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neuroscientists tell us that an imbalance in brain functioning can underlie ADHD symptoms. The TM technique </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">creates widespread </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://meditationasheville.blogspot.com/2009/12/brainwave-coherence-during.html">EEG coherence</a></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> throughout all areas of the brain, resulting in increased </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IQ, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">creativity</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, comprehension, memory </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and problem solving abilities.</span><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-11117317165688225592011-04-18T06:10:00.001-07:002011-11-27T12:12:56.894-08:00Can Meditation improve Gross National Happiness?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Telt79hbdL6IU_nJQhHzUiVmvplFY9DjfjDnl-SKKxg-MqJLeAqEHQdujJeQzYokYosuEFDqekrHHNjlcf2CTF-StQVZDW7CS1ftnxjk24F8GE0JW0kqDyzVq5b8JSxKNPv-cz_aJ0L0/s1600/Picture+30.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Telt79hbdL6IU_nJQhHzUiVmvplFY9DjfjDnl-SKKxg-MqJLeAqEHQdujJeQzYokYosuEFDqekrHHNjlcf2CTF-StQVZDW7CS1ftnxjk24F8GE0JW0kqDyzVq5b8JSxKNPv-cz_aJ0L0/s320/Picture+30.png" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Neoclassical economics have long quantified happiness through measurements in consumption and profits. Yet we now find ourselves in a post-plenty economy, one that lends itself to a new, less consumer-orientated mentality. The growing shift in people's orientation away from material gain and toward genuine happiness is a powerful indicator that the old way of measuring progress and wealth is no longer relevant." Shelly A. Lewis writes of a growing trend in countries around the world to measure Gross National Happiness as an indicator of progress in the nation.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hopefully measuring national happiness, will help us focus on deeper more meaningful aspects of life, and lead people to realize that transitory pleasures never bring lasting happiness. In my work for the David Lynch Foundation<wbr></wbr>, I find teaching at-risk children the Transcende<wbr></wbr>ntal Meditation technique is one of the most valuable tools you can give a young person. They grow in self worth and inner happiness as they daily meditate and transcend the stress and superficia<wbr></wbr>lity of life.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A regular meditation practice allows one to contact the unchanging<wbr></wbr>, non-materi<wbr></wbr>al, silent, yet vibrant depths of Being—whic<wbr></wbr>h anchors one in contentmen<wbr></wbr>t and peace through all the ups and downs of life.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shelley-a-lewis/gross-national-happiness_b_849792.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-305215414407792412011-01-21T17:45:00.001-08:002011-09-02T14:31:05.447-07:00Yoga, Meditation and Homemaking: The New Future of Women?<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/239291/thumbs/s-WOMEN-YOGA-large.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="233" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/239291/thumbs/s-WOMEN-YOGA-large.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Practicing </span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bean-Products-Extra-Density-Length/dp/B003BN8GHC?ie=UTF8&tag=themedroo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">yoga</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themedroo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003BN8GHC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and meditation doesn't mean a woman is not interested in pursuing an active or meaningful life. If anything, taking time to nourish yourself by gaining inner peace and relief from stress will only strengthen what ever career options one chooses. I teach the Transcendental Meditation technique to women of all profession<wbr></wbr>s, each looking to harness more of her creative potential and balance the demands of outer life with inner calm and clarity.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I admire the creativity and skill of those who choose motherhood<wbr></wbr>, as much as I admire profession<wbr></wbr>al businesswo<wbr></wbr>men. When a women is grounded in her inmost nature, she is more intuitive and can better hear her inner voice to choose wisely how she spends her time and energy.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcia-reynolds/women-who-dont-give-up_b_809478.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-53443942229615278622011-01-10T12:02:00.000-08:002011-02-06T17:43:42.051-08:00Yoga: A Dimension Beyond the Physical<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSE_bi77OUJ0gSKC-KKxI_AJAdUAxUhxSbDHz10fO9Hx6S8-rwkDm77VP5VIXLKNdYirGcKsD0rfPat5qYjPg0wx_t9HyYwu42H_WtYWzw9FuPiLSEghYVaXAfeEclFlqB2orHtqo0LftN/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSE_bi77OUJ0gSKC-KKxI_AJAdUAxUhxSbDHz10fO9Hx6S8-rwkDm77VP5VIXLKNdYirGcKsD0rfPat5qYjPg0wx_t9HyYwu42H_WtYWzw9FuPiLSEghYVaXAfeEclFlqB2orHtqo0LftN/s1600/Picture+3.png" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">"Union" or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Beginners-Barbara-Benagh/dp/B000H8RVSO?ie=UTF8&tag=themedroo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Yoga</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themedroo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000H8RVSO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themedroo-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000H8RVSO" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />Yoga For Beginners is a state of consciousness where a person experiences that everything is made of the same infinite silence and vibrant energy that is one's own consciousness. It is an awareness that can not be contrived, but naturally dawns with the practice of meditation. Recent scientific studies have correlated a specific style of highly <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-brain">coherent brain functioning</a> with this experience during the practice of Transcendental Meditation. During this effortless technique the mind easily settles inward, transcending the active levels of thinking and experiences it's most expanded, silent, peaceful state.<br />
