Many people think that meditation is solely sitting down in lotus position, closing your eyes, and thinking of nothing. And, when you do this, you are automatically classified as zen, spiritual, or somehow evolved. Sitting down in the lotus position and breathing deep is beneficial, but it doesn’t actually guarantee any of this as a result.
So, what is mediation really? And what is it for?
Franca Canonico Schramm, author of the El Ser Uno series of books, once said, “I meditate while chopping an onion.” Personally, I meditate while dancing. In other words, meditation can have many forms of practice; it is a way to connect to your spirit, and that is something you can do in different ways.
Here are some thoughts on what meditation is for: Read More…
Antioxidants: Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that a chemical found in vegetables reduces problems caused during inflammation. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, states that thiocyanate, a dietary antioxidant found in broccoli and cauliflower, protects cells from damage caused by chemicals released when inflammation occurs as a response to infection and injury. Yet another reason to eat your veggies.
Mating: It looks like women may be responsible for the alpha male personality. According to a study published in the journal Biological Reviews, sexual selection (competition between one sex for a mate – usually males competing to be chosen by females) may have shaped the evolution of the male personality, which is more pronounced, daring and aggressive in males from humans to house sparrows. Read More…
Image by Jesse Wight
Pain: Meditation can help with pain management, according to a study published in the current issue of The Journal of Pain. The idea is not new, but the researchers discovered that, contrary to previous assumptions, just a single hour of training spread out over a three-day period (20 mins a day) can produce the same analgesic effect than a long time commitment. More on pain control: Another study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that emotions – or mood – can alter how we react to pain. The researcher Mathieu Roy noted: “Our findings show that non-pharmaceutical interventions – mood enhancers such as photography or music – could be used in healthcare to help alleviate pain.” Crank up that Mozart.
Relationships: Fight – but choose your words. Couples who bring thoughtful words to a fight release lower amounts of stress-related proteins, according to a study published in Health Psychology. Researchers found that rational communication between partners – using words like ‘think’, ‘because’, ‘reason’, and ‘why’ – can ease the impact of marital conflict on the immune system. These words suggest people are either making sense of the conflict or at least thinking about it in a deep way. Interesting side note: women, typically better at communication, were more likely to use cognitive words than husbands. Come on, guys – use your words! Read More…
