Image courtesy of Alex Bramwell
When Oprah Winfrey and esteemed meditation teacher Deepak Chopra tell me to join them for a three-week meditation challenge of de-stressing, detoxing and bliss, I have no hesitation: Yes, yes, yes.
Long enough to become a health habit, downloading these introductory and free meditation sessions and cool chats with Oprah is revelatory, at least for me. “Chronic stress is linked to a variety of health problems, such as increased heart disease, compromised immune system and premature cellular and cognitive aging,” says mind-body expert Deepak Chopra, M.D., in his guided 21-Day Meditation Challenge seminars at the Chopra Meditation Center in Carlsbad, CA.
Chopra’s meditation tips helped me relax and clear my mind for 10 and then 20 minutes a day for almost 21 days straight… almost. Here they are:
• Find a relaxing or private nook for your meditation practice.
• Set a positive goal or intention before you start. It’s simple as repeating to yourself: “I will be healthy” or “Gratitude.”
• Don comfortable clothing that won’t cause you to fidget.
In a joint Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital study, researchers found after only eight weeks of meditation, participants experienced significant growth in the brain areas most associated with memory, learning, empathy, self-awareness and stress regulation. In addition, the regular meditators in the joint study reported decreased feelings of anxiety and greater feelings of calmness for hours after.
Stress Relief 101
“The deep state of rest produced by daily meditation triggers the brain to release naturally occurring brain chemicals that have been linked to different aspects of happiness and well-being,” Chopra says in a webinar within his “21-Day Meditation Challenge.” In fact, he says low levels of these brain neurotransmitters have been linked to migraines, anxiety, fatigue and insomnia.
Other reasons to join a guided meditation online or in a class:
• Increase oxygen efficiency to the brain and muscles,
• decrease blood pressure and insomnia,
• reduce production of harmful “stress hormones” like cortisol,
• zap mild depression and daily anxieties, and
• boost immune function.
Can you devote 10 minutes every day to Deepak Chopra’s guided meditations?
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