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This is the experience of "union" of the mind with it's source. It is the state of yoga or <i>samadhi</i>. With regular meditation it becomes infused in the mind so that even with eyes open, one experiences oneness with all that it perceived.</span></span></span></div><div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-24879168895756949012010-12-12T12:00:00.001-08:002011-01-04T19:01:06.857-08:00Feminism: Can meditation add a new dimension?<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/227286/thumbs/s-FEMINISM-large.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="233" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/227286/thumbs/s-FEMINISM-large.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great article on the evolution of feminism appeared in the Huffington Post today. The author points out that although women have achieved greater freedom and responsibility, fewer women like to think of themselves as feminist. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the rise of feminism in America, many women have taken on more challenges and have become more taxed</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> by the stress of multi-tasking and increased pressures of career and family life. More women are on anti-depre</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><wbr></wbr></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ssants and Prozak than ever before. We have become more stressed out and thereby less powerful in our natural ability to be nourishing and harmonizin</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><wbr></wbr></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">g to family, friends and co-workers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><wbr></wbr></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think a woman's greatest resource is her consciousn<wbr></wbr>ess—the clarity or her mind and depth or her heart. As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique for women, I see women gain enormous strength and respect when they are able to draw on their inner power—the energy, intelligen<wbr></wbr>ce and vibrancy of their own Being. Adding this spiritual dimension of developing the divine feminine at the core of our consciousn<wbr></wbr>ess will allow us to be more resourcefu<wbr></wbr>l, more relaxed, more creative and successful in our endeavors.</span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbara-hannah-grufferman/feminism-a-moral-compass_b_793759.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-50374139267340365542010-11-15T18:49:00.001-08:002011-01-04T19:01:33.580-08:00Heart disease, the number one cause of death for women: How Transcendental Meditation can help<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyFz0j9LB_aEFTb19NLK0axEdH0f1hePLPJbKWcDPpgprqqtSvJz6bGmPr35AkCblNMNTH1hZQvQ44Hj_4t6pwDPMt00eTRYEn1WN5Ww29WQAzKpp844m3NaYlz6jEx-2y33GYGZoMfav/s1600/med+woman.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyFz0j9LB_aEFTb19NLK0axEdH0f1hePLPJbKWcDPpgprqqtSvJz6bGmPr35AkCblNMNTH1hZQvQ44Hj_4t6pwDPMt00eTRYEn1WN5Ww29WQAzKpp844m3NaYlz6jEx-2y33GYGZoMfav/s200/med+woman.png" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most women don't even know that heart disease is the number one killer women in America. More education about the risk factors and prevention is needed. Many life style factors, such as poor diet and lack of exercise, contribute to the disease, but experts agree that stress underlies them all. That is why the National Institutes of Health has granted over $20 million to study the effects of the Transcendental Meditation program on the prevention and treatment of heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The twice-daily TM practice has been found to reduce activation of the sympathetic nervous system—which, in turn, dilates the blood vessels and reduces stress hormones, such as adrenaline, and cortisol, providing stress relief.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having a natural do-it-yourself stress buster technique like meditation can help women have healthier hearts and more balanced stress free lives.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbra-streisand/what-every-woman-needs-to_1_b_783753.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-31461630013340940662010-10-24T17:24:00.001-07:002010-12-05T18:11:20.846-08:00Change a girl's world, inspire her to meditate<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/212091/thumbs/s-GIRLS-SELFESTEEM-large.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/212091/thumbs/s-GIRLS-SELFESTEEM-large.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">"Today's young woman is feeling more conflicted and concerned about her image and value than ever before," says Jess Weiner, author of A Very Hungry Girl.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> "</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Here's a sobering fact: </span><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">when girls feel bad about their looks, 70 percent disconnect from life, avoiding normal activities like attending school or even giving their opinion</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">. Sure, we all have bad days and moments when we want to pull the blanket over our heads, but when an entire generation of future leaders, thinkers and mothers disconnects from life because they are unhappy with their appearance, the possible repercussions on our society are profound.”</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, I’ve taught many girls and young women to meditate. I find that meditation helps build self-confidence in women. Our culture spurs women to evaluate themselves in terms of outer appearances, money, and status. When a young girl meditates, she experiences deeper levels of her mind and heart — levels of mind teaming with intelligence, creativity, happiness and energy. At the same, time meditation reduces stress and increases flexibility, social abilities and self‐worth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Young women who naturally find self-approval from within, rather than seeking it mostly from the outside, are less influenced by peer pressure. Transcendental Meditation is a valuable tool for a young woman to use as she matures, better preparing her to meet the stresses and challenges of adulthood. It goes hand in hand with the nourishing attention she needs from her mother or other caring adults in her life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">As Weiner points out: “Girls of all ages overwhelmingly report that they still value their mothers over celebrities and supermodels as their number-one source of inspiration. Moms and mentors across America, here's an invitation to you: Own that special relationship with the young girl in your life and start taking simple actions to build her self-esteem.”