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You are here: Home / Archives for improve memory with meditation

The Essence and Magic of Mindfulness Meditation: What, Why, How and Where

July 6, 2015 by Julie Lusk

What is Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness is defined as the impartial awareness of ones inner and outer experiences practiced moment by moment.

Here is an effective mindfulness meditation exercise from Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief, a book and audio set by Julie Lusk.  Try it out and let us know how it goes.  Your questions (and answers) are welcome!

B…R…E…A…T…H…E for Mindfulness *

This mindfulness meditation provides seven steps for practicing mindfulness with a twist of meditation.  The word “breathe” will help you remember each step.  Take your time to fully experience each of the steps before going on to the next.

Process          

Breathe fully, slowly.stop look listen

Release muscular tension.

Engage and Expand your awareness.

Alert to sounds, sights, and smells. Awareness without naming.

Think positive thoughts.

Here and now.

Enjoy the moment.

Why: Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation

Diane Poole-Heller reports that research has shown that the benefits of a mindfulness meditation practice helps develop all 9 functions of the brain’s prefrontal cortex.  This happens by practicing 20 minutes daily for only 8 weeks.

  1. ANS Regulation – Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Balance
  2. Attuned Communication – felt sense of other’s experience
  3. Regulation of emotionsBrain
  4. Response flexibility
  5. Empathy
  6. Insight – self awareness
  7. Fear extinction – GABA fibers to amygdala
  8. Intuition – deep knowing
  9. Morality

How, When and Where

Mindfulness can be practiced formally by closing your eyes and sitting up straight as in meditation for 20 or so minutes.  This builds up your capacity for mindfulness while also developing your brain.  It will lift up your energy and lower stress levels.  Your productivity will improve, your emotional fuse will lengthen, and your ability to enjoy living is enhanced.  Your whole day will go better, even in the midst of stress.

In addition, mindfulness can be practiced informally as well.  This is when you practice moment-to-moment awareness during your day-to-day activities. To get started, simply shift your attention to whatever is happening while it happens.  For example, impartially check in with sensations from your body (cool/hot, tense/relaxed, etc.), notice how you feel, impartially naming the mood you’re in, and noticing how your emotions are being expressed physically, and by becoming aware of whatever thoughts are taking place.  Practically speaking, this is done by taking time, for example, at meals to really look at your food and consciously smell it, taste it, and chew it.  Throw in some gratitude if you wish.  Or, take a few moments to feel the sunshine, to feel the actual texture of your pets fur or listen to whatever sounds are happening – all in a non-evaluative and nonjudgmental manner.  This also goes for noticing however you’re breathing and the level of tension or relaxation that’s present in your shoulders.YogaNidraCF.indd

* Reprinted from Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief by Julie Lusk


Guided Mindfulness Meditations: Practicing Presence & Finding Peace Download
Guided Mindfulness Meditations: Practicing Presence & Finding Peace Download
Ease into mindfulness with a clean, user-friendly, body-based, joyful approach. Gain calmer nerves, a brighter outlook, stronger memory, sharper focus, healthier body awareness & more balance. Get a long & short guided experience. Learn informal ways to be more mindful during the day. Available at Hay House https://www.hayhouse.com/guided-mindfulness-meditations-audio-download
Price: $5.99Price: $29.99 

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Filed Under: Meditation / Guided Imagery, Mind-Body Mastery Tools and Techniques, Misc Musings, Stress Relief / Management, Yoga breathing technique Tagged With: breath meditation, improve memory with meditation, mindfulness defined, mindfulness exercies, mindfulness made easy

Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation Research for Memory – Kirtan Kriya

March 20, 2011 by Julie Lusk

I just love synchronicity, don’t you? Right when I was looking for Sa Ta Na Ma meditation research – Kirtan Kriya – Amy Weintraub sent me a copy of her newsletter, LifeForce Yoga.  My eyes popped out of my head with delight because she had compiled an excellent review of the literature on this meditation technique that improves memory.  She generously said that I could share what’s below with you.  I highly recommend Amy Weintraub’s website at LifeForce Yoga: Manage Your Mood. You will also benefit from and enjoy registering for her newsletter and going to her workshops.

Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation Research:  Kirtan Kriya Effects Cognitive Function, Memory and Stress

In three separate studies published this year and in one that is on-going, Kirtan Kriya, as taught by the Kundalini master Yogi Bhajan, was shown to increase short term memory, cognitive function and to reduce stress.  In separate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and one continuing at the University of California (UCLA), researchers measured cerebral blood flow in the brain (rCBF) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to determine which areas are more active and which are less during the practice.  One study compared long-term meditators to non-meditators.  Another study compared those practicing the meditation with those who listened to a Mozart violin concerto.  A third study compared the more active meditation to a relaxation exercise.

