Repairing Mind and body, Soul
Healing can only take place when you first seek to understand yourself. Have courage and believe that you can do something about that your problem. when you stop making it insurmountable or someone else's responsibility. Take this step and have faith that then you will receive the help and support you need. Miracles begin in small ways.The frist step and the rest will unfold.
Spiritual Healing
Thursday 17 June 2021
Saturday 24 November 2018
Mindfulness Techniques for Anxiety!
A meta-analysis was conducted
in 2010 that provided evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulness exercises
on anxiety and depression. The researchers found that mindfulness-based
therapy was moderately effective for treating anxiety and improving
mood and that the effects lasted beyond the initial improvements (Hofmann,
Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010).
To begin applying mindfulness
to your anxiety, or that of your clients, Mindful.orghas provided a short
description of 10 attitudes that will help build the foundation for
successfully addressing anxiety:
- Volition or
intention
This is the building block of all other attitudes. First, you must bring your focus to the intention of working with your anxiety. - Beginner’s
mind
This refers to a mindset that is ready to see from a new perspective and consider new ideas in regards to dealing with anxiety. - Patience
This is a very important attitude to cultivate since it can broaden your perspective and help you persevere when you run into obstacles on your journey. - Acknowledgment
Having the mindset of acknowledgment means that you take each experience for what it is; you accept what is happening and be secure in the knowledge that it, like the weather it will pass. - Nonjudgment
This attitude involves experiencing your present moment without evaluating and judging it. It means you let go of value judgments about yourself and how you are feeling and allows you to begin your work from a more balanced starting block. - Non-striving
This attitude refers to the willingness to accept a situation or experience as it is, without trying to change it. To combat your anxiety, you must first be present with it and accept your current state. - Self-reliance
The mindset of self-reliance is characterized by trusting yourself and your ability to handle your feelings. Cultivating your self-reliance will allow you to more easily acknowledge, experience, and let go of your anxiety. - Letting be
or allowing
Similar to the attitude of non-striving, letting be or allowing refers to the mindset of allowing yourself to feel anxiety. Often it is more effective to work with your anxiety than expend energy trying to fight against it. - Self-compassion
As mentioned earlier, showing yourself compassion is an important part of mindfulness. Being kind to yourself, as you would be kind to a dear friend or family member, can help you to decrease your anxiety by being a support for yourself. - Balance and
equanimity
These are attitudes that allow wisdom to develop through a broadening of perspective and an understanding that your whole experience is so much more than your current feelings, whether positive or negative.
To practice each of these
mindsets, first read the full description of eachmindsetthen
try to embody each mindset or attitude. Take note of how you feel. Afterward,
reflect on your experience and describe it, with a special focus on your
feelings during the process.
For a rather more simple method of applying mindfulness
to anxiety, you can try this quick exercise:
- focus on the sensations that arise in your body when you are anxious.
- be present and in the moment,
- allow yourself to think the anxious and distressing thoughts, don’t fight them.
By recognizing these thoughts
for what they are, you may come to realize that they are not true, and
consequently be able to let them go (Hofmann, 2013). If you are interested
in trying other mindfulness exercises to address anxiety, you can use this free short document or this extensive workbook (PDF).
If you would like more information on anxiety, and how to
approach dealing with it through mindfulness you can also take a listen to Dr.
Kim Taylor Show as she clarifies the signs, symptoms of anxiety and suggests
viable techniques, resources which can aid the treatment and management of
anxiety. Take a listen:
Location:
China
Saturday 3 November 2018
5 Simple Mindfulness Exercises from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy!
5 Simple Mindfulness Exercises from Dialectical Behavioural
Therapy
In addition to the DBT mindfulness techniques used in clinical
research, there are many informal mindfulnesstechniques and exercises shared online for anyone to try.
One such source comes is DrivingPeace.com, which offers five DBT-based mindfulness practices that can
help with anxiety, especially anxiety resulting from borderline personality
disorder, however, could be beneficial to a number of different clients. These
five exercises are quick and easy and can be put into practice every day:
1. Observe a leaf for five minutes
This exercise calls for nothing but a leaf and your attention. Pick up a leaf, hold it in your hand, and
give it your full attention for five minutes. Notice the colors, the
shape, the texture, and the patterns. This will bring you into the present and
align your thoughts with your current experience.
