Benefits of Meditation

September 25, 2009

I’ve included some information on meditation this week to inspire you to start or continue with your daily meditation practice.  Even three or eleven minutes of meditation daily is far better than nothing, with an ideal length of practice of at least a half an hour daily.
 
My personal daily meditation practice is the recitation of Japji "the Song of the Soul".  If I have time, I do more than this twenty minute prayer - up to two and a half hours daily.  I have certainly noticed changes in my energy level, focus, and concentration since I began this practice one and a half years ago.
 
Try a specific meditation for forty days to notice change, and then either continue for one hundred and twenty days, or choose to start another meditation.  Record your observations in a journal so that you will be sure to notice the healing, growth, and change that occurs.
 
Kundalini Yoga Classes - Beat the Price Increase
 
Kundalini Yoga, often called the yoga of awareness, supports you to strengthen your mental, emotional, and spiritual self in addition to benefitting your physical body.  All classes include a meditation of 3-11 minutes at the end of class.  A regular Kundalini Yoga practice can be instrumental in developing happiness and joy in your life.
 
There is still space in ongoing Kundalini Yoga Classes on
Tuesdays from 9:00-10:30 am & Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 pm.  These classes are currently $15 for drop in and $120 for a 10 class pass.  Please call (519-265-2299) or email (lisa_clendening@rogers.com) to reserve your spot.
 
Class prices are increasing October 1 to $20 for a drop-in or $160 for a ten class pass (includes a book or CD of your choice).  A holiday gift package (including a 10 class pass, book or CD and Yogi tea) is also currently available.  
 
  
Benefits of Meditation
     
Many of my private clients and all of my Kundalini Yoga Students are given the opportunity to practice meditations, which often involve guided visualization (hypnosis), and/or breath control, mudra (hand movements or placement), and chanting.  Almost everyone who tries meditation finds that it helps them to relax and focus.  Many use specific meditations to change addictive behaviour patterns, heal from longstanding medical conditions, and release anger, fear, anxiety and depression.  One of my clients, who had a diagnosis of aggressive terminal cancer, meditated daily for two hours in order to extend her lifespan several years beyond what her doctors had predicted.
 
Meditation allows people to change from sympathetic nervous system activation (fight-flight response) to parasympathetic nervous system activation.  This is important because when we are in "active mode", our breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure increase as does our body’s production of cortisol and blood lactate.  All of these processes contribute to "wear and tear" on the body, mind, and spirit.  When the relaxation response is triggered by meditation, we go into a state of rejuvenation where our breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol and blood lactate levels decrease.  Our immune system and body tissue rebuilds.  Our mind and spirit get a chance to rest.
 
All of these responses lead to a longer, healthier life.  One study showed that people who meditate regularly have biological ages about five years younger than their chronological age.  Those who had been meditating regularly for more than five years had biological ages twelve years younger than their chronological ages. (Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD - Brain Longevity)
 
One of the most important benefits of meditation, however, is the ability to develop your intuition and connect to your inner wisdom. 
Meditation work to clear the subconscious so you are more connected to your true spiritual self, beyond the worries and cares of the egoic mind.  Meditators draw on this heightened wisdom, intuition, and sense of self frequently for guidance in all that they do.  They begin to respond consciously rather than just react to situations, resulting in better outcomes for all concerned.
 
"Subtly, calmly, quietly, peacefully call on the power within you and be successful.  Excellence is your birthright; happiness is your birthright, and life is your birthright."                    - Yogi Bhajan
 
 
Best wishes for the coming week.
 
Sincerely,
  

Lisa Clendening, CYT, MSW, RSW
Wisdom From Within Healing Centre 
 
 
 
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