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The Power of Meditation – Mind over Matter Matters More Than Ever
By Neil Peterson | March 23, 2009
For thousands of years, Eastern cultures have used meditation in their quest to unite body and mind, and attain a higher level of contentment. Proponents say the practice’s origins predate even recorded history – evidence has been found of various meditation practices in primitive hunter/gatherer societies, Australia’s Aborigines, and Native American tribes. Given this cultural ancestry, it is surprising that our modern civilization – and its over-worked, over-stressed populace – has not fully embraced the power of the mind for treating a host of mental and physical ailments.
Although many of us are used to thinking of this ancient art as a purely esoteric practice, we may be more familiar with it than we realize. The mainstream popularity of guided visualizations and yoga are just two examples of how meditation is being used in a contemporary context, with surprising results. Recent scientific studies are starting to demystify its benefits, showing that consistent use of the various methods can affect not only brain waves, but the actual structure of the brain. Today, meditation is used by over 10 million Americans, looking for alternatives to more conventional treatments for stress, anxiety, depression, and even pain management.
At Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, physicians in the burn center have started to use ‘Virtual Reality Analgesia’, an interactive program developed around the body’s mental reaction to severe pain, in treating patients with life-threatening injuries. Research revealed that pain requires conscious attention, and by diverting the patient’s thoughts through guided visualization, they reported a drastic reduction in the pain they were experiencing during their treatments. Further study of fMRI brain scans showed far less activity in the section of the brain that controls pain signals.
Guided visualization is used to great success by elite athletes during training to improve performance and enhance their abilities to maintain composure and focus while competing. It has also been shown to activate muscle memory as the brain, while undergoing a visualization, cannot make a distinction between what the body is actually experiencing, and what is occurring in the mind. While professional and Olympic-caliber athletes are performing on a level that is far beyond that which most of us will ever attain, the consistent results they are receiving from using visualization can be a great lesson that by creating success in the mind – in whichever area of your life you choose to apply it – can produce outstanding outcomes in reality
An Eastern practice that has enjoyed widespread popularity in recent years is the Hindu practice of yoga. A series of postures designed to strengthen and stretch the muscles and flush toxins from the body, while focusing on the breath, yoga has been embraced for its athletic benefits. But many practitioners are also appreciating the mental benefits – namely the clarity of mind and sense of calm that occur following their exercises. Although many yoga teachers in the U.S. have ‘watered down’ the practice’s religious aspects, it’s history is steeped in Eastern tradition, used by monks and religious followers to reconnect the mind, body, and sprit and to truly embrace the present.
The Benefits of Yoga
It can be hard to achieve balance in today’s hyper-saturated world. In the past two decades, America has seen a marked increase in the prescription of anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications, and this reliance on pharmaceuticals has led some to give further consideration to alternative forms of healing – including meditation. We may be facing entirely different daily stresses than those of our ancestors, but the results are the same. So maybe the solution should be too.
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Topics: General, Inspiration, Management, Self-improvement, Sports, Sustainable living | No Comments »