A wonderfully successful second meeting !

February 9, 2016 9:00 

Discussion

At today's meeting we discussed Dr. Rhonda Patrick's article on Buffering the Effects of Chronic Stress with Meditation 

Highlights from the article:

Eustress = beneficial stress caused by things like exercise or temperature changes

VS

Distress = negative stress caused by rumination or worrying about the future or past

The role stress plays on Gut health and inflammation = stress has been shown to increase permeability of the gut which causes increased inflammation

Inflammation has been identified as a main cause of aging

The effect meditation has on the brain:

Meditation increases production of gamma waves in particular brain regions.
gamma waves are associated with neuroplasticity, which is associated with the ability to learn new things and the ability of the brain to change, in other words a characteristic of a youthful brain.

Four brain regions which showed increased volume in an 8 week meditation study were:

1. hippocampus (learning and memory)

2. PONS (manufacturing of neurotransmitters)

3. parietal junction (empathy and compassion)

4. posterior cingulate (mind wandering and self-relevance)

The amygdala (anxiety, fear, stress, & fight or flight) showed decreased activity, which accounts for decreased stress levels in those who meditate and the claim that meditation slows brain aging. 

 

Personal Goals for Meditation

Group members discussed our individual goals for meditative practices which included:

• de-stressing

• relaxation

• increasing the ability to reflect without stress

• experiencing feelings of wholeness or connectedness (mind, body, spirit connectivity) 

• self-understanding

• developing better coping skills 

• feeling more connected to oneself, the world, and other people 

• developing the ability to see your reactions and emotions before they manifest themselves - maintaining control over your emotions, in other words 

 Reading for next weeks discussion topic:

At next week's meeting we will be discussing Empty Phenomena Rolling on: An Interview with Joseph Goldstein.  

If you have trouble locating this item email me please, and I will send you a link

References

Patrick, Rhonda. "Buffering the Effects of Chronic Stress with Meditation." Audio blog post. Found My Fittness. Crowdfunding, 2015. Web. 11 Feb. 2016. <http://foundmyfitness.com/>. 

"Empty Phenomenon Rolling On: An Interview with Joseph Goldstein." Tricycle (1993): 13-18. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.