</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jess-weiner/inspire-a-girl-change-her_b_772237.html"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-42451405694118466682010-10-07T18:44:00.000-07:002011-01-25T17:57:18.403-08:00Meditation and the brain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WIhmekga8pbaIGU14NHQqe8cuZQtRUFdWALBf99LQb6jSKohE2PccVdcMdtdxbEuCWYnHXn2f6M3BK5Rso0n6eKOGKBNaMheJGY-1_umC6vZSpR82yC-caFfPY3dznrmrL-z2eF26QUG/s1600/brain+chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WIhmekga8pbaIGU14NHQqe8cuZQtRUFdWALBf99LQb6jSKohE2PccVdcMdtdxbEuCWYnHXn2f6M3BK5Rso0n6eKOGKBNaMheJGY-1_umC6vZSpR82yC-caFfPY3dznrmrL-z2eF26QUG/s320/brain+chart.png" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A recent report on how some meditation techniques may increase grey matter in the brain has led to an interesting discussion on meditation and brain research. What's more significant than changes in gray matter (which can happen by playing music or repeated mental tasks), is the brain research showing that meditation can change how the brain reorganizes it's neural networks, toward more coherent, integrated functioning. Specifically, 25 peer-reviewed EEG studies on Transcendental Meditation have shown increased alpha coherence in the brain's frontal areas. This is different from increased "cortical thickness," which doesn't indicate coherence, only increased brain activity in that area.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">EEG coherence is important because everything good about the brain is dependent on it's coherent, orderly functioning. Coherence is associated with higher IQ, improved moral reasoning, faster reaction time, increased creativity and the experience of pure consciousness or inner wholeness.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/keeping-your-prefrontal-c_b_679290.html</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-8551818758556398442010-09-26T10:44:00.001-07:002010-12-08T18:48:48.161-08:00Meditation and Empowerment of Women and Girls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqU8FhMhfUSW3WUyDKdCjr5amgmXBuYN0Y_3YgDTFuMGuAHGgYxkjBMoldA2SWD7fketJ3NvzCJ_Bs1Rg9N473yesvU8bn4OjwEAEJDmbRPQl8xErNLr8LsX2SkEoPDG2W4un2P0WCDOp/s1600/african+women.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqU8FhMhfUSW3WUyDKdCjr5amgmXBuYN0Y_3YgDTFuMGuAHGgYxkjBMoldA2SWD7fketJ3NvzCJ_Bs1Rg9N473yesvU8bn4OjwEAEJDmbRPQl8xErNLr8LsX2SkEoPDG2W4un2P0WCDOp/s320/african+women.png" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">The annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative was especially notable due to the addition of the Empowerment of Women and Girls as one of the four distinct action areas to be discussed. Cheryl Saban reporting for Huffinton Post commented: "The consequence of not focusing on empowering women and girls - particularly in developing nations, totalitarian regimes, and war-ravaged regions, is that these nations won't realize the substantial gains and returns they would have, if they had invested in girls and women."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">I think the Clinton Global Initiative to Empower Women and Girls reflects a shift in global consciousness — from the masculine qualities of aggression and greed to softer to more feminine qualities of cooperation, nurturing and trust. Women are rising to take responsibility for global change, and there is growing recognition that change begins in our own consciousness. I am not just talking about becoming more aware of the challenges of women and girls, but actually transforming our consciousness to be more enlightened. The inner wisdom, tenderness, creativity and intelligence of woman is a precious resource that needs to be nourished and unfolded.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">As a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation technique, I see women of all ages gain great benefit from having a tool to dive within and connect to their creativity, energy and happiness, while at the same time gain deep relaxation and release stress and fatigue. I'd like to see this kind of tool for personal development, be part of the Clinton Global Initiative to help women gain inner strength, confidence and empowerment.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-79835194117486664752010-09-21T12:41:00.001-07:002010-12-05T11:06:52.577-08:00World Alzheimer's Day and Women<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_Qk42LN1eYJENHk-RDLne-gY65tVx1nJrimi6OY6Ji4efT5Zu37RdPu8NzoFiNGNn3LqA2qs5gPIEKi_aErw_Mps6iceaPBgZ_ur_q7EEk4zcuUTzdTqcdyHEoTI7iDzmd4sLQ06XzQr/s1600/4C33BD6D4B87A1B2D9FC95646AC6D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_Qk42LN1eYJENHk-RDLne-gY65tVx1nJrimi6OY6Ji4efT5Zu37RdPu8NzoFiNGNn3LqA2qs5gPIEKi_aErw_Mps6iceaPBgZ_ur_q7EEk4zcuUTzdTqcdyHEoTI7iDzmd4sLQ06XzQr/s200/4C33BD6D4B87A1B2D9FC95646AC6D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today is National Alzheimer’s day. Reports are drawing attention to the epidemic of the disease and its impact on women. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Maria Schriver states, “Women are at the epicenter of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's disproportionately affects women, who are not only nearly two-thirds of those who suffer from Alzheimer's, women are also nearly two-thirds of the caregivers for those who have the disease.”</span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of physical and mental exercise, diet and routine are some of the main risk factors for developing Alzheimer’s. Addressing the onset of dementia or mental deterioration through preventative measures such as a meditation practice can go a long way in maintaining mental agility. Research findings on the Transcendental Meditation technique show increased blood flow to the brain, greater EEG coherence and <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-brain">more efficient, integrated brain functioning</a>. Better education about the risk factors for Alzheimer's and the options for prevention should be part of this discussion. </span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As women all across America are nurturing the next generation while simultaneously caring for the last generation, the cost is tremendous — financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Having a practice that allows the mind to effortlessly settle inward and experience greater energy, calm and orderliness is rejuvenating for both mind and body. The TM technique has been found to create deep, <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-stress-syndrome">stress-relieving relaxation</a> — balancing and healing body, mind and <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-anxiety">emotions</a>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the elderly, the TM technique is easy to learn and practice and has been found not only to improve <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-memory">memory</a>, alertness and decision making, but also reduce the stress, <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-anxiety">anxiety</a> and <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-depression-adult">depression</a> that often accompany aging. Studies also show reduced <a href="http://www.tm.org/health-benefits-stress">heart attack and stroke and reduced hypertension.