My own two-year meditation sabbatical has been profound for me, and it is my desire to share what I have learned during my meditation and healing retreat.
Calmly meditating produces exciting, beneficial effects onyour body. It can protect your DNA against cancer-promoting geneticdevelopments and free you from everyday stresses and distractions. Thats whymeditation is one of the most powerful, but often neglected, tools formaintaining optimal health.
Physical Vitality
Most of us dont think of meditation as being important inmaintaining physical vitality. We know that healthy diet, propersupplementation, regular exercise, and a positive social support system areimportant for our health on all levels physical, emotional, psychological, andspiritual. However, despite these healthy habits, many of us still strugglewith managing our stress levels. Science is proving over and over that chronicstress can be deadly, contributing to our most serious health conditions.
This direct mind-body connection is something that Easternphilosophies have taught for millennia, and recent research has supplied uswith a revealing new technical perspective. Clinical studies demonstrate thatchronic stress may have a profound effect on our DNA by shortening our DNAtelomeres. Telomere deterioration puts us at higher risk of developing cancerand other harmful conditions. The good news: Theres an ancient and well-knownmind-body practice which is now proving successful in physically repairing thistelomere DNA damage, while restoring peace of mind at the same time. What isthis practice? Simple meditation.
What Are Telomeres?
Our genes are located on twisted, double-stranded moleculesof DNA called chromosomes. At the ends of the chromosomes are stretches of DNAcalled telomeres. These are essentially caps that protect our genetic data,allow for cells to divide properly and reflect how we age. Similar to theplastic covers on the ends of shoelaces, telomeres protect chromosomes fromfraying due to aging, poor health and environmental influences. Telomeres areshortened every time the cells divide; and when they become too short, thecells are not able to divide properly. While researchers are already aware thattelomeres shorten and deteriorate with aging, new studies demonstrate thatchronic stress also contributes to their reduction. Further research shows thatas telomeres shrink, cancer risk grows.
Meditation Protects Telomeres
The inevitable wear and tear of your telomeres cannot behalted altogether, but it can certainly be delayed and even reversed throughthe activation of a key enzyme calledtelomerase. Telomerase protects the ends of telomeres from weakeningand fraying. So how do you reap the benefits of this super-charged enzyme?Studies show that psychological changes associated with regular meditation improve your ability to cope with stress and contribute toincreased telomerase activity.
Simple Practice for Beginners
Ifyoure not sure how to begin meditating, studies show that even just 10 minutesa day can provide significant mental, emotional and physical health benefits.Heres a simple technique to get you started: Simply sit quietly and focus yourattention, as well as your breathing, on a particular object such as a smallstone. As thoughts and emotions arise, simply acknowledge and release them,bringing your attention back to your breath. As your practice unfolds, you mayfind that there is more and more space between your internal monologues,allowing for a sense of openness and freedom from everyday stresses anddistractions. This is where the meditation and healing process truly begins.Initially, you should notice tangible benefits like better mental focus,improved emotional balance and increased energy.
Meditation and Healing Retreat
My own two-year meditation sabbatical has beenprofound for me, and it is my deepest desire to share what I have learned duringmy upcoming meditation and healing retreat, this April 2012. This retreat will offer a rare, in-depth opportunity to learn and experience mytechniques for deepening the mind-body connection and facilitating long-lastingregeneration and healing.
My retreat will feature:
Daily interactive workshops sharing unique methods and toolsfor healing, transformation and regeneration
Daily guided meditation sessions specific to healing
Healing sessions woven into the meditation practices,including short individual hands-on healing with support from the entire group
Daily yoga and Qi Gong classes which will emphasize theconnections between posture, movement, breathing, meditation and our specificdetoxification organs and channels
Delicious, fresh organic meals
Time for rest, reflection and immersion in a gorgeous naturalsetting highlighting the beauty of the spring season
Duringthis retreat, I will guide participants through the practical aspects ofmeditation and healing, based on my extensive experience in the field combinedwith insights and techniques Ive gained from years of dedicated meditationpractice.
Meditation Can Benefit Anyone
No matter your age, health or belief system,simple regular meditation practice can benefit youon all levels. More and more doctors and health practitioners are recommendingthis ancient, time-tested practice; and meditation now holds a well-deserved,positive reputation in the medical field. It is a simple yet powerful and safemodality for supporting health, preventing illness and increasing overallquality of life. For information on my upcoming meditation and healing retreatheld April 26-29, 2012 in Sonoma County California, visitwww.dreliaz.org/events.