The Power of Meditation

People practising meditation have different brain structures, compared to people who do not. Scientists know of this as recent studies have proven our brains change with meditation within eight weeks for the better, even it you have never practiced it before. With the amazing power of meditation it is good to see science and spiritual practises starting to align with each other.

In a study published in Psychiatry Research, who found the following discovery: “Neuro imaging earlier this year, US researchers measured the brains of 16 people who had never meditated before, and then did so again after the group had completed an eight-week meditation program. During that time, the group spent an average of 27 minutes a day practising guided mindfulness meditation, a particular style of meditation which focuses on non-judgmental awareness of sensations, feelings and states of mind.”

Once the meditation program was completed, tests were done on the meditators in the group and found an amazing amount of increased grey-matter density in the hippocampus. This part of the brain is associated with memory and learning. There is also increased grey matter density structures associated with compassion, self awareness and introspection. The size of the amygdala was reduced, which is the part of the brain controlling stress and anxiety.

So the practice of meditation helps reduce the areas of the brain that makes us feel stressed and anxious. By changing the structure of our brains, meditation helps boost the areas that allows us to be self aware, being better at remembering things and helping us to focus.

Australian based meditation guide and channeller Senka, says this research proves what we and many other long term meditators have known for thousands of years.

“As I have been practising meditation since I was eighteen I have found meditation helps me to see things clearly, have a stronger sense of self and puts the stresses in my life into proper perspective,” she says.

What I can say about these scientific findings is the brain is learning how to repair itself organically by growing more grey matter. It would be safe to say that the brain is in fact actually regenerating brain cells.

Many styles, one aim

Earlier research has shown many times that meditation in general improves peoples grey matter. The latest US study truly shows the power of meditation and the beneficial effects on our brains.

“For instance, a UCLA study, published in 2009, used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show that long-term meditators who used various meditation techniques all had larger volumes of the hippocampus and areas within the orbitofrontal cortex, the thalamus and the inferior temporal gyrus – regions known for regulating emotions – than those who did not meditate.”

Senka, who teaches a form of guided healing meditation to focus the mind, agrees that all types of meditation are beneficial for our brains.

“Closing one’s eyes and settling into relaxation and the simplest form of awareness is a powerful practice” she says.

Greater brain power

The practice of meditation generates feelings of relaxation and quietens the mind. The brain then sends signals of blissfulness to the entire body, which then reorganises itself into a restful and stress-free state.

We all have the same brain capacity, says Senka. My question is: what are we training our brain to do?

Brain-building meditation

“Instead of having brain matter generated through states of stress, meditation provides the brain with blissful experiences that increase the capability in every area,” he says. “What we see is people become more creative, increasing their learning ability and intelligence, and taking on a larger life perspective. Meditation is not just a psychological or mood-enhancing tool but a way to grow and access more brain power.”

Try this five-minute mindfulness meditation practice each day. The guided earth element healing meditation course is powerful and will boost the effect on your brain and overall well being.

• Sit on a chair or lay flat on the rug or bed. Make sure your back is straight and arms
• Bring your attention to your breath for one minute. Feel your belly rise and fall.
• Widen your attention to include all your bodily sensations and any thoughts or feelings. Then listen to the birds outside if it is day.
• Try to be a neutral observer of your thoughts. If you find yourself swept up in a train of thought, return to focusing on your breath.

Join us on Tuesday the 30^th May as the next meditation course will commence so you can acquire the power of meditation with others in the group. Group meditations can be more effective and impactful when we meditation together as the energy we create together is more powerful.

I invite you to leave a comment in the field below or email me at [email protected] if you have any questions you would like to ask.

See you this Tuesday night.