2. Mindful eating for four minutes
Pay
attention to what you are holding (preferably not something messy!), notice the
feeling of it in your hands. Once you have noticed the texture, the
weight, the color, etc., move on to bringing your awareness to the smell.
Finally, move on to eating, but do so slowly and with concentrated attention. Notice the taste and its
texture against your tongue. This exercise may help you discover new
experiences with familiar foods.
3. Observe your thoughts for fifteen minutes
Tenhance your awareness of your own thoughts.
This
exercise is a staple of mindfulness, designed to simply
o
begin, sit or lie down in a comfortable position and try to let all tension in
your body dissipate. Focus on your breathing first, then move your awareness to
what it feels like to be in your body, and finally move on to your thoughts.
Be
aware of what comes into your head, but resist the urge to label or judge these
thoughts. Think of them as a passing cloud in the sky of your mind.
If
your mind wanders to chase a thought, acknowledge whatever it was that took
your attention and gently guide your attention back to your thoughts.
4. Mindfulness bell exercise for five minutes
In
this exercise, you begin by closing your eyes and listening for the cue. When
you hear it, your aim is to focus your attention on the sound and continue
your concentration until it fades completely. This exercise helps you to keep
yourself firmly grounded in the present. You can use the audio below:
5. Stare at the center
The
goal is simple: to focus your attention on the center of the shifting pattern
of color. You can let your mind wander freely, noticing whatever thoughts come
into your head but staying in the present.
This
experience is similar to the well-known phenomenon of the quiet fixation that
results from staring at a candle flame or a campfire.
The
same focus and deep thought can be brought on by this exercise, but be careful
not to lose yourself in thought, and instead stay present in the moment and let
your thoughts pass by. This exercise requires a video to practice, you can
use the one below:
Tuesday 24 July 2018
Yoga easy steps feeling relief stress!
Take a deep breath,
expanding your belly. Pause. Exhale slowly to the count of five. Repeat four
times.
4.Repeat 20 miuntes
Congratulations.
You’ve just calmed your nervous system.
Controlled
breathing, like what you just practiced, has been shown to reduce stress,
increase alertness and boost your immune system. For centuries yogis have used
breath control, or pranayama, to promote concentration and improve vitality.
Buddha advocated breath-meditation as a way to reach enlightenment.
Science is just
beginning to provide evidence that the benefits of this ancient practice are
real. Studies have found, for example, that breathing.
How controlled
breathing may promote healing remains a source of scientific study. One theory
is that controlled breathing can change the response of the body’s autonomic
nervous system, which controls unconscious processes such as heart rate and
digestion as well as the body’s stress response, says Dr. Richard Brown, an
associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University and co-author
of “The Healing Power of the Breath.”
Consciously changing
the way you breathe appears to send a signal to the brain to adjust the
parasympathetic branch of the nervous system, which can slow
heart rate and digestion and promote feelings of calm as well as the
sympathetic system, which controls the release of stress hormones likecortisol.
Many maladies, such
as anxiety and depression, are aggravated or triggered by stress. “I have seen
patients transformed by adopting regular breathing practices,” says Dr. Brown,
who has a private practice in Manhattan and teaches breathing workshops around
the world.
When you take slow,
steady breaths, your brain gets the message that all is well and activates the
parasympathetic response, said Dr. Brown. When you take shall rapid breaths
or hold your breath, the sympathetic response is activated. “If you breathe correctly,
your mind will calm down,” said Dr. Patricia Gerbarg, assistant clinical
professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College and Dr. Brown’s co-author
Dr. Chris Streeter,
an associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Boston University,
recently completed a small study in which she measured the effect of daily yoga
and breathing on people with diagnoses of major depressive disorder
Stress
Relief
When your mind is
racing or you feel keyed up, try Rock and Roll breathing, which has the added
benefit of strengthening your core.
1. Sit up straight
on the floor or the edge of a chair.
2. Place your hands
on your belly.
3. As you inhale,
lean forward and expand your belly.
breath out and curl forward while leaning backward; exhale until
you’re completely empty of breath.4.Repeat 20 miuntes
Tuesday 27 February 2018
Breathing Exercise to Relax in 10 Minutes or Less!
