In Mindfulness For Dummies, Shamash Alidina describes the body scan as a way to get in touch with the body, let go of feelings of needing to get stuff done, and release pent-up emotions. Just like other forms of meditation, the body scan also trains attention. Alidina says:
The body scan alternates between a wide and narrow focus of attention; from focusing on your little toe all the way through the entire body. The body scan trains your mind to be able to move from detailed attention to a wider and more spacious awareness from one moment to the next.
You can begin the practice by lying on the floor, or a mat, or your bed. Basically, you can begin by focusing your attention at the top of your head and then move down the body, or vice versa. It's good to start with a guided practice to get a sense of how to move your attention up or down the body. Mindfulness for Dummies comes with a practice CD that contains the body scan practice, but there are also some instructional videos available on YouTube.
According to the Mayo Clinic, benefits of Body Scan meditation include a sense of balance and peace, reduced stress, a more positive state of mind and greater self-awareness. Meditation is acknowledged as possibly helping allergies, asthma, cancer, depression and insomnia, among other health conditions. Who would disagree that lying on your back for half an hour a day and checking in with your body in a non-judgmental way could be anything but beneficial?
QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Use our Meditation Elixirs to assist in this adventure!
Science Wrapping its Head Around Consciousness
To determine the affects of the minds intention on the physical world, they built several machines called a random number generator. The machine would essentially mimic a coin flip and record the results over time. The machine performed 200 flips per second and produced an average mean of 100 as one would expect. Left unattended, the machine would continue to produce results that suggested a 50/50 chance of producing either heads or tales. The interesting results came when human intention started to interact with the machine. What was once a random 50/50 chance of producing heads or tales began to deviate from expectation as the observer began to intend for the numbers to be higher or lower. While the effects of the mind over the the machines was not large, it was enough that contemporary physics is unable to explain what exactly is happening. Perhaps this is where the quantum world can shed light?
The implications this research could have on humanity is quite fascinating given it could reach into the realms of creating a world of peace, healthy living and joy. If intentions and thoughts can impact something the way it has been demonstrated above, why not explore the boundaries of how far this can go?
QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: The objectivity Science attempts to achieve versus the subjective experience we all live in (including the scientists), are really two sides of the same coin. What is not addressed in this supposed "conundrum" is the native knowingness of human consciousness. Knowingness is usually trumped by objective perception, and, in fact, is a part of human socialization practices and customs. By acknowledging and embracing what you know (your "gut", or your "heart"), the world becomes much clearer and your role in it clarified. Use our Zen Meditation Elixir to explore this vital subject.
Neuroplasticity: The new frontier
Your brain's plasticity is controlled by your diet and lifestyle choices, including exercise. Despite what the media tells you, your brain is not "programmed" to shrink and fail as you age. The foods you eat, exercise, emotional states, sleep patterns, and your level of stress—all of these factors influence your brain from one moment to the next.
Any given gene is not in a static "on" or "off" position. You may be a carrier of a gene that never gets expressed, simply because you never supply the required environment to turn it on. As neurologist David Perlmutter explains:
"We interact with our genome every moment of our lives, and we can do so very, very positively. Keeping your blood sugar low is very positive in terms of allowing the genes to express reduced inflammation, which increase the production of life-giving antioxidants. So that's rule number one: You can change your genetic destiny. Rule number two: you can change your genetic destiny to grow new brain cells, specifically in the hippocampus...Your brain's memory center regenerates. You are constantly growing new brain cells into your 50s, 60s, 80s, and 90s – throughout your lifetime – through a process called neurogenesis. That said, these two ideas come together because you can turn on your genes through lifestyle choices that enhance neurogenesis and that enhance regrowth of cells and expansion of your brain's memory center. This was proven by researchers recently. They demonstrated that there are factors under our control that can make that happen."
Recent science has shown that physical exercise is as important as mental exercise when it comes to keeping your mind fit. A number of studies show that exercise can promote growth of new brain cells, enlarge your memory center, improve IQ scores, and help prevent brain deterioration as you age.
One study found that one 20-minute weight training session improved memory. In a year-long study, individuals who exercised were actually growing and expanding their brain's memory center one to two percent per year, whereas typically that center would have continued to decline in size. Strength training, especially high-intensity interval training (HIIT), is especially beneficial for boosting long-term memory and reducing your risk for dementia.
Exercise prompts nerve cells to release one growth factor in particular, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health and directly benefit cognitive functions, including learning. Fasting also triggers BDNF, and exercising while fasting can go a long way toward keeping your brain and muscles biologically young.
QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Similar research was conducted by Dr. Yury Kronn in his development of E-Formulas. In fact, the E-1 formula has been clinically shown to significantly affect the parasympathetic nervous system by balancing and harmonizing it, allowing for greater brain and nervous system plasticity (as shown by heart rate variability studies). Try it!
Welcome to Ariix!
"Stone of Regeneration"
Emotionally: Inspires love and devotion. Dissolves ingrained behavior patterns. Fortifies, activates and strengthens the survival instinct, inspires love and devotion, alleviates emotional disharmony.
Mentally: Helps to release useless, old, or obsolete ideas.
Physically: May help regenerate the body and stimulate the metabolism. May assist spinal and cellular disorders. May purify and reenergize blood, heart, and lungs, may help regenerate DNA.
Trinity Garnet Elixir is on sale for a month for 30% off with discount code GARNET30 (enter the code in the indicated box as you checkout through the website shopping cart--offer good until 1/31/16).
No comments:
Post a Comment