The Wellness of Meditation

Finding Wellness and Inner Peace
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by Lorraine Alexander

Silent mantra meditation has been practiced around the world for over five thousand years, taught from "teachers to student" as a time-honored oral tradition. One might conclude there must be something to be prized in a tradition that has that kind of rich history—and they would be right. ​

"Over 18 million adults in the U.S. practice meditation."
​—National Center for Complementary​ and Integrative Health

In 1975, silent mantra meditation landed the cover of Time Magazine. A full forty-two years later, many forms of meditation have risen up to join the flow of this mainstream movement. It's been a long time coming, and now meditation is here to stay. This shift into acceptance is primarily due to a long list of medical studies proving profound mind-body benefits. 

​What you need to know about meditation

With over 18 million adults practicing, meditation has become a thriving business in the U.S. today. Predictions show a likelihood for further growth as the demand for stress reduction and improved health is on the rise. Stress impacts over 75% of all adults. As an indicator, meditation wellness programs have proven to be successful in top U.S. companies, like Apple, Aetna, HBO, Google, Nike, Proctor & Gamble, and Yahoo.

Stress is a major cause of disease. A deep meditation technique reduces stress and restores balance.

''Stress in America continues to escalate and is affecting every aspect of people's lives — from work to personal relationships to sleep patterns and eating habits, as well as their health,” says psychologist Russ Newman, Ph.D, JD, APA executive director for professional practice. “We know that stress is a fact of life and some stress can have a positive impact, however, the high-stress levels that many Americans report experiencing can have long-term health consequences, ranging from fatigue to obesity and heart disease.”

A Rand study provides pointers for employers on employee wellness programs. The study shows a wellness program that targets disease, yields a much higher return than a program that targets lifestyle management. The study reports, "Efforts to help employees manage chronic illnesses saved $3.78 in health care costs for every $1 invested in the effort.  Essentially the report indicates that wellness programs that target disease reduce health care costs. 

While companies gained profits, employees become healthier.

Another analysis revealed that people who used relaxation techniques were 43 percent less likely to visit the hospital, be ordered a medical test by their doctor, or to need emergency care, compared to those who did not use the practices.

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Silent mantra meditation dissolves stress targeting both disease and lifestyle wellness. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent insomnia, or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the culprit."

"Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many 
​health problems,
such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes."  
—​ Mayo Clinic 

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The ripple effect of meditation across the U.S. and beyond

As the sign of the times, meditation is in the news, boasting that a daily meditation practice rewires the brain for happiness, improves memory and learning, reduces stress, improves heart health, and curbs impulse eating. We are seeing meditation rooms sprouting up in metropolitan airports, offering a place of calm and rejuvenation amidst the hectic, stressful pace of travel. Police use meditation training in Canada and France. Chief Sylvia Moir, the head of the Tempe Police Department in Arizona, believes "teaching and practicing meditation should be a key piece of police officer development." In schools, meditation programs boast impressive results showing fewer incidents of violence, and improved grades. Studies overall show that children and adults that practice daily meditation are happier, healthier, and more productive. For many Americans, meditation has become an essential daily ritual for health, like exercising or flossing your teeth.  

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A 2012 report from the National Institute of Health shows that over 8 percent of
adults and 1.6 percent ​of the children in the U.S. practice meditation.

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Meditation and aging 
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According to data compiled by the Social Security Administration: A man reaching age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 84.3. A woman turning age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 86.6. As our life expectancy increases, we need to improve our health, wellness, and quality of life. Heart health, brain function, and longevity of telomeres are negatively affected by aging. Meditation improves these three critical areas of health while it elevates our mood and satisfaction in life. ​

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Choosing your meditation program

Prices vary from the free online DIY five-minute version to private one-on-one coaching sessions that can cost thousands of dollars and months of instruction. Not all meditation styles are created equal. So how do you choose?

Study the four main categories of meditation. Learn and understand that each has unique benefits.

There are various forms in each catagory listed below. Go directly to the source (instructor or website) for the most accurate information. Some meditation practices may use a combination from the list below.

Listed in no particular order:
1) Movement
2) Focus 
3) Breath
4) Mantra 
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"A team of researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, the University of Oslo, and the University of Sydney found that "nondirective" meditation, in which someone achieves a relaxed focus of attention by repeating a mantra or sound and lets his or her mind wander, is the most effective kind of meditation."
​--Business Insider 2014

Research the benefits of various forms. Next, define the benefits for your immediate needs; include benefits you may need in the future. Consider how flexible the practice is in the application. Can you use it in a variety of environments that fit with your daily routine, and your lifestyle? 
​
Layer multiple methods when necessary.
In general, find one method of meditation and commit to that practice.
In the case of movement meditation, should you add layers? Could you practice yoga and silent mantra meditation? The answer is yes because both offer unique benefits. 

Choosing your meditation instructor

​Having a personal meditation teacher, instructor or coach is essential. You might assume that meditation is simple, but having an experienced instructor can make a tremendous difference in your experience and results. Would you rather read a book on yoga, or have a master yoga instructor walk you through each challenge to ensure accuracy, encouragement, and the finest result for your time investment? 

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"Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School said during an interview, "The most important thing, if you’re going to try it, is to find a good teacher. Because it’s simple, but it’s also complex. You have to understand what’s going on in your mind. A good teacher is priceless."

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Before choosing a meditation instructor, ask these qualifying questions:

• How many years have you practiced meditation?
• Who did you study with, and for how long?
• What type of support do you offer?
• Why did you become a meditation instructor?
• How has meditation changed your health and wellness?

DASA Meditation supports many fine meditation practices in the world.
We encourage you to find the best fit for your health, wellness, and lifestyle. Namaste.

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"To find tranquility within is the greatest gift;
​to teach others​ to find their tranquility is the greatest service." — DASA Meditation

​​​Celebrating Over 42 Years
Personal instruction / Custom business programs
​
www.DASAmeditation.org