Yoga & Meditation: Two Profound Tools For a Healthy Mind and Life
BY DR. SHUVENDU SEN
Meditation and yoga have come a long way since their primordial moments in the deep recesses of a forest, where ancient sages practiced this art as a way of life. From the teachings of Buddha to the research-laden laboratories of Ivy League institutes, they have taken a groundbreaking journey, offering one blessing after another. Scientific tests run by the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and Harvard Medical School, among many others across the globe, are both testimony and tribute to the endless potential of these holistic practices.
Modern medical management appropriately follows strict, evidence-based findings. Nothing is considered standard unless it is held in our palms and felt. Any proposed advance must follow formal research protocols. Very intriguingly, considering its philosophical origins, meditation has successfully gone through identical research routes.
The screaming headlines from various universities, much of which has been published in various journals, thus cannot be ignored. Meditation is being increasingly recognized as a powerful and yet a profound management tool for a well rounded healthy life. With its potential to create new neurons (neuroplasticity), infuse tranquillity through relaxing alpha waves, and preserve those areas of the brain responsible for heightened awareness, both meditation and yoga become our guardian angels when pursued diligently.
In many instances, the taming of stress — considered the quintessential point of entry for many diseases — has been the major triumph for meditation and yoga.
As triggers of relaxation response, the effects are physiological, involving the lowering of blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen consumption, and stress hormones. This is the essential strength and beauty of yoga. It takes a step beyond external calming resources. With its integral, inherent potential, it quietens the storm from within and converts the rebel into a rational, thinking mind with a mastery that has neither the adverse effects nor the resistance of a commercial compound.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Shuvendu Sen is the Director of Medical Education and Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Meridian Hackensack University. He is the author of the new book, “Why Buddha Never Had Alzheimer’s: A Holistic Treatment Through Meditation, Yoga and the Arts.”
More Stories from Our Caregiving Community
Why Connection is So Important During the Holidays
The holiday season often connotes a time of joy and happiness, but for those who live far from loved ones, the holidays can be extra stressful. Fortunately, there are things you can do to create a sense of community, according to Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology...
read more
Mim’s Purple Secret
Mary Anne Pastino (Mim) was a noted watercolorist for over 20 years, with a primary focus on flowers. Her work has been shown at a number of public and private galleries. In 2011, Mim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but managed to continue to paint through 2016. Mim's...
read more
The Surprising Benefits of Being a Caregiver
By Dave Singleton If you could use some reminders about the positive sides of this often-challenging role, consider these 10 rewarding (and sometimes surprising) aspects of caregiving. 1. Caregiving Gives You a Sense of Purpose When the veils are ripped back, we often...
read more