Overworked, underslept and feeling the pressure?
There are plenty of ways to find calm, without investing in a four-hand
spa massage. All you need is a pair of lungs, your breath and 10 minutes
or less.
Don’t wait until fight or flight kicks in before minding your
breath. Controlled breathing not only keeps the mind and body
functioning at their best, it can also lower blood pressure, promote feelings of calm and relaxation and help us de-stress.
While the effects of breathing techniques on anxiety haven’t yet been studied at length (at least not in a controlled clinical setting), many experts encourage using the breath as a means of increasing awareness, mindfulness or, for the yogis among us, finding that elusive state of Zen. To get to the bottom of the breath work, Greatist spoke to breathing expert Dr. Alison McConnell, yoga instructor Rebecca Pacheco and psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer. But follow closely: breathing easy isn’t quite as easy as it sounds.
From the confines of a bed, a desk or anyplace where negativity finds its way, consider these six breathing techniques to help keep calm and carry on.
1. Sama Vritti or “Equal Breathing”:-
How it’s done: Balance can do a body good, beginning with the breath. To start, inhale for a count of four, then exhale for a count of four — all through the nose, which adds a natural resistance to the breath. Got the basic pranayama down? More advanced yogis can aim for six to eight counts per breath with the same goal in mind: calm the nervous system, increase focus and reduce stress, Pacheco says.
When it works best: Anytime, anyplace — but this is one technique that’s especially effective before bed. “Similar to counting sheep,” Pacheco says, “if you’re having trouble falling asleep, this breath can help take your mind off the racing thoughts, or whatever might be distracting you from sleep.”
Level of difficulty: Beginner
2. Abdominal Breathing Technique:-
How it’s done: With one hand on the chest and the other on the belly, take a deep breath in through the nose, ensuring the diaphragm (not the chest) inflates with enough air to create a stretch in the lungs. The goal: Six to 10 deep, slow breaths per minute for 10 minutes each day to experience immediate reductions to heart rate and blood pressure, McConnell says. Keep at it for six to eight weeks, and those benefits might stick around even longer.
When it works best: Before an exam, or any stressful event. But keep in mind, “Those who operate in a stressed state all the time might be a little shocked how hard it is to control the breath,” Pacheco says. To help train the breath, consider biofeedback tools such as McConnell’s Breathe Strong app, which can help users pace their breathing wherever they are.
Level of difficulty: Beginner
3. Nadi Shodhana or “Alternate Nostril Breathing”:-
How it’s done: A yogi’s best friend, this breath is said to bring calm and balance, and unite the right and left sides of the brain. Starting in a comfortable meditative pose, hold the right thumb over the right nostril and inhale deeply through the left nostril. At the peak of inhalation, close off the left nostril with the ring finger, then exhale through the right nostril. Continue the pattern, inhaling through the right nostril, closing it off with the right thumb and exhaling through the left nostril.
When it works best: Crunch time, or whenever it’s time to focus or energize. Just don’t try this one before bed: Nadi shodhana is said to “clear the channels” and make people feel more awake. “It’s almost like a cup of coffee,” Pacheco says.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
4. Kapalabhati or “Skull Shining Breath”:-
How it’s done: Ready to brighten up your day from the inside out? This one begins with a long, slow inhale, followed by a quick, powerful exhale generated from the lower belly. Once comfortable with the contraction, up the pace to one inhale-exhale (all through the nose) every one to two seconds, for a total of 10 breaths.
When it works best: When it’s time to wake up, warm up or start looking on the brighter side of things. “It’s pretty abdominal-intensive,” Pacheco says, “but it will warm up the body, shake off stale energy and wake up the brain.” If alternate nostril breathing is like coffee, consider this a shot of espresso, she says.
Level of difficulty: Advanced
5. Progressive Relaxation:-
How it’s done: To nix tension from head to toe, close the eyes and focus on tensing and relaxing each muscle group for two to three seconds each. Start with the feet and toes, then move up to the knees, thighs, rear, chest, arms, hands, neck, jaw and eyes — all while maintaining deep, slow breaths. Having trouble staying on track? Anxiety and panic specialist Dr. Patricia Farrell suggests we breathe in through the nose, hold for a count of five while the muscles tense, then breathe out through the mouth on release.
