Meditation And The Brain

1. Meditation And The Brain Santana Graber and Jennifer Zinski

2. What is Meditation? Defined by the Meditation Society as “a state of consciousness that brings serenity clarity and bliss.” Meditation is the art of “focusing your brain on a single object or problem”, until eventually you are “only focusing on body and ego, and are apart from the rest of the universe”. It is an unbroken concentration. The process of mediation is 3 separate steps each lowering your consciousness the final state of meditation, which is called “Cosmic Consciousness.”

3. Science of Meditation: Brainwaves Beta Waves Common in the active brain. Most common stage of the mind. It is active and able to process many thoughts at once. Average oscillation* 12 to 30 Hz Alpha Waves Commonly associated withstates of “relaxation times, non-arousal, meditation, hypnosis”, and when you are beginning to fall asleep. Average oscillation 8 to 12 Hz Theta Waves Commonly associated with “day dreaming, dreaming, creativity, meditation, paranormal phenomena, and out of body experiences”. The brain running on Theta waves is “Cosmic Consciousness” average oscillation 6 to 10 Hz. Delta Waves Common only in deep “dreamless sleep”. Average oscillation in the brain only 4 to 6 Hz. Data from the crystal link website * Brain oscillation is different modulated frequency’s in time, as related to brain waves. So the waves represent how fast the brain is processing and moving information. The goal of meditation is to relax and focus your brain by slowing the oscillation rate.

4. Science of Meditation: Brainwaves 12- 30 Hz 8-12 Hz (Beginning Meditation) 6-10 Hz (Trance) 4-6 Hz (Deep Trance) Image and data from the crystal link website

5. Techniques to Meditate: Posture How to Sit: • Spine should be upright, slightly hollow and relaxed. • Shoulders should be relaxed, rolled back , and downward. • Hands should be supported by a cushion or legs and relaxed. • Head should be balanced evenly and chin slightly tucked • Face should be relaxed, and tongue should be touching the back of your teeth. But most importantly you should be in a position that is comfortable to be sitting in for long amounts of time without cramping or stiffening muscles. Information from the free Buddhist audio website

6. Techniques to Meditate: Getting into a Trance 1 • Find a CD with a calm steady beat, or a quiet room. • Find a place where you will not be interrupted or disturbed. Any small noise in a trance is extremely loud • Get into position • Focus on the track or beat of the music, removing distracting thoughts from your mind. Or focus on a single number or word over and over rhythmically in your head. • Create an image in your head, allow your body to relax, and create lightness. Data from ehow.com

7. Techniques to Meditate: Getting into a Trance 2 • Find a quiet room where you wont be disturbed. • Get into position • Count down from ten slowly in your mind, over and over until your thoughts have subsided and you are only counting down. • Slowly imagine yourself falling down slowly with each number until one when your grounded. The feeling of falling is what will slow your mind to the Theta waves • When you are comfortable and thoughts are slow and clear you are now in a trance and can enjoy a clearer focus and happy feelings. From Jenny Zinski’s meditation teacher, Rodney Smith

8. Techniques to Meditate: Getting out of a Trance • Reattach your mind to your body and reality slowly. • Move individual fingers and your toes. • Slowly move hands and feet. • Work your way up to arms and legs. • Stretch! Your body will be tense from staying still so long. The important part is not to panic, you can go into shock. Also from Jenny Zinski’s meditation teacher, Rodney Smith

9. Immediate Effects of Meditation • Weightlessness and lightness. A sensation of floating • Warmth. As blood vessels dilate the body warms • Smoothness and roughness. The body my sway back and forth or side to side as muscles tense and relax as they would in sleep • Visions and dreams. As the brain goes deeper into the theta stage it is common to have visions, dreams even religious experiences. • Freshness. After meditation the brain will often feel less muddled and more alert. • Bliss. This is another feeling brought on by theta waves, literally the bliss of a good dream. Data from Dr. Tan Kheng Khoo. Found on his website

10. Long Term Effects on the Brain • Healthier. The body becomes less susceptible to virus’s and disease. Getting sick less. There is even improvement in mental illnesses such as depression. Many people with chronic conditions like asthma experience improvement • Memory and concentration. Most people can focus longer and are less susceptible to stress. They can also more deeply focus their thoughts to a specific issue. • Personality. Many people become calmer more relaxed and even friendlier. More tolerant to others differences, more sensitive to moods, and has more time for others problems. Data from Dr. Tan Kheng Khoo, found on his website.

11. Work Sited • Of America, Meditation Society. "Meditation Station." Meditation Station Presented By The Meditation Society Of America. 1997. Web. 7 Nov. 2011. <http://meditationsociety.com>. • Goodsell, Jackie. "Chakra Balancing & Indian Head Massage." Jackie Goodsell Natural Health Practitioner In Hastings and St. Federation of Holistic Therapist. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. <http://handtosolehealing.com>. • "Brain Avtivity During Meditation." Crystalinks Home Page. Crystal Inks. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. <http://crystalinks.com>. • Khoo, Dr.tan K. "Effects & Hindrances of Meditation." 2008. Web. 7 Nov. 2011. <www.kktanhp.com>. • "Meditation Posture Guide." Free Buddhist Audio : Free Mp3s and Texts on Buddhism, Meditation and the Arts. Bodhipaksa/windhorse. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. <http://freebuddhistaudio.com>. • Health, Ehow. "How to Enter a Trance Meditation." Ehow.com. 2011. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. <http://www.ehow/how_5151775_enter-trance-meditation.html>. • “Rodney Smith on how to Meditate." Personal interview. 12 Nov. 2011.