The Benefits of Meditation    Meditation For The Individual In today's world meditation is viewed from two perspectives, from the spiritual form of enlightenment and becoming one with spirit and through the eyes of mainstream medical practice as a non-denominational practice.   As a spiritual practice meditation assists the individual in becoming one with their Divine self, opening their soul to communion with Divine spirit and strengthening their intuitive connection to all that is around them; seen and unseen. It has been said that prayer is the way to talk to 'God'; where as meditation is the way to become one with 'God'.   The approach we take to spiritual meditation is outlined in our Meditation Guide. Through spiritual meditation an individual becomes open to the possibilities of the Divine Universe. They can tap into the Divine creative power and focus their energies and visions upon a goal and path. An individual can gain insight into their spiritual soul, their soul's mission and a variety of spiritual aspects and communications. All of these activities allow a person to gain insight into who they are, why they are here in this incarnated form and how these aspects can be applied to their every day lives.   Meditation from a non-spiritual sense has also been shown beneficial for relieving stress, improving health and increasing productivity. It can be an essential and effective tool for stress reduction and stress management in any persons life at home or at work. Many industry leaders and corporate professionals successfully use meditation for relaxation at the office, or even at their desks. Over 300 hundred clinical studies, and hundreds of stress reduction programs throughout the world, attest to the usefulness of meditation for corporate professionals. It is an "inside-out" human performance practice.   The meditation techniques that we teach for corporate stress management are non-religious and not based on the teachings of any particular group or philosophy. They are meant to be accessible to a wide range of people and easy to practice. Our broad experience has shown us that every person “connects” to meditation differently and what works for one person may not work for another. That is why we teach a variety of meditation and relaxation techniques, so that everyone can find at least one that works for them. This dramatically increases the likelihood that your employees will use the techniques on a daily basis, and thus be able to experience the far-reaching benefits of meditation in their work and home life.    Meditation & Proven Science In 2008, a new study by Emory University researchers showed that those who practiced Meditation had physiological changes that indicated lower stress levels. When presented with a stressful task, study subjects who practiced Meditation had lower levels of a stress hormone called cortisol compared to those who weren't taught meditation methods. Distress scores, as measured by a 30-item profile, were lower among the meditators. Lower stress levels have been linked to better immune function and lower rates of a variety of diseases, including depression and cancer.   The following are just a few of the reports and researches that have been conducted showing the benefits of this age old practice with real word modern benefits. CNN News Report (October 12, 2008) Source: Stop Stressing About The Economy (Reported Aired October 14, 2008) A new study by Emory University researchers showed that those who practiced Compassion Meditation had physiological changes that indicated lower stress levels. When presented with a stressful task, study subjects who’d practiced Compassion Meditation had lower levels of a stress hormone called cortisol compared to those who weren’t taught the meditation method. Distress scores, as measured by a 30-item profile, were lower among the meditators. Lower stress levels have been linked to better immune function and lower rates of a variety of diseases, including depression and cancer.   Wall Street Journal (March 15, 2005) Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advanced Data Report, 2004. “A federal study published in 2004 found that 62% of adults had used some form of nonconventional therapy in the previous 12 months, with top choices including prayer, deep-breathing exercises, and meditation.”   Lutz, A., Greischar, L., Rawlings, N.B., Ricard, M., Davidson, R.J. (2004) Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude synchrony during mental practice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101, 16369-16373. Research suggests that by meditating regularly, the brain is reoriented from a stressful fight-or-flight mode to one of acceptance, a shift that increases contentment.   J. Stein, The Science of Meditation, (2003) TIME magazine (cover story), August 4: 48-56. “Not only do studies show that meditation is boosting their immune system, but brain scans suggest that it may be rewiring their brains to reduce stress… Ten million American adults now say they practice some form of meditation regularly.”   Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., et al. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564-570. Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin, using the latest techniques in brain imaging technology (fMRI , EEG and MEG), has shown that meditation produces demonstrable positive effects in both brain and immune functions.   Teasdale, J., Cambridge University, (2000) The skills derived from meditation training have been shown effective in significantly reducing the recurrence of major depressive episodes in patients treated for depression.   University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness Stress Reduction Program Source: University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness Stress Reduction Program, under the direction of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn (Kabat-Zinn 1982, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1998, Miller 1995, etc.) The University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness Stress Reduction Program’s medical outcomes from 15,000 patients’ participation since 1979 have shown a 35% reduction in the number of medical symptoms and a 40% reduction in psychological symptoms.   Schneider (1995), Linden (1996). Meditation training has been shown to reduce hypertension and blood pressure in amounts comparable to the changes produced by medication and other lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, sodium restriction, and increased aerobic activity.   Linden (1996), Zammara (1996), Ornish (1983). The addition of meditation training to standard cardiac rehabilitation regimes has been shown to reduce mortality by 41% during the first two years, and a 46% reduction in recurrence rates of coronary artery disease.   Kabat-Zinn (1982, 1985, 1987). Meditation has been shown to reduce both the experience of chronic pain and its inhibition of everyday activities. Pain-related drug utilization was decreased and activity levels and self-esteem increased.   “The Relaxation Response.” (1975) Since 1967, Dr. Herbert Benson and the Mind-Body Medical Institute of Boston (affiliated with Beth Israel-Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School) have produced a large and varied volume of work on the beneficial effects of meditation on physical and mental health, including the 1975 best-seller “The Relaxation Response.”   Journal of the American Medical Association Sobel, D. S. “MSJAMA: Mind Matters, Money Matters: The Cost-effectiveness of Mind/Body Medicine.” Journal of the American Medical Association: 284, 1705. Psychosocial interventions for heart disease have been shown to reduce the risk of further cardiac events by as much as 75% compared with a usual medical care condition. Over the past 20 years, mind/body medicine has provided ample evidence of improving the health of patients with heart disease and chronic illness, and preparing patients for a successful recovery after a surgical procedure.   University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society; used by permission. Extensive research on the benefits of meditation has shown significant improvements in patients with cancer, diabetes, asthma, psoriasis, headache, multiple sclerosis, and other ailments.   Duplication of any material or graphics on this site, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. By using this site, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions