meditation

WHY DOES MEDITATION WORK

Mindful Musing ,
WHY DOES MEDITATION WORK

Functional MRI brain scans have demonstrated increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, insula and anterior cingulate cortex. These areas are important for the executive function of our brain including awareness, concentration, decision making, memory, emotional regulation, coping and self-referencing. The brain’s “fight or flight” centre, the amygdala that is associated with fear and emotion decreases in activity in response to mindfulness. There is a decreased connection between the amygdala and other parts of the brain and increased connection with higher brain areas. There are also structural changes in our brain with thickening of our cortex. Therefore as we meditate we change how our brains work that results in greater calm, loving kindness, compassion, equanimity and self-regulation. As we practice mindfulness ultimately the practice does us!
– Phil Blustein

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION?

Mindful Musing , ,
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION?

Mindfulness is mainstream now. It is on the cover of Time magazine and Scientific American. If it is on those journals it must be good. It is reassuring to know that there is scientific evidence to support the value of meditation. Some of the proven benefits of meditation are stress reduction, decreases depression relapses, helps sleep disorders, better coping with cancer, decreases hypertension, helps the irritable bowel syndrome, improves psoriasis, helps cope with pain and promotes loving kindness and compassion.
– Phil Blustein

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?

Mindful Musing , ,
WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?

Mindfulness is a unique way of how one relates to each moment. Normally we operate like robots controlled by unconscious habitual patterns. These come predominantly from conditioning from our parents and society. We want to feel loved and safe. We primarily function from the drive to grab onto something that we want or push away what we don’t like. Mindfulness cultivates being present in each moment with awareness, acceptance, non-clinging and non-attachment.

WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF MEDITATION?

Mindful Musing , ,
WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF MEDITATION?

There is no best type of meditation. A form of meditation may resonate better with you than another one.

Individual choice is important. Starting off with focused awareness theoretically may be the best way to start as it is an initial way to create stability of the mind. The breath is always available to focus on. In open monitoring the multiple changing objects may be difficult initially to bring awareness and concentration to. For some individuals it may be better to start with focused awareness and create some stability of the mind. Then shift to open monitoring.

– Phil Blustein

Why Meditate?

Mindful Musing
Why Meditate?

Why meditate? Is it to reach an altered state? Transcend the ego? Find enlightenment? I hate to tell you but the purpose of meditation is to simply develop awareness of the present moment. In focused concentration meditation we are developing awareness of the breath. As we develop concentration amazing things happen in our brain. MRI scans have shown that there is an increased activity of the prefrontal cortex, the executive function of the brain and decreased activity of the amygdala, the fear centre of the brain. As we practice we develop more emotional and cognitive regulation, calmness, better coping skills and less self referencing. What I have personally discovered is that the practice does you. I started off to meditate to relieve stress and over the years I have been given the gift of greater calmness, loving kindness, compassion and equanimity. I never intentionally started out to obtain these qualities. Meditate and be open to the unknown possibilities that may develop.

– Phil Blustein