When it works best: At home, at a desk or even on the road. One word of caution: Dizziness is never the goal. If holding the breath ever feels uncomfortable, tone it down to just a few seconds at most.
Level of difficulty: Beginner
6. Guided Visualization:-
How it’s done: Head straight for that “happy place,” no questions asked. With a coach, therapist or helpful recording as your guide, breathe deeply while focusing on pleasant, positive images to replace any negative thoughts. Psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer explains that while it’s just one means of achieving mindfulness, “Guided visualization helps puts you in the place you want to be, rather than letting your mind go to the internal dialogue that is stressful.”
While the effects of breathing techniques on anxiety haven’t yet been studied at length (at least not in a controlled clinical setting), many experts encourage using the breath as a means of increasing awareness, mindfulness or, for the yogis among us, finding that elusive state of Zen. To get to the bottom of the breath work, Greatist spoke to breathing expert Dr. Alison McConnell, yoga instructor Rebecca Pacheco and psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer. But follow closely: breathing easy isn’t quite as easy as it sounds.
From the confines of a bed, a desk or anyplace where negativity finds its way, consider these six breathing techniques to help keep calm and carry on.
1. Sama Vritti or “Equal Breathing”:-
How it’s done: Balance can do a body good, beginning with the breath. To start, inhale for a count of four, then exhale for a count of four — all through the nose, which adds a natural resistance to the breath. Got the basic pranayama down? More advanced yogis can aim for six to eight counts per breath with the same goal in mind: calm the nervous system, increase focus and reduce stress, Pacheco says.
When it works best: Anytime, anyplace — but this is one technique that’s especially effective before bed. “Similar to counting sheep,” Pacheco says, “if you’re having trouble falling asleep, this breath can help take your mind off the racing thoughts, or whatever might be distracting you from sleep.”
Level of difficulty: Beginner
2. Abdominal Breathing Technique:-
How it’s done: With one hand on the chest and the other on the belly, take a deep breath in through the nose, ensuring the diaphragm (not the chest) inflates with enough air to create a stretch in the lungs. The goal: Six to 10 deep, slow breaths per minute for 10 minutes each day to experience immediate reductions to heart rate and blood pressure, McConnell says. Keep at it for six to eight weeks, and those benefits might stick around even longer.
When it works best: Before an exam, or any stressful event. But keep in mind, “Those who operate in a stressed state all the time might be a little shocked how hard it is to control the breath,” Pacheco says. To help train the breath, consider biofeedback tools such as McConnell’s Breathe Strong app, which can help users pace their breathing wherever they are.
Level of difficulty: Beginner
3. Nadi Shodhana or “Alternate Nostril Breathing”:-
How it’s done: A yogi’s best friend, this breath is said to bring calm and balance, and unite the right and left sides of the brain. Starting in a comfortable meditative pose, hold the right thumb over the right nostril and inhale deeply through the left nostril. At the peak of inhalation, close off the left nostril with the ring finger, then exhale through the right nostril. Continue the pattern, inhaling through the right nostril, closing it off with the right thumb and exhaling through the left nostril.
When it works best: Crunch time, or whenever it’s time to focus or energize. Just don’t try this one before bed: Nadi shodhana is said to “clear the channels” and make people feel more awake. “It’s almost like a cup of coffee,” Pacheco says.
Level of difficulty: Intermediate
4. Kapalabhati or “Skull Shining Breath”:-
How it’s done: Ready to brighten up your day from the inside out? This one begins with a long, slow inhale, followed by a quick, powerful exhale generated from the lower belly. Once comfortable with the contraction, up the pace to one inhale-exhale (all through the nose) every one to two seconds, for a total of 10 breaths.
When it works best: When it’s time to wake up, warm up or start looking on the brighter side of things. “It’s pretty abdominal-intensive,” Pacheco says, “but it will warm up the body, shake off stale energy and wake up the brain.” If alternate nostril breathing is like coffee, consider this a shot of espresso, she says.
Level of difficulty: Advanced
5. Progressive Relaxation:-
How it’s done: To nix tension from head to toe, close the eyes and focus on tensing and relaxing each muscle group for two to three seconds each. Start with the feet and toes, then move up to the knees, thighs, rear, chest, arms, hands, neck, jaw and eyes — all while maintaining deep, slow breaths. Having trouble staying on track? Anxiety and panic specialist Dr. Patricia Farrell suggests we breathe in through the nose, hold for a count of five while the muscles tense, then breathe out through the mouth on release.