</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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</span></span></div><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-shriver/why-world-alzheimers-day_b_732003.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-69443014564267244782010-09-17T17:12:00.001-07:002011-09-04T05:23:27.290-07:00Stress and Addiction -- How Meditation helps us Cope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZUJRVER8Y1FU31ynFI-1wAVUJAL7j92ztxthf_y7P_3wCtqwwTVNo3fuc3fDI0esSskfjnVXUM9Jh0fd2j8jmxLdXIBeinV8sf-_qAY4o9KX6SQPTzl1y7ii0YsAZxw7mV9z6o9oU30n/s1600/s-ADDICTION-RECOVERY-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZUJRVER8Y1FU31ynFI-1wAVUJAL7j92ztxthf_y7P_3wCtqwwTVNo3fuc3fDI0esSskfjnVXUM9Jh0fd2j8jmxLdXIBeinV8sf-_qAY4o9KX6SQPTzl1y7ii0YsAZxw7mV9z6o9oU30n/s320/s-ADDICTION-RECOVERY-large.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, as proclaimed by President Obama. This year the Recovery Month theme highlights how psychological stress contributes to alcohol and/or drug use, and the disorders or relapse that may follow.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">I have been the teaching the Transcendental Meditation technique to recovering addicts for several years. Often I hear how much they appreciate the deep inner calm they gain from their practice and direct connection to "their higher power." Many report that the TM technique gives them the ability to transcend the pattern of gratification through substance abuse. Experts in addiction tell us the relationship between </span><a href="http://www.doctorsontm.com/tm-research/benefits-stress-and-the-brain"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">stress</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> and addiction is deeper than circumstantial; indeed, it runs right down to the cells in our brain. The Transcendental Meditation technique has been found to </span><a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-brain"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">improve brain functioning</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> and create deep coherent rest for the physiology, helping behavior.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">The 12 step program is amazing, and adding the practice of Transcendental Meditation helps give the recovering addict a powerful tool for releasing stress, improving brain functioning and experiencing inner happiness.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thea-singer/september-is-recovery-mon_b_715975.html"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-3910499519640692812010-06-22T17:38:00.000-07:002010-12-13T14:32:15.751-08:00Depression: The modern epidemic for women<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gofeDHHdNff0fzv6AtHp5s1WK73ZHViMiGfe8yFRzsRtJIkYeRZfTHRQJAiO1dZthwc8cnFG9M4MDLfC60Vx1gioV-eXU91GrmYYXv2OK1wdC4AC9svqhl6y7k2tpmEfBVd5cGFPsr74/s1600/Picture+4.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480931045595558258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gofeDHHdNff0fzv6AtHp5s1WK73ZHViMiGfe8yFRzsRtJIkYeRZfTHRQJAiO1dZthwc8cnFG9M4MDLfC60Vx1gioV-eXU91GrmYYXv2OK1wdC4AC9svqhl6y7k2tpmEfBVd5cGFPsr74/s200/Picture+4.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 194px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Nearly 11% of women in America</span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">are on antidepressants. How did a condition once thought to be so rare become epidemic? Many factors contribute to the disease, yet experts agree that stress is the main cause of the physiological imbalances that give rise to depression. Evidence suggests that women are more susceptible to stress and can succumb to depression under lower stress levels than men. The female physiological response to stress is different—women produce more stress hormones than men and recover less quickly from stress. Many women are looking for natural alternatives to antidepressants.</span></span><br />
<div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Depression-Mind-Body-Way-Meditation/dp/0470286318?ie=UTF8&tag=themedroo-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Healing Depression the Mind-Body Way: Creating Happiness with Meditation, Yoga, and Ayurveda" height="200" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0470286318&tag=themedroo-20" width="137" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
New research on meditation shows promising results. A recent study led by researchers at UCLA shows that over a 12-month period, depressive symptoms decreased by almost 50% among people practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique, compared to controls.[1] These findings are significant for anyone suffering from depression—especially women.<br />
</span> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Natural Remedy for Depression</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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Meditation reduces stress and increases feelings of calm—an experience often described as bliss or inner happiness. This experience is the opposite of depression and has a unique style of physiology: deep rest and increased inner wakefulness,[2] and more integrated and harmonious brain functioning. [3] Depression is associated with low levels of serotonin, and studies show that TM practice increases serotonin (but only in subjects whose serotonin is too low—if serotonin is too high, research has found that levels decrease).[4]<br />
</span> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Side effects of antidepressants</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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Women now make up more than half the work force, and many of those women also carry the load of housework and childcare, increasing a woman’s vulnerability to anxiety and depression. An alarming 79 percent of the prescriptions for antidepressant drugs are for women. One out of three doctor’s visits by women involves an antidepressant prescription. Because antidepressants do not address the root problem, doctors keep increasing the dosage. The side effects include weight gain or loss, intense restlessness, insomnia, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, panic attacks and anxiety.<br />
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Taking time out to relieve emotional and physical stress through regular meditation is a natural and effective approach to prevent and reduce depression. "Severely depressed people often believe they will never feel better," says Dr. Nancy Leibler, author of </span> </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Depression-Mind-Body-Way-Meditation/dp/0470286318?ie=UTF8&tag=themedroo-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Healing Depression the Mind Body Way</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themedroo-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470286318" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">. "Because the Transcendental Meditation technique gives a feeling of fulfillment and calmness, it also gives hope."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">References:<br />
1. Transcendental Meditation Reduces Depression: study presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in Seattle, Washington April 9th, 2010.<br />
<br />
2. Biochemistry of Deep Rest, Reference: Hormones and Behavior 10: 54–60, 1978. Physiological indicators of deep rest during Transcendental Meditation, American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987.<br />
<br />
3. Increased EEG Coherence during meditation, International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.<br />
<br />
4. Bujatti, M., and Riederer, P. Serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine metabolites in Transcendental Meditation technique. Journal of Neural Transmission 39: 257–267,1976.</span> </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-17111571269534055652010-05-29T16:38:00.000-07:002010-12-16T12:34:15.465-08:00Keeping Your Prefrontal Cortex Online: Neuroplasticity, Stress and Meditation<span style="color: #3366cc; font-size: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #336699;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Read the new <em>Huffington Post</em> article<br />
by Jeanne Ball</span></span></strong></span><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: #3366cc;"><span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong><span style="color: #336699;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> </span></span></strong></span> </span></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/keeping-your-prefrontal-c_b_679290.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: #3366cc;"><img alt="" border="0" height="337" src="https://app.icontact.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/329287/2aa2e004681d37860f959798642a4cb2/image/jpeg" title="" width="419" /></span></span></a></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #336699;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/keeping-your-prefrontal-c_b_679290.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">"Keeping Your Prefrontal Cortex Online: </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><br />
</span> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/keeping-your-prefrontal-c_b_679290.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Neuroplasticity, Stress and Meditation"</span></a></span><br />
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</span></span></strong></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #336699;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">From the <em>Huffington Post</em>:<br />
</span></span></span></strong></span></div></div><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">As we go through life, our brain is always changing and adapting, say neuroscientists. During the first 18-20 years of life the brain is developing circuits that will form the basis of decision-making for a lifetime. Brain researchers have found that unhealthy lifestyles can inhibit normal brain development in adolescents and lead to impaired judgment and destructive behavior that carries over into adulthood.</span> </span><br />
<div align="left"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 100%;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></strong></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<div align="left"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 100%;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Studies recently published in the neuroscience journal </span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Cognitive Processing</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> show that brain development can be enhanced -- not only during adolescence but at any age -- through the Transcendental Meditation technique, and that different meditation techniques have different effects on the brain.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </strong></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;"></strong></span></span><br />
<div align="left"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 100%;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></strong></strong></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </strong></strong></span><br />
<div align="left"><span style="color: #336699; font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When the different parts of the brain are better integrated through TM practice, they work together more harmoniously -- our brain is healthier. Research shows that world-class athletes have higher brain integration than controls...</span></strong></span><strong style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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</strong></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color: #336699;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/keeping-your-prefrontal-c_b_679290.html"><em>To read the article, click here </em></a><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></strong></span></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: #336699;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong> </strong></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: 100%;"><strong></strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: #336699;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><strong style="font-weight: normal;">WATCH VIDEO of brain researcher Fred Travis: How TM practice affects the brain—<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeanne-ball/keeping-your-prefrontal-c_b_679290.html">click here</a></strong></span></span></span></span></span><strong><br />
</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-48661671463795554072010-05-29T16:30:00.000-07:002010-08-16T17:04:06.823-07:00How different meditation techniques affect the brain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFOQEboQoWgnDDURVqnpWFJ1v0ffnuPg9HAGUHVgIESkPp3vSMjTv3DLqjLbmvmWsHupg_omkWEEU3cWrgwd0x6RQt-YIt4m3uIK3yEf2pCDqDE8UjYiMNiTZ07-_TR6RSfgs5giZE-A-/s1600/brain_waves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFOQEboQoWgnDDURVqnpWFJ1v0ffnuPg9HAGUHVgIESkPp3vSMjTv3DLqjLbmvmWsHupg_omkWEEU3cWrgwd0x6RQt-YIt4m3uIK3yEf2pCDqDE8UjYiMNiTZ07-_TR6RSfgs5giZE-A-/s320/brain_waves.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Many people ask how different meditation and relaxation techniques affect the brain. Are the effects significantly different? Can computer brain imaging actually show the areas of the brain enlivened by different techniques? The emerging scientific paradigm in neuroscience is that each general category of meditation has its own signature brain pattern.<br />
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Three major types of practices have been classified according to EEG pattern and the type of cognitive processing (or mental activity) involved: 1) controlled focus (concentration), 2) open monitoring (mindfulness type practices), and 3) automatic self-transcending (such as Transcendental Meditation). Each type of meditation engages the mind in a very different way and has a specific EEG pattern. <br />
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Neuroscience have discovered that concentration techniques, such as many Zen practices that involve controlled focus, typically show strong gamma waves (Lutz A, et al, 2004). <br />
<br />
Mindfulness meditation (or open monitoring) typically produces frontal theta, an EEG pattern associated with memory tasks and internal focus (Cahn, Delorme, & Polich, 2010). <br />
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The Transcendental Meditation technique has been shown (in both new long-term meditators) to consistently produce high alpha coherence in the prefrontal cortex and throughout the rest of the brain (Travis et al, "Cognitive Processing," 11, 1, 2010.). Alpha waves are associated with a relaxed yet alert state of mind, and heightened coherence indicates increased efficiency of brain functioning. <br />
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Also, the scientific literature shows that different practices consistently produce measurably different results regarding levels of rest, reduction of anxiety and depression, and effects on health and self-actualization. Often research on one meditation technique is wrongly attributed to another. When choosing a meditation technique, it is advised to look into the scientific research, if any, done on that specific technique. <a href="http://pubmed.org/">Pubmed.org</a> is a good source in general and <a href="http://doctorsontm.org/">doctorsontm.org</a> presents research on the TM technique.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-6619490269813522212010-05-28T16:28:00.000-07:002010-10-27T17:38:05.855-07:00Meditation: A solution for school bullying?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzoAsJdIW22fwl7xuLk_Wajh2_zmNMibdxQ-v9W7EYL9qEbLmoL8n_XzASxE85Nv1AmRTrAw-ss8_B1wsCW70ghBan0kgKfQ4Rq7ogxhJjo7fyyTKoFEeFPZ6NDeF-fafJuF3rUC0kTdD/s1600/Picture+2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476468575180512402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzoAsJdIW22fwl7xuLk_Wajh2_zmNMibdxQ-v9W7EYL9qEbLmoL8n_XzASxE85Nv1AmRTrAw-ss8_B1wsCW70ghBan0kgKfQ4Rq7ogxhJjo7fyyTKoFEeFPZ6NDeF-fafJuF3rUC0kTdD/s400/Picture+2.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 180px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 318px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">A recent report of frequent bullying in American schools has brought national attention to the stressors commonly faced by teens—stressors that many parents and teachers are unaware of. Society is struggling to understand how 'atypical' adolescent peer pressure has escalated into vicious student behavior at school. As educators seek ways to increase compassion and empathy among students, many are finding that meditation offers promising, measurable results for tackling the underlying stressors that give rise to bullying.<br />
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</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">The Problem of Bullying</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
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The (US) National Center for Educational Statistics estimates that one third of students ages 12-18 are bullied at school and online. In all socio-economic levels, schools are experiencing heightened security concerns and acts of violence.<br />
<br />
High divorce rates among parents, violent entertainment, and drug abuse by youth—even the use of prescription anti-depressants—are suspected of contributing to the problem. However, these factors are now being recognized as symptoms of an underlying cause: the epidemic of stress in our society.<br />
<br />
</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">A promising solution: stress-free schools</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br />
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Hundreds of public and private schools throughout the US and around the world have benefited from a program of Quite Time, [1] where students have the option to sit quietly for a few minutes or to practice meditation to relieve stress. ‘It’s like a washing machine,' says Jody, a meditating student at a Detroit high school previously plagued by violence. 'Disturbing thoughts wash away.'<br />
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A recent study, conducted by the University of Connecticut, found that 106 at-risk adolescents in three high schools reduced levels of stress, anxiety, hyperactivity, and emotional problems when practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique over a period of four months at school, as compared with controls. [2] The TM technique is an effortless, non-religious meditation that is easy for students to learn and practice at school or on their own.<br />
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According to Dr. William Stixroud, “when the nervous system becomes settled and quiet during meditation, the stress response starts operating normally. As a result, children are simply less impulsive.” The process of quieting the mind and body through the Transcendental Meditation technique increases coherence between the two hemispheres and the front and the back part of the brain. [3] “More integrated brain functioning improves the ability in children to control their impulses,” says Dr. Stixroud. “They get in trouble less; they act without thinking less; they can inhibit the tendency to get distracted better.”<br />
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Effective meditation can also help strengthen children that are typically victims of bullying by building self-esteem and resilience to stress. Research studies have demonstrated that the TM technique not only reduces stress, it increases inner happiness, and results in improved flexibility, social ability, and confidence. [4] When adolescents practice mediation they tend to find approval from within rather than needing it from the outside, which leads to greater independence, less influence from peer pressure, and less abusive behavior.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">http://www.dlfprojects.org/stress-free-urban-schools.html<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">References:<br />
