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Nov 1, 2011

MEDITATION-How important is it really?



Meditation has been known to man for thousands of years and reaches out to billions across the globe daily, BUT how important is it really? 
How much can it help our dream work, or any lifestyle choice for that matter!?! Well, the answer is simple, 'Significantly'


Let me first explain the science...


GABA

People who regularly meditate have considerably increased levels of the neurotransmitters GABA. What is GABA and why is it so important? GABA (gamma amino butyric acid) is one of the major inhibitory neurotransmitters in your central nervous system. It‘s best known for stabilizing mood disorders. Anxiety, tension, insomnia, and epilepsy are believed to be due to the failure to produce adequate levels of GABA. In a study at Yale University, people with panic disorder were found to have 22% less GABA than people without panic disorder. Addicts, including those addicted to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, caffeine, food, gambling, and even shopping, all have one thing in common: not enough GABA. As you can see, GABA is very important!




DHEA
Meditation provides a dramatic boost in DHEA hormone levels. We now know that low levels of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) are strongly associated with the risk of heart attack, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and chronic fatigue. On the positive side, DHEA enhances memory, alleviates depression, and causes a remarkable improvement in a person's sense of psychological and physical well-being. It also provides strong support to your immune system—so much that many scientists are convinced that a deficiency in the DHEA hormone is what contributes to the collapse of our immune systems during old age.

Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone manufactured in the brain by the pineal gland, from the amino acid tryptophan. Levels of melatonin in the blood peak before bedtime and its function is to create restful sleep. Research has also revealed that it is a powerful antioxidant. Stress, however, significantly lowers melatonin levels. People who meditate are able to maintain healthy levels of melatonin by reducing stress and restoring balance. As a result, they sleep more soundly and wake up feeling refreshed each morning.


Serotonin
Meditation also increases the production of serotonin within our brains. Serotonin is a main neurotransmitter and has profound influences over your mood and behavior. Depleted serotonin levels are directly linked to depression, obesity, insomnia,narcolepsy, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, premenstrual syndrome, and fibromyalgia. In treating anxiety and depression-related disorders, drugs such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft help to restore healthy levels of serotonin. But why put yourself through the adverse side effects of these costly medications when you can achieve the same results by using Equisync audio technology?

Endorphins
Endorphins are a category of neurotransmitters that the body uses as an internal pain killer. These compounds are also responsible for the all-encompassing sense of happiness we sometimes feel. Endorphins are thought to reduce blood pressure and have been linked in the fight against cancer. People who exercise know endorphins well, as they produce what is known as 'runner's high'. These same pleasant feelings are also experienced by people who meditate, and studies show this is due to the higher levels endorphins that meditation elicits.

HGH 
Deep meditation dramatically boosts levels of human growth hormone (HGH), which your body naturally produces. It stimulated your growth throughout your childhood and sustains your tissues and organs all the way through your life. Starting in your 40s, your pituitary gland, the pea-sized structure at the base of your brain where growth hormone is produced, gradually decreases the amount of HGH it creates. The body's diminishing supply of HGH causes the frailty that comes with aging—decreased bone density, decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, weakening heart contractions, poor mood, lack of motivation, and poor exercise capacity. This is why so many people nowadays spend lots of money to take HGH. It‘s a very important hormone when it comes to our overall health and well-being.

Cortisol 
Cortisol is the one hormone you want less amounts of and meditation is proven to significantly decrease this harmful hormone. Higher and more prolonged levels of Cortisol, an age accelerating hormone, in the bloodstream has been found to have effects such as decreased bone density, elevated blood pressure, suppressed thyroid function, weakened cognitive performance, chronic stress, blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia, decrease in muscle tissue, lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, increased abdominal fat (which is related to many more health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body), heart attacks, strokes, increased levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and decreased levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL), which lead to other health problems. Too much cortisol is very damaging to your body and meditation can help reduce the risk of its many harmful effects.


Dreaming & Meditation
Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. It often involves turning attention to a single point of reference.  It is a state of experiencing a state of consciousness that has the qualities of enlightenment.  By meditating you are learning how to be free of thought, feeling, emotion, and time. 

When we detach and just 'observe' our perception from this unique view point we begin to shift into the 'now' and start to look more within ourselves. 
This complies so well with anybody pursuing conscious dreaming. Not only do you greatly increase your chances in becoming lucid but you provide your mind, body and spirit the necessary intention to help drive it forward into the everlasting bliss of you.
I personally see meditation as the foundation for all consciousness and it strengthens my awareness towards dream work in so many ways.


How To Meditate For Beginners
Have a look at one of my favourite videos on how to meditate... It explains the basics of meditation very easily so take a look if your not entirely sure how. 
Of course there are many methods out there for this practice. The most important thing I've learnt over the years with meditation is to 'keep things simple'! The experience will become easier the more you daily practise. So even if it's just for 15 minutes per day and you keep it consistent, you will be sure to see the many benefits meditation has to offer...
Good luck!



Book Reference of a wonderful meditation book from Dr. Wayne W.Dyer:


Peace & Blessings, Nick


1 Comments:

At March 14, 2013 at 9:18 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Meditation is a state of deep peace that occurs when the mind is calm and silent. It is the art of silencing the mind. Thank you very much for such a good idea.
How to meditate for beginners

 

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