In the past, when humans were hunters and gathers, life was simpler. People focused on hunting and gathering supplies on a daily basis, and there was no religion to divide them. Today, life is vastly different. Many people face distractions from Print media, Tele media and Social media. And obesity is a widespread problem in western societies. At the time of this writing the use of Adderall, a drug for ADHD, is also at an all-time high, with many high school and college students using it.
Yoga and meditation have been practiced for thousands of years and have been perfected by different cultures around the world. In the past, education and teaching were often channeled through religious institutions, but today these practices are wrongly considered religious and associated with specific religions. However, yoga is simply a structured form of stretching and can be done anywhere without any equipment. Meditation is a practice that improves focus, reduces stress and inflammation, and increases “feel-good” hormones. There are many different forms of meditation, and one can choose the method that works best for them. It can be practiced in the morning for a more focused workday, and one needs a quiet area to practice it.
Meditation should not be associated with religion. Similar to how we don’t consider the origin or religion of a fitness routine when we go to the gym, we shouldn’t question the roots of yoga. Hindu scholars documented the practice thousands of years ago, but the copyright has long expired. If someone is uncomfortable with the traditional names of yoga poses, they can find alternative western names in many books.
What’s important is not the name of the pose, but performing it correctly to reap its full benefits. Just like with a weight-bearing workout at the gym, proper form is crucial to prevent injury and achieve positive results.
Meditation is to the mind what yoga is to the body. It is a practice that helps to enhance focus, increase positive hormones and endorphins, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and even reduce inflammation in the body. The science behind it is clear, and there is no religious aspect to it. There are many different methods to practice meditation, so it’s important to find the one that works best for you. Some people use chanting, some focus on an object, and others focus on their breath. There are numerous resources available online, so feel free to explore and find what suits you. The choice of words used for chanting is not important, whether it’s Jesus, Allah, Om, or any other word of your choice, or none at all. The main objective is to bring your mind into focus and filter out distractions.
Getting started with meditation can be challenging, especially if you’re new to it. Set a timer for five minutes and try to focus your mind. It’s normal to have thoughts drift in and out, so simply acknowledge them and let them pass. The goal is to have your mind focused for the five minutes and not let it wander. Remember that our mind is designed to think, and it is doing its job when it drifts, so your job is to bring it back to focus.
Meditation is a practice that improves focus and has numerous health benefits, such as increasing “feel-good” hormones, lowering stress hormones, and reducing inflammation in the body. It is a scientific practice, not religious, and there are many different ways to approach it, including chanting, focusing on an object, or focusing on the breath. The key is to find what works best for you.
When it comes to posture, there are traditional ways to sit during meditation, such as with legs crossed and back straight. However, the most important thing is to start with what your body is comfortable with and progress from there.
For optimal results, it is recommended to practice meditation in the morning in a quiet area to start your day with a clear and focused mind. Before you begin, it is helpful to clear your thoughts by writing down or typing out your plans for the day. If any thoughts or ideas come to mind during meditation, simply write them down quickly and tell your brain that you will address them after the meditation.
Studies have shown that meditation can improve focus, as well as sleep quality. For example, a controlled study conducted by MIT neuroscientists found that subjects who underwent 8 weeks of meditation training showed stronger and deeper focus when asked to focus on one specific thing, as measured by changes in the size of their alpha waves. Additionally, researchers have noted that daytime meditation improves sleep quality by increasing baseline melatonin levels.
Meditation has numerous benefits, and the science behind these benefits lies in the different brain waves that are associated with it.
During a normal state of wakefulness, the brain operates in the beta wave frequency range of 15-40Hz, which is associated with thinking, problem-solving, and attention to the outside world.
In a relaxed state, the brain slows down from the hyper-alertness of beta waves to the gentle alpha wave frequency range of 9-14Hz. The alpha state is where meditation begins, and it is in this state that the imagination, visualization, memory, learning, and concentration are heightened. The alpha state is also the gateway to the subconscious mind and is ideal for reprogramming our thinking.
During deep meditation and light sleep, including the REM dream state, the brain operates in the theta wave frequency range of 4-8Hz. In this state, we are more receptive to insights and information beyond our normal conscious awareness, and theta waves amplify intuition and other extrasensory perception skills.
The slowest of all brain frequencies is the delta wave frequency range of 1-3Hz, which is experienced in deep, dreamless sleep and by very experienced meditators. This state is critical for the body’s healing process, as much of our healing occurs in this state.
In conclusion, meditation helps with sleep, healing, relaxation, and focus. And everyone needs a focused mind to perform their best in this world.