1. David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness Based Education<br />
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2. ‘At-risk adolescents reduce stress, anxiety, and hyperactivity through Transcendental Meditation.’ Robert Colbert, PhD, Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Connecticut (US). Presented at the Annual meeting of the Society for Behavioral Medicine, March 2008<br />
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3. ‘Increased EEG Coherence during Transcendental Meditation’: International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.<br />
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4. 'Transcendental Meditation reduces stress and increases happiness among middle school students.' Rita Benn, PhD, Director of Education, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research Center, University of Michigan. National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, April</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-49962279672358725942010-05-01T13:32:00.000-07:002010-06-10T05:31:30.148-07:00Meditating Moms: Nourishing your self from the inside out.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAT3R77YfkabYnvPd3g1DwIBTNFtpR63a6NlQuvl7vWka_qR5Lw0FY2SKfeEn7amQ0eG4COIBloyDAbq0GuKKs_2cAM91vO4t-swBnxReof6PfvNN6mbC3O3MNhwbP8HPh4HkOqdHjjkQ/s1600/meditating+mom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAT3R77YfkabYnvPd3g1DwIBTNFtpR63a6NlQuvl7vWka_qR5Lw0FY2SKfeEn7amQ0eG4COIBloyDAbq0GuKKs_2cAM91vO4t-swBnxReof6PfvNN6mbC3O3MNhwbP8HPh4HkOqdHjjkQ/s320/meditating+mom.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473151854915335394" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We’d like to think we’ll be able to ignore our needs while taking care of children, work and home. But, becoming overwhelmed with responsibilities, many mothers are tired, anxious or depressed. Moms need meditation probably more than anyone.<br /><br />Many mothers find that fitting meditation into their day more than makes up for the time it takes. The Transcendental Meditation technique is easy to learn and effortless to practice. Its a powerfully effective stress buster that doesn't require clearing your busy mind of thoughts or having to concentrate or focus. Research has found that TM practice produces a state of </span></span><a href="http://www.tm.org/research-on-meditation"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">profound relaxation</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, much deeper than ordinary rest and accompanied by increased alertness and </span><a href="http://www.tm.org/research-on-meditation"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">orderly brain function</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. Regular practice results in decreased depression and anxiety, reduced insomnia and hypertension.<br /><br />By diving deep within during TM practice the mind effortlessly settles to quieter levels of thinking and transcends the worries, pressures and agitation of the surface mind. Experiencing inner silence, happiness and energy not only replenishes our depleted reserves but creates vibrant consciousness and a naturally relaxed, stress resilient physiology. Intuition, patience, wisdom, love, all the divine qualities associated with Motherhood grow spontaneously with the deep rest and nourishment gained from regular TM practice.<br /><br />Whether it's during your baby's nap, or after the kids go to or come home from school, taking time to meditate prepares you for being ‘on’ for others. If you work outside the home, meditating first thing in the morning or on your break at work may be best. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At the Asheville, NC Center for the Transcendental Meditation program, moms meet-up for group meditation and inspiration regularly. Child care is provided for young children, so moms can easily take a 'time in' while kids enjoy playing in the peaceful atmosphere and bliss of the TM center.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-31313105799028517472010-04-29T16:32:00.000-07:002010-06-29T16:45:39.482-07:00Unplug from technology and take a meditation break<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCGQ6zBSxz24Hs4cwZKrJeajFWziNREEebkWeAldJ5do0UQ8DYCwCOxTDqglDbdS5WzPdOZ4KuPFhlvvrH0V_wLDAPBJHBl9Y2dsUJfI3GCEhcQjt8eTwOiALbQpBW9LGQ1xpW_i3xJQQ/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCGQ6zBSxz24Hs4cwZKrJeajFWziNREEebkWeAldJ5do0UQ8DYCwCOxTDqglDbdS5WzPdOZ4KuPFhlvvrH0V_wLDAPBJHBl9Y2dsUJfI3GCEhcQjt8eTwOiALbQpBW9LGQ1xpW_i3xJQQ/s200/26.jpg" width="156" /></a><br />
One way to really unplug from cell phones, computers, TV and electronic technology is to take a meditation break as a regular part of your routine. Not only are you turning off the electronics, but one's entire attention is turned inward, away from the outer world of sensory perceptions. The experience of the silent depths of our Being is a nourishing break that revitalizes and energizes the mind, heart and body. Neuroscience is finding that certain meditation techniques actually <a href="http://www.mum.edu/tm_research/">reset the brain</a> and produce synchronous alpha throughout the entire brain. [1] After meditation, one's brain is functioning more coherently and it's easier to prioritize and create balance in life.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Reference: Increased EEG Coherence during Transcendental Meditation, International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981</span>.<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christine-carter-phd/how-to-be-happy-want-to-i_b_627790.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-70997429371308510772010-04-27T19:03:00.000-07:002010-12-05T16:21:53.597-08:00Power Naps vs. Meditation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAstVPjSkt0D5i1sXtUB3Yy1GmsaEGVMss8SLwHiZqzwT5uZWe-uY2v5fMpwpCEkC5qP9zg4lv1ofFhdm23HYTnHe6qtFbfPdEw9D8uE61JWGqX_2ujmuDu4jVZ5LBF_7V8JtcEeOVweZ5/s1600/Picture+1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487644180855516850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAstVPjSkt0D5i1sXtUB3Yy1GmsaEGVMss8SLwHiZqzwT5uZWe-uY2v5fMpwpCEkC5qP9zg4lv1ofFhdm23HYTnHe6qtFbfPdEw9D8uE61JWGqX_2ujmuDu4jVZ5LBF_7V8JtcEeOVweZ5/s400/Picture+1.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 116px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 281px;" /></a>Power naps are useful for those who don't get enough sleep at night. I find a 20 minute meditation also has the effect of refreshing the mind and boosting energy during the day. The Transcendental Meditation technique has been found to produce a state of rest that is even deeper than sleep [1], and allows the body to dissolve deep rooted stress that sleep alone can't remove.<br />
