MEDITATION: PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTH AND WELL BEING
“He who dies before he dies does not die when he dies.” ~ Jon Kabat-Zinn, Coming to Our Senses
“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” ~ Herman Hesse


EFFECTS ON THE BODY
- Lowers metabolic rate
- Lowers blood pressure and heart rate
- Improves weight loss
- Reduces cardiac output creating rest for the heart
- Lowers lactic acid in blood
- Reduces skin resistance
- Improves immune system
- Improves athletic and other physical performance
- Reduces asthma
- Reduces need for alcohol and cigarettes
- Reduces need for pain meds
- Improves resistance to disease
EFFECTS ON THE MIND
- Produces alpha brain waves
- Improved stress recovery
- Improves memory
- Improves coordination
- Increases sensitivity of perception
- Improves intelligence, including high school students
- Improves learning ability
- Improves academic performance
- Develops personality of self-actualization
- Decreased anxiety
- Decreased depression
- Improves mental health
- Improves concentration and focus
SOCIAL EFFECTS
- Increased productivity
- Improved job performance
- Increased job satisfaction
- Improves relations with co-workers and supervisors
- Improves rehabilitation of prisoners
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
- Your muscles and nerves relax throughout your body
- You are able to rest deeply and recover quickly from fatigue
- You release stress from the nervous system and reduce stress related ailments
- You strengthen your immune system to help prevent infections and cancer
- You lower your blood pressure and heart rate
- Your senses become more acute and you become more alive
- Your ability to experience physical pleasures increases
MENTAL BENEFITS
- You see and hear your own thoughts more clearly
- You become more alert
- You are calmer under pressure
- You are able to shift your perspective quickly from a narrow focus to the big picture
- You perceive more beauty in life
- You sense how things connect and work together
- You have more choice in how you respond to the world
- You are more open to new experiences
- You become more accepting of individuality
EMOTIONAL BENEFITS
- You accept all your emotions
- You increase your empathy for others
- You feel more connected with those that you love
- Life seems more harmonious
- You are able to give and receive pleasure, attention and love
- You let go of resentment and hurt more easily
- You become a better friend due to your improved ability to listen
- You establish better boundaries in your life
- You have a specific time and method to feel and heal your pain and emotional wounds
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS
- You have a sense of oneness with the world
- You experience more wonder and feel more alive
- You tune into your essence, your Soul
- You are more grateful
- You express more compassion
- You feel that life is sacred
- You come to terms with the mystery of birth and death
- You develop a stronger sense of meaning in your life
- Relieve inner tensions
- Deal more effectively with stress
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve your physical and emotional health”