When it works best: At home, at a desk or even on the road. One word of caution: Dizziness is never the goal. If holding the breath ever feels uncomfortable, tone it down to just a few seconds at most.
Level of difficulty: Beginner
6. Guided Visualization:-
How it’s done: Head straight for that “happy place,” no questions asked. With a coach, therapist or helpful recording as your guide, breathe deeply while focusing on pleasant, positive images to replace any negative thoughts. Psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer explains that while it’s just one means of achieving mindfulness, “Guided visualization helps puts you in the place you want to be, rather than letting your mind go to the internal dialogue that is stressful.”
Friday 16 February 2018
5 Simple Deep Breathing Exercises To Reduce Stress Level!
Stress is detrimental to our health, and the cause of innumerous health problems. Worryingly, 47% of Americans report feeling stressed.
Whether it’s work, family issues or simply having too much on our
plates, stress is something we need to combat if we are to lead healthy,
happy lives.
Poor handling of anxiety and stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, whose symptoms may include morning lethargy, memory loss, lowered immune system function and an inability to focus on daily tasks. Many adults and teenagers exhibit impulsive behavior while some people partake in addictive practices like smoking, excessive drinking and overeating (especially salty foods).
Beginners are advised to lie down, but after your first time, you should find these steps just as easy to complete this exercise while sitting:
This breathing exercise aims to stretch relax your muscles after a good night’s sleep. The following steps will help to minimize tension for the remainder of the day:
This exercise requires tensing specific muscle groups for 5-10 seconds, though never to the point of pain or cramping. Release the tension and observe the feelings of relaxation that radiate. Be sure to pay the most attention to muscles causing discomfort or ache.
Be sure to conduct this stretch with belly breathing, which will help you attain the relaxation response.
To start, sit down in a comfortable position and focus on your belly breathing, closing your eyes if need be. When you have found a rhythm:
What Are the Signs of Stress?
Short-term stress and anxiety are part of being human, but when we remain on ‘high alert’ in the long-term, can manifest in physical and psychological ways like increased heartbeat, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath.Poor handling of anxiety and stress can lead to adrenal fatigue, whose symptoms may include morning lethargy, memory loss, lowered immune system function and an inability to focus on daily tasks. Many adults and teenagers exhibit impulsive behavior while some people partake in addictive practices like smoking, excessive drinking and overeating (especially salty foods).
How Do Deep Breathing Exercises Combat Adrenal Fatigue?
By learning how to deep breathe properly, you will help to lower stress levels and ward off adrenal fatigue. All of these breathing methods can be practiced at home or in the office, and take only a few minutes each day. They’re also excellent techniques to incorporate into meditation.Belly Breathing
The first technique you need to learn to do is what’s called “belly breathing”. This is the most basic of the breathing methods we have at our disposal, and therefore is the one you should master before trying out the others. It’s very simple, and requires just a few steps:- Sit down comfortably, or lay down on a yoga mat, depending on personal preference.
- Place one hand on your stomach, just below your ribcage. Place the second hand on the center of your chest.
- Breathe in deeply through your nostrils and let your first hand be pushed out by your stomach. Your chest should remain stationary.
- Breathe out through your lips, pursing them as if you were about to whistle. Gently guide the hand on your stomach inwards, helping to press out the breath.
- Slowly repeat between 3 and 10 times.
The “4-7-8” Breathing Technique
The method which we call “4-7-8 breathing” also requires you to be sitting or lying down comfortably. Here are the steps you need to follow:- Get into the belly breathing exercise position, with one hand on your stomach and one on your chest.
- Breathe in slowly but deeply. Take 4 seconds to breathe in, feeling your stomach move in the process.
- Hold your breath for 7 seconds.
- Breathe out for 8 seconds, as silently as you can manage. Once you reach a count of 8, you should have completely emptied your lungs of air.
- Repeat as many times as you need, making sure to stick to the 4-7-8 pattern.
