By Lou Kavar Ph.D While there are many books written on meditation, some from particular religious traditions and others based on individual experience, it’s challenging to find a simple, practical guide for meditation. There are many people who just want to know how to meditate. For them, here is a brief introduction to the process. […]
The term “Blue Moon” is most often associated with a month containing 2 full moons. Not happening this month, and yet 18 May brings a Blue Moon according to rules drawn up by an Almanac editor nearly a 100 yrs ago. This year, the Vernal Equinox occurred at 5:58p EDT (2158 GMT) on 20 March […]
It’s becoming more and more difficult to exist within society today without dealing with some form of stress on a daily basis. Between family drama, money issues, and demanding businesses and jobs, it makes sense that you may wish that there was truly a body wash that could take it all away and make you […]
Most of us are familiar with the 12-Step program to addiction treatment, as it is the cornerstone to the treatment and recovery methodologies used by Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and many other organizations. While these programs are generally effective and accepted by the professional psychological and recovery community, the 12-Step program is not the only […]
Dr. Dean Ornish, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is perhaps best known for his pioneering work in how to use food and simple lifestyle strategies to improve health. And for 40 years, Dr. Ornish has directed clinical research showing you can reverse not only Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, but […]
Handling Holiday Stress Manage Holiday Stress with these Healthy Habits 1.Exercise — A quick high-intensity workout may be the thing to boost your mood and relieve stress. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid produced in your brain that temporarily blocks feelings of pain and depression. It’s a derivative of the Sanskrit word “bliss,” and a deficiency is […]
Mindfulness is Becoming Mainstream in the US Breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation and yoga are making their way into schools where they are sometimes offered as an alternative to detentions and punishments. Yoga and meditation are becoming increasingly mainstream according to a new report issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As […]
Increase Your Level of Pain Tolerance Some people have a higher pain tolerance than others, do you wonder Why? Researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine have found 1 answer: mindfulness. And that is good news, because experts say you can increase your mindfulness and pain tolerance. Lead author Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology […]
This is the Practice of Yoga Of the activities available in the pursuit of fitness, the beginning and the end are relaxing the muscles. Stretching is the usual way to prepare for strenuous exercise, and the best way to cool down afterward. Ad for sure, extending and flexing all parts of your body will keep […]
Want Brain Power? Take a Nap! The most important thing is taking that time off , as it is more conducive to our productivity. Often people think they can fight through and push harder and harder and harder to get better results, but sleep can really give us that result. When we transition in and out […]
Meditation Benefits Physical and Mental Health A new study looking at the long-term effects of meditation has found that those who follow the practice can benefit from improvements in their attention for up to 7 years. Led by researchers at the University of California, Davis, Center for Mind and Brain, the study is based on […]
Bringing the Mind, Body and Soul Together takes Practice How we feel physically, mentally, and spiritually all play a role in our overall well being. The Big Q: What steps are you taking daily to ensure you are balanced? Our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can positively or negatively affect our biological functioning. Simplyput, our […]
Meditation: The Mind-Body Connector I believe meditation practice can be an important part of health and well-being. Because, not only is a powerful means of relaxing, but also useful for relieving stress, anxiety, managing pain, and preventing disease. There is growing scientific evidence that demonstrates the human mind and body are intricately connected, and wide […]
The “Marshmallow Test” and Your Mind Your unconscious mind needs direction, is most comfortable with emotions and symbols, deals with positives only and stores, organizes and surfaces your memories Expressing yourself artistically, meditating, rehearsing desired outcomes and using positive self-talk are some of the ways you can begin to harness the power of your unconscious […]
Using Meditation to Prevent Heart Disease Meditation may help reduce some risk factors for heart disease, according to a new statement from the American Heart Association. The statement, released Thursday, noted that a healthy lifestyle and medicines to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other heart threats are the most effective ways to prevent […]
Yoga, Meditation Boost Brain and Energy Levels If you can spare just 25 mins a day to practice yoga or meditation, you can boost your brain’s function and also your energy levels, says a new study from the University of Waterloo, which examined the benefits of Hatha yoga and mindfulness meditation. “Hatha yoga and mindfulness […]
Anti-Aging Habits to Adopt for a Longer, Healthier Life There are no sure-fire prescriptions for living to a healthy advanced old age, but longevity researchers have found the way is made up of genetics and lifestyle, which means there are steps to take to up the odds of living healthier and longer. A landmark Swedish study […]
Healing: Tap into the Mind Body Connection Along with Conventional Medicine Conventional medicine is necessary to treat disease, but if you really want to prevent health problems and stay well, do consider integrating practices from holistic medicine too. “The field of integrative, or complementary, medicine, grew out of what used to be known as ‘alternative […]
Yes, Meditation Does Mitigate Stress Meditation helps us take a deliberate break from the stream of “monkey” thoughts that are constantly running and jumping in and out of the mind. Some people use it to promote spiritual growth or find inner peace, others use it as a powerful relaxation and stress reduction tool. Beyond mental […]
Yoga is a Gentle Solution to Good Health, Breathe More Americans are practicing Yoga than ever before, experts say the reason is that it has practical health benefits. More than 36-M people in the US regularly engage in the practice, according to the Yoga in America Study 2016, conducted by Yoga Journal and the Yoga […]
People who are Thankful are Healthier “If thankfulness were a drug, it would be the world’s best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system,”– Dr. P. Murali Doraiswamy, an expert in brain and mind health So, if you are serious about your wellbeing increase the frequency at which you feel and express […]
Practice Meditation for a Happier, Healthier Life There is growing evidence revealing that meditation can make us healthier and happier. For example, brain imaging technology suggests meditation actually changes the human brain in a number of beneficial ways. MRI scans have shown that long-term meditation can alter the structure of the cerebral cortex. Additionally, brain […]
The Mechanical Watches Are Better Than Smartwatches While there are precious-metal watches that are so big that wearing one is akin to exercise, traditional mechanical watches do little for one’s health. It is the smartwatch that measures our pulse, the number of steps we take and count our calories. The Apple Watch’s activity reminder is […]