fit tips let ’ s play the quiet game
MINI MEDITATORS According to Time
Magazine , meditation for children can improve their focus , decrease ADHD symptoms , lower depression , improve math scores , give them more self control , and make them more kind .
:: MEDITATION
During stressful times , which are becoming perpetual , meditation can help you recalibrate and find your balance . Especially meditation with Sally Miller .
If you ’ ve taken a meditation workshop at HAC , it ’ s likely been led by Reiki Master , Sally Miller . Sally recently opened her own studio in Chadds Ford , called Besoul , where she teaches meditation and does life coaching and reiki healing . Sally ’ s goal is what she calls “ healthy selfish .” She aims to empower others to adopt the same mindful , conscious living practices that she has learned to live by : ‘ RPM - Rise , Pee , Meditate .’ She is a breath of fresh air amidst the smoggy , fast-paced culture that we have grown to accept .
Going into my first class with Sally , I had actually been told by a doctor that I needed to learn how to meditate , or I would pay the price by Diana Freccia
RPM - Rise , Pee , Meditate .
with my physical and mental health . I had many preconceived notions about what meditation entailed and I was convinced that there was no way I could make this work for me . I tried reading up on it and even tried it on my own . I swore I was doing it wrong and that it wasn ’ t going to help me . When I got to class , Sally assured us : there is no wrong way to meditate , as long as you ’ re meditating . This alone encouraged me so much , and I was able to reframe my beliefs on the topic and begin to practice . Through my own thoughts on the matter , I have come to realize that many of the things we all do on a regular basis to keep sane can be considered a form of meditation : working out , coloring , creative expression , writing , cooking , driving , showering .
Sally ’ s classes were a desperately needed refuge during my busy , stressful days . She is very knowledgeable and ethereal , yet down to earth at the same time . She gets it . “ You don ’ t have time to meditate ?” she asks . ” Well do you have time to feel like $ hit ?” How could you possibly make an excuse after that ? Make time to squeeze in meditation , but especially make time to take one of her classes . She will provide you with the tools to set up your own mini-vacation meditation station to help alleviate your stress . Reflect . Breathe . Find yourself and what you ’ re grateful for in this life .
The president of my neighborhood civic association has a quote in the signature of his emails : “ gratitude turns what we have into enough .” I never gave it too much thought before , but it is entirely true . We get so focused on the wrong things and it sets our worlds off-tilt . We need to periodically take some time to recenter ourselves , breathe , and realize what really matters to us . What if you woke up tomorrow , with only the things you were grateful for yesterday ? November is a great time of year to focus on gratitude as we celebrate Thanksgiving , enter the holiday season , and close out another year . Keep an eye out online and at the Mind Body desk for meditation workshops with Sally Miller , and be sure to sign up for her Gratitude Guided Meditation this November . I highly recommend it . I ’ m sure you will be grateful !
4 benefits of meditation by Rachel Mayan
INCREASED HAPPINESS Studies have shown that meditation increases brain activity on the left side of the prefrontal cortex , which carries the responsibility of dealing positive emotions , and decreases activity on the right side from where negative emotions emit . |
LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE The relaxing effect of meditation increases levels of nitric oxide that cause blood vessels to open and blood pressure to drop . In one study , 40 of 60 high blood pressure patients who began meditating could stop taking their blood pressure medication . |
LESS STRESS According to WebMD , in a study of people who meditated regularly for six weeks , both physical and emotional responses to stress improved . Subjects experienced a decrease in the activation of their immune systems and less emotional distress when engaged in a stressful situation . |
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BETTER FOCUS A study conducted by Yale University found that meditation decreases activity in the part of the brain responsible for mind-wandering , or “ monkey mind .” Even when the mind does wander , meditators can snap out of it easier because of the new connections that form in the brain . |
enhance magazine | NOVEMBER 2016 15
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