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Although meditation is not a replacement for sleep at night, it could be an alternative to napping. Neuroscientist have found that during meditation when a person transcends thought and experiences inner silent wakefulness, brain wave patterns show synchronous alpha throughout the entire brain. This particular meditative state is associated with <a href="http://www.tm.org/benefits-brain">coherent, orderly brain function</a>, which is necessary for peak mental performance. Sleep on the other hand, produces mostly theta and delta waves, which scientists associate with lack of alertness and dullness. Naps are great for catching up on sleep, and meditation is great for developing higher states of consciousness. Reference: Levels of Rest during Transcendental Meditation: American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-70956120906279288672010-04-12T14:15:00.000-07:002010-06-28T17:59:45.087-07:00Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Transcendental Meditation<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9kLEPD4Go3TcwEKzYiptf68h3zrq_h2b9lC7a0D3KeeqSyn2o1BZEyQu8Sh2iR_ct-ewR6YKo_lJ36cubUHWgzRvgwr6ffVjPttA6of_nhzcXKOBIIQPjVyKg5Io83sJ5O8TQP9VBCd3/s1600/Picture+1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475299315373038450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9kLEPD4Go3TcwEKzYiptf68h3zrq_h2b9lC7a0D3KeeqSyn2o1BZEyQu8Sh2iR_ct-ewR6YKo_lJ36cubUHWgzRvgwr6ffVjPttA6of_nhzcXKOBIIQPjVyKg5Io83sJ5O8TQP9VBCd3/s320/Picture+1.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 295px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Relieving physiological stress is often more effective than discussing the traumatic events when treating PTSD, says psychotherapist Belleruth Naparstek. "It turns out that people headed for a diagnosis of post traumatic stress can't just "talk about it"- the trauma isn't even stored in the parts of the brain where language can access it. Instead it's been cached as frozen, primitive, pre-language experience - sensation, perception, emotion, images and motor reactivity - in the survival-based structures of the brain."<br />
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The Transcendental Meditation technique is a successful technique for releasing deep rooted stress and improving brain functioning. The Journal of Counseling and Development published a study on veterans suffering from PTSD showing that after three months of practicing the technique, symptoms of anxiety, depression, family problems and alcohol usage decreased significantly. The deep coherent rest gained during meditation helps heal the physiological seat of emotional stress and renews communication in the brain that was frozen due to trauma. </span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">http://www.opednews.com/articles/Radical-Peace-People-Refu-by-William-T-Hathawa-100604-346.html</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-52951571448694358522010-04-05T17:32:00.000-07:002010-12-05T14:00:15.512-08:00Science is taking the mysticism out of meditationWith the advancement of neuroscience, researchers are now identifying the physiological correlates of higher states of consciousness as described in the ancient Vedic texts. It's interesting that higher consciousness has been found to have its own unique brain wave signature, different from ordinary waking state consciousness. EEG coherence throughout the entire brain is now associated with the experiences of heightened awareness, eternity, inner silence, creativity and bliss (for example, see the research studies in the neuroscience journal 'Consciousness and Cognition,' 2010).<br />
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Brain patterns associated with higher stages of human development are being closely studied by scientists at The Center for Brain, Consciousness and Cognition at Maharishi University of Management, in Iowa. By documenting the changes that take place in the brain and physiology during and after meditation, science is taking the mysticism out of spiritual development.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh_SRTyvtO2anfOQA9gNtbBn15rpbrrBCdkffxmff4Ku8RRt51VjJigR8xzSuGbkE2jwE49QbaotcrwLYrBnjyFzsCQ8bU0fId1cscpdaeQjiRwKgtJK2nOP-9Q6GipBjZlj-yRlDsRxd/s1600/brain+waves+.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh_SRTyvtO2anfOQA9gNtbBn15rpbrrBCdkffxmff4Ku8RRt51VjJigR8xzSuGbkE2jwE49QbaotcrwLYrBnjyFzsCQ8bU0fId1cscpdaeQjiRwKgtJK2nOP-9Q6GipBjZlj-yRlDsRxd/s320/brain+waves+.png" /></a></div><br />
As a meditation teacher, everyday I see Christians and people of all religions (as well as people of no religion) happily integrating meditation techniques into their life with no conflict. This acceptance is due in part to the extensive scientific research verifying the practical benefits of meditation. Aspects of Eastern knowledge, such as certain non-religious meditation techniques, are universal and compatible not only with modern science but with other religious and cultural traditions.<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-goldberg/are-eastern-religions-mor_b_628533.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-645667695155863180.post-32001304459135041482010-01-28T13:46:00.000-08:002010-06-28T20:24:09.966-07:00TED MED: Streaming Brain waves To Your Cell Phone<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/178291/thumbs/s-TED-TALKS-large.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/178291/thumbs/s-TED-TALKS-large.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Sleep researcher Phillip Low reports on an new technology for self-monitoring abnormal brain function to prevent pathologies. Low describes how brain waves can be measured by an EEG devise and then the signal is sent to a cell phone. Low hopes that by self monitoring, there can be early detection of brain disorders. <br />
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Why not also monitor healthy and exceptional brain function, like that which occurs during peak mental performance or deep meditation? Already students at <a href="http://www.mum.edu/tm_research/">Maharishi University of Management</a> use EEG reports to monitor the growth of higher brain function and coherence resulting from their meditation<wbr></wbr>.[1] The practice of meditation and other healthy life style choices can positively effect the brain and may help prevent Alzheimer's, ADHD, dementia, depression etc. Hopefully this new technology will allow researchers to understand more about both healthy and unhealthy brains. Reference:<br />
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1. Increased EEG Coherence during Transcendental Meditation, International Journal of Neuroscience 14: 147–151, 1981.<br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/28/ted-talks-philip-low-on-n_n_625982.html">Read the Article at HuffingtonPost</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0