Moving Meditation Miracle

By Sharon Jentzer, Captain, USN (Ret.)

Jentzer Wellness Institute

More Complementary & Integrative Healthcare Articles

Moving Meditation Miracle

I had the opportunity to attend the Mind-Body Week D.C. conference last month, where several researchers presented the latest information regarding the health benefits of meditation. The keynote speaker was none other than the renowned Harvard researcher and cardiologist, Herbert Benson, MD. In 1976, Dr. Benson coined the phrase, “relaxation response” to describe the biochemical changes occurring in the body in opposition to the “stress response.”

When you are stressed, your adrenal glands pump out adrenaline and cortisol, causing your heart rate and blood pressure to increase. It shuts down your digestive system, sending all of your body's energy reserves to your major muscles. This is also known as the “fight or flight response”.

When you have an excess of cortisol in your system you also have a tendency to gain weight. This helps to explain the link between stress and obesity. Your body's response to chronic stress is one of the root causes of most chronic degenerative diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and allergies. The combination of stress and obesity can also contribute to type 2 diabetes. You may not be able to get rid of stress, but you can learn how to cancel out its harmful effects.

You can actually learn how to lower your heart rate and blood pressure by purposefully focusing your attention on relaxing many people with type 2 diabetes are also able to control their blood sugar levels.

Dozens of research studies have been conducted since Dr. Benson first discovered the link between stress and disease. An interesting point made during the recent Mind-Body Week D.C. conference was that one of the most effective forms of relaxation-induced techniques appears to be “moving meditation”.

There are several types of moving meditation to choose from. Some of the more popular forms are yoga, tai chi and qigong. You could also engage in walking, running, or swimming. The key feature of any form of meditation is focused repetition. By engaging the body in a moving form of meditation, you integrate your mind and body in a rhythmic way, returning your heart rate, hormone levels and digestive function to their normal state.

Meditation is appropriate for everyone. If you need help getting started contact a wellness coach who can help you select the most appropriate form of moving meditation for you.