Find balance and harmony & eliminate stress

Reported by: Jennifer Harrington
Email: jharrington@abc15.com
Last Update: 10:43 am

(Getty Images)

It is a rare and wonderful thing when you wake up and walk through your day with everything going your way.

The sun is shining.

The birds are chirping.

You seem to be in harmony with yourself and the rest of the world.

Sarah McLean, Director of The Sedona Meditation Training Company and Presenter at Miraval said this happened to a meditation student of hers recently.

"She described how she felt in the flow of life, where she saw everything and everyone including herself as luminous, peaceful, powerful, and whole, full of potential. Then after a few days of bliss, she woke up one morning and unexpectedly the feeling of lightness and perfection was gone. She described her self-talk as going something like this: 'You can't follow your dream, who do you think you are?' 'You aren't good enough.' 'You need to do A LOT more than you are doing.' She was left deflated and discouraged." Said McLean.

So what went wrong?

McLean says there could be several reasons, but she focused on one.

McLean said she discovered the woman was overworking and not getting enough sleep, and this caused stress that blocked her mind and body's ability to maintain that good feeling.

In other words it was stress.

Dr. David Simon, the medical director of Deepak Chopra's Center for Wellbeing, says that stress can be a psycho-physiological response to not having your desires met. - Whatever they may be.

According to McLean, "It can go like this: something doesn't go your way, and then stress occurs. Are you bored with your job, and you wish it were more interesting? Stress. Do you desire a better relationship with someone and all you do is argue with them? Stress. Do you desire a pain free body and you have pain? Stress. Do you desire enough money to pay your bills and you don't have it? Stress. Do you desire a peaceful world, and you keep hearing about war and violence? Stress."

She says stress can also be caused when we don't get enough sleep, eat food that isn't good for us, or when we don't live in tune with nature's daily, seasonal or lifecycle rhythms.

Other causes of stress are toxic environments, undigested experiences or emotions, or painful relationships.

Left unchecked over time, McLean says, stress can affect you physically and mentally.

It can cause tension, sleeplessness, anxiety and panic, high blood pressure, chronic pain, headaches, respiratory problems such as emphysema and asthma, sleep disturbances, digestive disturbances, fatigue, skin disorders, and mild depression.

There are a few effective ways to deal with stress according to McLean:

Sleep

Meditation

She says meditation is being studied more and more, is proven to be the perfect antidote to stress and it counteracts the physical and mental component of the flight or fight syndrome.

She says it changes the brain chemistry and can create a sense of well being; it reduces the stress hormones, normalizes our heart rate and blood pressure, and studies show that meditation can improve the ability to cope with chronic pain and illness.

Visit Sedona Medication Training for more information or call 928-204-0067 or e-mail mailto://info@sedonameditation.com

http://www.sedonameditation.com/

Meditation is the perfect companion on your path of self-discovery.

Are you looking for what's missing in your life, or want to find a sense of peace no matter what the world "out there" is up to? A daily practice of meditation allows you to turn your attention inward and connect with you who you really are, outside of your roles and responsibilities.

You'll be able to gain a sense of rest and relaxation and create a deeper connection with yourself, others, your source, or spirit. Meditators report that meditation also awakens their creativity and helps them to live a better life.

A variety of meditation practices have been around for centuries. Some are secular in nature and others are religious or spiritually oriented. These days meditation is going mainstream, outside of religion, and we're here to help you find out why.

Meditation treats chronic health issues like high blood pressure, anxiety, stress, and depression.

That's probably why meditation is becoming more and more popular and is often recommended as a complement to traditional therapies. Rather than medicating away the symptoms of chronic conditions that some of us suffer from, meditation is prescribed to prevent and reduce the stress that underlies disease. Remember the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? Meditation is that prevention.

Meditation aids in lowering heart rate and blood pressure and has also been used to help people quit smoking and conquer drug and alcohol addictions. Meditation relieves anxiety and depression and insomnia. And, it regulates hormones, including reducing cortisol -the stress hormone, and increasing DHEA -the youth hormone.

Meditation is recommended by almost every health professional.

Meditation has been proven to actually reduce stress in our nervous systems so you can face your day with a fresh attitude and calm manner. Since most disease is caused by or worsened by stress, meditation is really good for your health. Here are some of the proven benefits:

Lower cholesterol
Curb insomnia
Boost the immune system
Reduce depression
Relieve anxiety and compulsive behavior
Alleviate stress levels
Improve decision-making ability
Enhance memory
Treat drug and alcohol abuse
Lower high blood pressure
Ease pain of arthritis
Speed up the healing response
Relieve digestive disorders
Reduce symptoms of PMS and menopause

There are so many other benefits of meditation:

Those who meditate also report a greater sense of inner peace, a feeling of well being, calm and happiness. They also report higher levels of self-esteem, a clearer mind, the ability to focus and make better decisions. Many say it helps them to figure out what they really want and clarify their goals.

During meditation you gain a deeper rest than in sleep, yet at the same time, your awareness expands. You'll feel more rested and you'll begin to cultivate a centeredness and sense of balance that before might have seemed elusive when you

were faced with stressful situations.

Even a few minutes of meditation every day can help. In the morning, a meditation can help you feel more alert and relaxed all day. And, when you get home from work, you can meditate to help you shift gears and transition from work mode to your life at home.

Meditation can also be good for your relationships. When we're stressed out, it can affect everyone around us at home and at work. People also find that meditating together is a harmonious experience.

Your regular practice will make a difference in social situations too. Fear and anxiety will no longer be your constant companions. You'll find yourself more calm and centered.

And along with the many psychological and physical benefits, when you learn meditation you also receive spiritual benefits, because through meditation, you connect with your higher self — where energy, creativity and inner awareness are truly your natural state of being.

With a daily practice, you'll become more intimate with yourself and who you are, tune into your intuition and your true feelings, your body and its messages. You'll make better choices in life. And live a life of more comfort. Find out more about the benefits.

Do you want to improve your mind body health in other ways, naturally?

The ancient natural science of life and longevity called Ayurveda was first made popular in the U.S. by mind/body pioneer, Deepak Chopra. In his book Perfect Health, which sold millions of copies worldwide since 1991, he reveals Ayurvedic secrets to create balance both inside and out.

Ayurveda means the "science of life" and is one of the oldest systems of natural health care, originating over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda also says health is more than just the absence of disease, it is a vibrant, energetic state of being.

Ayurveda texts say that each of us is born with our own natural balance, or mind/body type, and this balance influences all aspects of our lives, including our body structure, mental and emotional makeup, and predisposition to illnesses. When we get out of balance, we become more susceptible to disease.

To restore balance in the mind and body, some approaches used in Ayurveda include aroma therapy, sound therapy, herbalized oil massage, color therapy, detoxification methods, seasonal and daily routine adjustments, and the use of specific herbs and tastes in the diet. Exercise and meditation are also important aspects and restoring wholeness and health. And when we meditate, we support the immune system and the body's intelligence to heal itself. Find out about programs where you can learn more about Ayurveda.