WEEKLY WELLNESS TIP - CHALLENGE WEEK 3 - MEDITATION What is Meditation? Its a word we hear with increasing frequency... In fact, even the Seahawks credit regular meditation and yoga to their success on the field. However, for many, meditation remains an elusive mystery... perhaps vaguely intriguing, but not accessible as an every-day part of life. Some people even harbor fear around meditation, believing that it could potentially conflict with their religious or spiritual beliefs. In truth, Meditation is simply a process of quieting and calming the mind in order to bring awareness and mindfulness to the present moment. The word meditation, is derived from two Latin words: meditari (to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal).... To heal the mind... The clinically proven benefits of meditation are abundant including: *Relief from stress and anxiety (meditation mitigates the effects of the fight-or-flight response, decreasing the production of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline) *Decreased blood pressure and hypertension *Lower cholesterol levels *More efficient oxygen use by the body *Increased production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA *Restful sleep Just to name a few... New research also shows that meditation actually restores the brain. A study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital found that as little as eight weeks of meditation not only helped people feel calmer, but also produced changes in various areas of the brain, including growth in the areas associated with memory, empathy, sense of self, and stress regulation. Learn more about the benefits of meditation in this fantastic 10 minute TED Talk by Andy Puddicome: https://youtube/watch?v=qzR62JJCMBQ#t=31 And register for our Intro to Meditation Workshop with Chuck Nesmith on Friday, January 30th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm at EmbodyCentralia/Events
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:36:58 +0000
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