Kirtan Kriya is a 12-minute active meditation that include mudra (hand gesture), mantra (out loud, whispered and repeated silently), and visual imagery,

In the on-going study at UCLA, those practicing 12-minutes of Kirtan Kriya meditation are being compared with those using a 25-minute relaxation tape.  Preliminary results from the 39 caregivers who have already completed the study (23 practiced Kirtan Kriya, 16 listened to a relaxation audio tape) indicate:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Meditation / Guided Imagery, Mind-Body Mastery Tools and Techniques, Misc Musings, Stress Relief / Management, Wellness, Yoga Tagged With: brain yoga, hand gesture, improve memory with meditation, Kirtan Kryia meditation, research studies on Kirtan Kryia meditation, research studies on sa ta na ma medtation, Sa Ta Na Ma meditation

How to do the Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation to Improve Memory

March 20, 2011 by Julie Lusk

Instructions on How to Do the Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation – Kirtan Kriya

  • Sit with a straight spine.
  • Mentally focus to the brow point.
  • Repeat Sa Ta Na Ma as follows with the finger movements pictured below
    • 2 minutes —  OUT LOUD
    • 2 minutes  —  WHISPER audibly
    • 4 minutes  —  SILENTLY.  Keep the hands moving
    • 2 minutes  —  WHISPER audibly
    • 2 minutes —  OUT LOUD
    • Sit quietly and listen inside for a few minutes.  Listen for the mantra internally and experience energy flowing in from the top of your head (crown chakra) and out through your brow (third eye chakra).
    • Either go about your day or go to sleep if it’s bed time.
    • Optional: 30 seconds: inhale deeply, raise the arms up in the air and vigorously shake the arms and fingers, involving the whole body and spine. Exhale.  Repeat 1 or 2 more time if you desire. This important part of the meditation helps move and release energy in the body.

Notes:

Why are mantras done out loud, whispering and silently and how does it help? When a mantra is spoken out loud, it primarily benefits the physical body.  When it’s whispered, it benefits our mental/emotional nature.  Our spiritual nature benefits from silent repetition.

If you experience memories of the past or thoughts about the future coming up in your mind. Simply notice them and release them with the mantra. This helps cleanse  the subconscious mind.

If emotions come up, you can also incorporate them in the chanting, i.e. if you feel frustration, then chant out the frustration.  Whatever you experience is okay. Don’t try to avoid, resist or control your experiences. Just notice what is happening and go through it. This is all part of the process.

SA – touch the thumbs to the index finger

Ta – touch the  thumbs to the middle finger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Na – touch the thumbs to the ring finger

Ma – touch the thumbs to the little fingers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repeat the finger movements throughout the meditation.  

More Resources…

  • Excellent info & video on the 12 minute meditation to improve memory – Sa Ta Na Ma meditation – Kirtan Kriya.

  • Written instructions on exactly how to do the Sa Ta Na Ma (Kirtan Kriya) meditation for improving memory.  
  • Wholesome Resources Links to relevant research from UCLA and University of Pennsylvania on the Sa Ta Na Ma -Kirtan Kriya – meditation for improving memory as reported in 2010 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
  • Get an audio recording that will help you practice the Sa Ta Na Ma meditation with the correct timing.

    Sa Ta Na Ma
    Kirtan Kriya Meditation

    Click HERE to buy this downloadable digital album
    (MP3, AAC, M4A)

    $7.99

  • Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation CD
    Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation CD
    Sa Ta Na Ma is a powerful mantra. Scientific studies show this 12-minute meditation increases memory, concentration, cognition, calmness & more. Repeating the mantra out loud, whispered & silently while doing simple finger movements (mudras) is done. A beautiful chorus of voices keep track of the time for you. A brief intro gets you off to a successful start. Digital downloads are available.
    Quantity:  
    Price: $9.99Price: $16.95 

Please share your comments and questions with us!

Filed Under: Meditation / Guided Imagery, Mind-Body Mastery Tools and Techniques, Relaxation Exercises, Stress Relief / Management, Wellness Tagged With: brain yoga, hand gesture, hand gestures, how to do Kirtan Kryia meditation, how to do sa ta na ma meditation, improve memory with meditation, meditation to improve memory, mind-body exercise for improving memory, Sa Ta Na Ma meditation, yoga mudra for memory improvement

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