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A new study reveals that one simple session of meditation can ease stress levels.
"Our results show a clear reduction in anxiety in the first hour after the meditation session, and our preliminary results suggest that anxiety was significantly lower one week after the meditation session," said study author John Durocher. He is an assistant professor of physiology at Michigan Technological University's department of biological sciences.
Anxiety can raise the risk for heart disease: Previous studies have shown that arterial stiffness may be worsened by traumatic life events, job strain, depression and either short-term or chronic anxiety, the researchers said. Heart changes linked with anxiety can lead to high blood pressure and organ damage.
For the study, Durocher and his colleagues recruited 14 participants with normal blood pressure but high levels of anxiety. The investigators evaluated the volunteers' heart rate, blood pressure, aortic blood pressure and arterial stiffness before and after a 60-minute guided beginner mindfulness meditation session. This type of meditation focuses on breathing and awareness of one's thoughts.
The research showed that a one-hour session had notable benefits. Most of the participants continued to practice mindfulness meditation and experienced even more improvements one week later.
"Participants also had reduced mechanical stress on their arteries an hour after the session. This could help to reduce stress on organs like the brain and kidneys and help prevent conditions such as high blood pressure," Durocher said in a meeting news release.
"The results suggest that a single mindfulness meditation session may help to reduce cardiovascular risk in those with moderate anxiety," he added.
"Our results show a clear reduction in anxiety in the first hour after the meditation session, and our preliminary results suggest that anxiety was significantly lower one week after the meditation session," said study author John Durocher. He is an assistant professor of physiology at Michigan Technological University's department of biological sciences.
Anxiety can raise the risk for heart disease: Previous studies have shown that arterial stiffness may be worsened by traumatic life events, job strain, depression and either short-term or chronic anxiety, the researchers said. Heart changes linked with anxiety can lead to high blood pressure and organ damage.
For the study, Durocher and his colleagues recruited 14 participants with normal blood pressure but high levels of anxiety. The investigators evaluated the volunteers' heart rate, blood pressure, aortic blood pressure and arterial stiffness before and after a 60-minute guided beginner mindfulness meditation session. This type of meditation focuses on breathing and awareness of one's thoughts.
The research showed that a one-hour session had notable benefits. Most of the participants continued to practice mindfulness meditation and experienced even more improvements one week later.
"Participants also had reduced mechanical stress on their arteries an hour after the session. This could help to reduce stress on organs like the brain and kidneys and help prevent conditions such as high blood pressure," Durocher said in a meeting news release.
"The results suggest that a single mindfulness meditation session may help to reduce cardiovascular risk in those with moderate anxiety," he added.
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"You’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." - St. Paul in Philippians 4:8 (Message Bible)
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In the past as well as in our present world, going to war has been glorified as a noble and heroic act, and war movies are glamorized. But what is the truth about war? War dehumanizes us and the presumed enemy. It sets us to think that the "other" is the enemy. Our differences are exaggerated, and that allows prejudice, xenophobia, and scapegoating. Real or invented threats and brainwashing make us willing to sacrifice everything in war, even to the extent of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. This is the true face of war that has been repeated in history countless of times at the expense of so many lives.
- Kathy R. Matsui
- Kathy R. Matsui
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Practice saying something kind to someone every day. Do this especially with people you don’t like. It gets easier with practice and bears surprisingly good results. - Thubten Chodron
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Be careful about judging people. Done frequently it becomes an addiction. The more you judge others, the more you crave it. Break the cycle before it’s too late.
- Victor M. Parachin
- Victor M. Parachin
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I’VE FOUND THAT the best antidote to gossip is deliberately and consistently meditating on the kindness of others and cultivating loving kindness toward them. Sit down sometime and reflect on everything others have done for you since you were born. Start with your parents or another kind adult who fed you as an infant. Think about all the people who contributed to your education, all those who encouraged you to exercise your talents, and all those who supported you through ups and downs. It’s truly amazing how much others have done for us. When our minds become convinced that we’ve been the recipients of a tremendous amount of kindness in our lives, the wish to speak ill of others vanishes. Instead, we become happy to talk about others’ good qualities, virtuous activities, accomplishments, and good fortune. - Thubten Chodron
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Here are some quick facts about Buddhism:
- It is non - dogmatic. There's no 'official' theology so one can't become a 'heretic'.
- It's non predatory. Buddhists don't proselytize or evangelize.
- It's rational, logical. The Buddha said "don't take my word for it. Try it. Test it. See if it works. If it doesn't, move on."
- The Buddha's message was simple: "I practice this path. That's how I became free."
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Relax. Be of good cheer. You are in the best of all possible hands: the hands of the Universe. - Wu Wei
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When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with your own more effectively. Somehow the act of self-giving is a person power-releasing factor. - Norman Vincent Peale
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In 2003 the P90X fitness workouts were produced by Tony Horton and sold to the public. It was wildly successful because it allowed individuals to turn their home or apartment living room into a total gym and get into terrific shape.
Interviewed recently, Tony Horton said that "Yoga is the most important part of P90X, P90X2, and P90X. A lot of people ignore it because it's boring and because you're not breaking a sweat and it's hard at first. But that which challenges you is the best thing for you. Without yoga, I probably would have gotten injured a dozen times," Tony shared. "It's about reaction time, it's about all the aspects of fitness that help improve you in all kinds of ways — and mobility is the glue to all of it."
(read the complete interview with Tony Horton - https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Tony-Horton-Interview-About-P90X-Yoga-44521325?utm_medium=partner_feed&utm_source=msn&utm_campaign=related%20link&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=link_4 )
Interviewed recently, Tony Horton said that "Yoga is the most important part of P90X, P90X2, and P90X. A lot of people ignore it because it's boring and because you're not breaking a sweat and it's hard at first. But that which challenges you is the best thing for you. Without yoga, I probably would have gotten injured a dozen times," Tony shared. "It's about reaction time, it's about all the aspects of fitness that help improve you in all kinds of ways — and mobility is the glue to all of it."
(read the complete interview with Tony Horton - https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Tony-Horton-Interview-About-P90X-Yoga-44521325?utm_medium=partner_feed&utm_source=msn&utm_campaign=related%20link&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=link_4 )