Roll Breathing
This method is great for those looking for a relaxation breathing exercise that can be done comfortably while sitting. Its aim is not just to relax, but also to encourage the full use of your lung capacity.Beginners are advised to lie down, but after your first time, you should find these steps just as easy to complete this exercise while sitting:
- Get into the belly breathing position, with your left hand on your stomach, and right hand over your chest.
- Take a deep, slow breath from your lower lungs, ensuring that the hand over your chest doesn’t move as you take the breath. Use your nose to breathe in, and exhale using your mouth.
- Repeat this diaphragmatic breathing up to 8 times. On the ninth repetition – once you have filled your lower lungs – take a breath that will move your chest up, as you would normally breathe. This will fill your entire lung capacity.
- Gently exhale through your mouth, being sure to completely empty your lungs. While you exhale, make a small “whooshing” noise. You should notice that both of your hands move back towards your body as both your stomach and chest fall.
- Practice this method for between 4 and 5 minutes. With each exhalation, you should be able to feel a marked difference in your stress levels.
Morning Breathing
While the above three exercises can be completed whenever necessary, the next method is called ‘Morning Breathing’ and, as the name suggests, should be practiced once you have woken up.This breathing exercise aims to stretch relax your muscles after a good night’s sleep. The following steps will help to minimize tension for the remainder of the day:
- Stand up straight and, with your knees slightly bent, bend your torso forward from the waist. Your arms should be limply hanging next to you, toward the floor.
- Take a breath in slowly and return to your original standing position. To do so, pretend that you are ‘zipping’ yourself up from the waist to the top of your neck. Your head should be the last thing to straighten.
- Slowly exhale, and return to the bent position forward by the end of your breath. When you have finished, stand up straight and stretch your muscles as required.
Deep Muscle Relaxation with Belly Breathing
This progressive muscle relaxation technique is more involved than the others in this list, but is one of the best breathing exercises for anxiety and extreme fatigue.This exercise requires tensing specific muscle groups for 5-10 seconds, though never to the point of pain or cramping. Release the tension and observe the feelings of relaxation that radiate. Be sure to pay the most attention to muscles causing discomfort or ache.
Be sure to conduct this stretch with belly breathing, which will help you attain the relaxation response.
To start, sit down in a comfortable position and focus on your belly breathing, closing your eyes if need be. When you have found a rhythm:
- Starting with your face, knit your eyebrows together and purse your lips. Try to pull your facial muscles toward your nose for 15-20 seconds and release.
- Your jaw holds a great deal of pressure. To relieve some of it, clench your jaw for five seconds and release, letting the stress dissipate.
- For your neck and shoulders, shrug your shoulders in the direction of your ears and hold, concentrating on the tension. Let it dissolve. Spend 15 seconds recovering before tilting your chin to your chest for another 5-10 seconds.
- Pull your forearms towards your shoulders while flexing your upper arm muscles. Hold for five seconds and release, while imagining the stress melting away.
- Move your focus to your abdomen by squeezing your stomach muscles. Hold for five seconds and relax. Repeat while paying special attention to your chest.
- To destress your legs, first tense the muscles in your thighs and buttocks. Relax and recover. Next, your lower legs can be stretched, point your toes downward and holding for five seconds.
Wednesday 14 February 2018
Regular meditation more beneficial than vacation!
As mindfulness meditation and yoga have become mainstream and more
extensively studied, growing evidence suggests multiple psychological
and physical benefits of these mindfulness exercises, as well as for
similar practices like tai chi and qi gong.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses analyzing hundreds of research studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions help decrease anxiety, depression, stress, and pain, and help improve general health, mental health, and quality of life. These practices also appear to reduce inflammation and increase immune response.
So when the editors at Harvard Health Publications suggested I take a look at a recent study comparing a mindfulness meditation and yoga retreat to regular vacation in terms of mental health as well as physical health outcomes, I agreed. This is interesting stuff.
The study was conducted at a resort in Southern California with 91 female volunteers who had no major health problems, were not pregnant, nor taking hormones or antidepressants. The mindfulness intervention was an established meditation and yoga retreat consisting of 12 hours of meditation, nine hours of yoga, and self-reflective exercises over a week. The participants were divided into three groups of about 30 each: experienced meditators, women who had never meditated, and a group who simply “went on vacation.” The 30 “vacation participants” listened to health lectures and then did fun outdoor things for a week.
