Meditation is now being hailed as a cheap and readily available way to keep the signs of aging at bay.
We know that stress makes us tired and being tired makes us look older than we really are. And we know that meditation makes us relax and being relaxed makes us look like we've been sleeping on a very therapeutic pillow. Which is why the time-tested practice of meditating a few minutes a day is one of the most healthy ways to combat the aging process.
Aside from looking good and younger, meditation also delays many other physiological changes brought about by the aging process.
Studies show that meditating regularly for at least forty minutes a day improves many brain functions. Increased attention span, sharper focus and improved memory are only some of the benefits brought about by regular meditation practice.
One study showed that a daily meditation practice resulted in thickening of the cerebral cortex in the brain, which is responsible for decision making processes, attention and memory.
Preliminary results from tests conducted by Sara Lazar of the Massachusetts General Hospital show that the gray matter in the brains of twenty men and women who meditated for only forty minutes a day thickened while those who did not meditate showed no improvement in the brain's gray matter density.
Other studies indicate that meditation restores energy, and people who regularly meditate perform better at tasks that require attention and concentration.
Meditation also restores synapses in the brain in much the same way as sleep does. But meditation does not produce the initial grogginess that one usually exhibits upon waking up.
The new test being conducted on meditators are indeed promising and offer much hope to humanity at large. Previous tests were performed on long time meditators such as Tibetan monks. These tests showed that unusually powerful gamma waves were emanating from the monk's brains.
Tests being conducted now are being done on people who have been meditating for at least three months. Inspite of the considerably shorter immersion time, studies show that significant changes still take place in the brain which delay the aging process.
No wonder then that big companies like Davidson Bank, Google and Hughes Aircraft offer meditation classes to their employees. Meditation improves work performance because people are sharper and people get along better. Increased productivity is a usual result because employees don't get sick easily.
We know that stress makes us tired and being tired makes us look older than we really are. And we know that meditation makes us relax and being relaxed makes us look like we've been sleeping on a very therapeutic pillow. Which is why the time-tested practice of meditating a few minutes a day is one of the most healthy ways to combat the aging process.
Aside from looking good and younger, meditation also delays many other physiological changes brought about by the aging process.
Studies show that meditating regularly for at least forty minutes a day improves many brain functions. Increased attention span, sharper focus and improved memory are only some of the benefits brought about by regular meditation practice.
One study showed that a daily meditation practice resulted in thickening of the cerebral cortex in the brain, which is responsible for decision making processes, attention and memory.
Preliminary results from tests conducted by Sara Lazar of the Massachusetts General Hospital show that the gray matter in the brains of twenty men and women who meditated for only forty minutes a day thickened while those who did not meditate showed no improvement in the brain's gray matter density.
Other studies indicate that meditation restores energy, and people who regularly meditate perform better at tasks that require attention and concentration.
Meditation also restores synapses in the brain in much the same way as sleep does. But meditation does not produce the initial grogginess that one usually exhibits upon waking up.
The new test being conducted on meditators are indeed promising and offer much hope to humanity at large. Previous tests were performed on long time meditators such as Tibetan monks. These tests showed that unusually powerful gamma waves were emanating from the monk's brains.
Tests being conducted now are being done on people who have been meditating for at least three months. Inspite of the considerably shorter immersion time, studies show that significant changes still take place in the brain which delay the aging process.
No wonder then that big companies like Davidson Bank, Google and Hughes Aircraft offer meditation classes to their employees. Meditation improves work performance because people are sharper and people get along better. Increased productivity is a usual result because employees don't get sick easily.
