Meditation for a Healthy Mind Supriya Reddy newcity

Meditation for a Healthy Mind Supriya Reddy newcity. ny@heartfulness. org

Agenda What is meditation What are the benefits of regular meditation Introduction to Heartfulness Meditation Conscious Living Practical demonstration - Guided Relaxation and Meditation Workshop Q&A

Introduction Heartfulness Meditation Programs are developed by the Heartfulness Institute. Self-development and leadership skills programs for: Universities and colleges, businesses and corporations Partnership with United Nations Department of Public Information worldwide Practiced in 120+ countries, million plus practitioners and 6000 trainers Volunteer driven - services are offered FREE of cost across the globe

Companies Benefiting from Meditation Programs

Health Benefits Based on Research Stress, Anxiety and Depression ↓ Calmness ↑ Insomnia ↓ Mental health and quality of life ↑ Blood pressure ↓ Mood and self-esteem ↑ Inflammatory markers ↓ Emotional wellness ↑ Increased telomerase activity and telomere length ↑

Brain and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) • Increased brain folds in long term practitioners • Participation in 8 -week meditation program led to measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy, and stress • At age fifty, brains of long term meditators (~20 years) were estimated to be 7. 5 years younger than those of control group • 8 -week study improved retrospective memory in caregivers and AD patients • KK showed greater gains in perceived stress, mood, psychological well-being in older patients with subjective cognitive decline

What is Meditation • Meditation is the process of thinking of one thing with complete focus and observing without attachment • It regulates and refines the mind • Allows access to deeper levels of being

Why Meditate on the Heart • Heart is the pumping station for blood • Heart is the seat of the soul and the source of love, inspiration and insights • Heart is the most powerful signal generator in the body • Heart has its own neural network or brain • The Heart produces hormones

Heartfulness Meditation Practice Source of Light is within Thoughts are OK Experience based Unwinding technique Contemplation Ongoing support from Trainers

Conscious Living - A Holistic Approach to Life RIGHT INPUTS PAUSE ATTITUDE RESPOND VS REACT POISE AWARE AND ALERT

How do I nourish? Balanced Diet, Good Education, Correct Thoughts…

Dr. Emoto’s Study “The Messages from Water, ” provides evidence that human vibrational energy, thoughts, words, ideas and music affect the molecular structure of the water crystal.

Mind over Milkshake Study

Mind over Milkshake Study participants consumed a 380 -calorie milkshake under the pretense that it was either a 620 -calorie “indulgent” shake or a 140 -calorie “sensible” shake. Measured the hunger hormone Ghrelin in blood samples at 3 time points: baseline (20 min), anticipatory (60 min), and post consumption (90 min). The mindset of indulgence produced a dramatically steeper decline in ghrelin after consuming the shake, whereas the mindset of sensibility produced a relatively flat ghrelin response.

Mind over Milkshake Study (cont. ) Satiety was consistent with what participants believed they were consuming rather than the actual nutritional value of what they consumed. Mindset meaningfully affects physiological responses to food

Heartfulness Integral Approach Wake up Grow up Show up Clean up

Unwind and Contemplate: The Different Techniques of Heartfulness Unwind: Thoughts and activities create impressions in the heart Leading to complexities and impurities Removing Complexities and Impurities leads to lightness in the heart Contemplate: End the day with introspection and contemplation

Heartfulness Meditation Technique • Sit in a comfortable position with a thought (suggestion) that the source of light already present in the heart is illuminating it from within and drawing you in. • If thoughts arise and the attention wanders , gently bring it back to the thought of the light in the heart • Don’t try to visualize the light • Avoid forcing the mind. It is a gentle and natural process.

Any questions?

Contact Email: research@heartfulness. org heartspots. heartfulness. org Let’s Meditate App Available on App Store and Google Play heartfulness. org

Thank you! Supriya Reddy newcity. ny@heartfulness. org