At the end, all three groups (vacation, novice, and regular meditators) showed statistically significant improvements in scores of stress and depression, which were measured using well-established and commonly used questionnaires. If we stop there, it seems that vacation is just as good as mindfulness exercises for stress reduction and mood lifting.
But what’s really striking are the result from 10 months later: the regular meditators still showed significant improvements on these scores, the novice meditators even more so. However, the vacationers were back to baseline. The researchers had ensured that all three groups were equal in average age, education level, employment status, and body mass index. This finding is in keeping with prior research showing that vacation has beneficial but very temporary effects, and that mindfulness therapies have sustained beneficial effects.
“Regular meditators showed both the same types of ‘improvements’ at the molecular level as the others, but on top of that exhibited changes that were also associated with some aging/disease processes that also correlated with biomarkers of aging in a favorable direction. I think there is some suggestion there of improved healthy aging, so hopefully that motivates further study in this direction.”
He went on to explain that other factors that often go hand in hand with meditation (for example, exercise, diet, even exposure to incense) could help explain these improvements. “So that as well remains to be more fully resolved in future studies.”
The vacation study was fairly small and included only women, and the authors point out that more research in this area is needed. But the evidence that mindfulness exercises can result in long-lasting positive psychological effects, especially for people new to these experiences, is compelling. In addition, meditation and yoga can boost immunity, and regular practice seems to promote more complex genetic effects related to healthier aging.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses analyzing hundreds of research studies suggest that mindfulness-based interventions help decrease anxiety, depression, stress, and pain, and help improve general health, mental health, and quality of life. These practices also appear to reduce inflammation and increase immune response.
You say vacation, I say meditation…
As much as this intuitively makes sense, I’ve often wondered if simple rest and relaxation could be just as good for you. The few studies conducted suggest that vacation does result in real, albeit temporary, positive effects on health and well-being.So when the editors at Harvard Health Publications suggested I take a look at a recent study comparing a mindfulness meditation and yoga retreat to regular vacation in terms of mental health as well as physical health outcomes, I agreed. This is interesting stuff.
The study was conducted at a resort in Southern California with 91 female volunteers who had no major health problems, were not pregnant, nor taking hormones or antidepressants. The mindfulness intervention was an established meditation and yoga retreat consisting of 12 hours of meditation, nine hours of yoga, and self-reflective exercises over a week. The participants were divided into three groups of about 30 each: experienced meditators, women who had never meditated, and a group who simply “went on vacation.” The 30 “vacation participants” listened to health lectures and then did fun outdoor things for a week.
At the end, all three groups (vacation, novice, and regular meditators) showed statistically significant improvements in scores of stress and depression, which were measured using well-established and commonly used questionnaires. If we stop there, it seems that vacation is just as good as mindfulness exercises for stress reduction and mood lifting.
But what’s really striking are the result from 10 months later: the regular meditators still showed significant improvements on these scores, the novice meditators even more so. However, the vacationers were back to baseline. The researchers had ensured that all three groups were equal in average age, education level, employment status, and body mass index. This finding is in keeping with prior research showing that vacation has beneficial but very temporary effects, and that mindfulness therapies have sustained beneficial effects.
What about long-term physical benefits of meditation?
These researchers also took blood samples just before and after the week long study period. All three groups showed significant positive changes in the markers of immune function. However, regular meditators also showed additional, more interesting changes. I got in touch with study author Eric Schadt, Ph.D., director of the Icahn Institute at Mount Sinai, who offered this interpretation of the data:“Regular meditators showed both the same types of ‘improvements’ at the molecular level as the others, but on top of that exhibited changes that were also associated with some aging/disease processes that also correlated with biomarkers of aging in a favorable direction. I think there is some suggestion there of improved healthy aging, so hopefully that motivates further study in this direction.”
He went on to explain that other factors that often go hand in hand with meditation (for example, exercise, diet, even exposure to incense) could help explain these improvements. “So that as well remains to be more fully resolved in future studies.”
The vacation study was fairly small and included only women, and the authors point out that more research in this area is needed. But the evidence that mindfulness exercises can result in long-lasting positive psychological effects, especially for people new to these experiences, is compelling. In addition, meditation and yoga can boost immunity, and regular practice seems to promote more complex genetic effects related to healthier aging.
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