Just finished reading several chapters from Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa and Cameron Stauth’s book, Meditation As Medicine. Before, reading this one, I always thought of meditation as a secondaryexercise…a supplement, at best, to healthy diet and exercise.
This book puts meditation in a whole new light.
Take a look at some of the benefits of meditation, done BY ITSELF, as presented in Singh and Stauth’s book. These benefits were documented in ”rigorous studies…funded by the federal government’s new Office of Alternative Medicine, or OAM…Research indicates that the relaxation response-in which meditators sit quietly, clear their minds…achieves the following biological reactions:
Marked reduction in oxygen use…lower secretion of stress hormones…increase in immune factors, including blood leukocyteproduction, and calm brain-wave activity…
As a result of the physical factors, meditators enjoyed improved health. Among the many improvements were the following:
*Premenstrual syndrome symptoms decreased by 57 %.
*Migraine headaches decreased notably.
*Anxiety and depression were reduced significantly.
*Working people missed fewer work days due to illness.
*Patients with aids and cancer experienced decreased symptoms.
*75% of patients with insomnia were cured…almost 25% improved.
*Patients with chronic pain required an average of 36% less treatment.
*Patients with high blood pressure recovered completely, or improved.”
(from Meditation As Medicine)
*Migraine headaches decreased notably.
*Anxiety and depression were reduced significantly.
*Working people missed fewer work days due to illness.
*Patients with aids and cancer experienced decreased symptoms.
*75% of patients with insomnia were cured…almost 25% improved.
*Patients with chronic pain required an average of 36% less treatment.
*Patients with high blood pressure recovered completely, or improved.”
(from Meditation As Medicine)
You can start experiencing all of these benefits IMMEDIATELY, by doing 10 to 15 minutes of breath-focused meditation.
Simply sit in a comfortable chair. Turn the radio and TV off! Now focus only on the quiet breath, moving in and out of your lungs. Do not attempt to alter your breathing in any way. It will naturally slow, and even stop, at points within this exercise.
Simply observe. Do not attempt to judge any thought that enters your mind. Just observe thoughts, and bring your attention back to the breath. Continue for 10 to 15 minutes.
Add this exercise to your daily fitness routine, and you’ll experience a calm that extends BEYOND THE 10 TO 15 MINUTE PERIOD OF THE MEDITATION ITSELF.
Jeff Sekerak
http://www.superiorbodyhealth.com/
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*consult your physician or licensed health care practitioner before engaging in any diet or exercise program.
*copyright 2010, Jeff Sekerak, all rights reserved.
P.S. For more truly useful health and fitness info—go to
http://www.superiorbodyhealth.com/. Order up my ‘Extreme Minimalist Fitness’ Program, the best exercise/health regime available anywhere today, and get Wayne Green, Phd’s THE SECRET GUIDE TO HEALTH shipped to you free! This is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS ON HEALTH AND LONGEVITY EVER WRITTEN. Excellent stuff! J.
*copyright 2010, Jeff Sekerak, all rights reserved.
