Positivity, Mental Health & Loving Life...

By Dr Orly Zuker, Chiropractor

(B.Appl.Sci: Comp Med, Clin Chiro: Masters, B.Nursing)

Life can sometimes be busy and hectic and stress can sometimes be overwhelming. Stress is now accepted by all health care modalities as a significant trigger in the development of various lifestyle diseases, so it is vital that we stay in control, manage our stress and create moments of relaxation and down time everyday. Taking time out (even if it is just 5min to stop and breathe a few times) or meditating may just be the answer in keeping unnecessary stress at bay.

 

Meditation is a wonderful practice that dates back thousands of years with prehistoric origins. Meditation allows a person to stop, breathe and go within themselves, processing stress, hurt, happiness and the daily workings of life. Research into meditation practice is now showing that there are many health benefits, including reduced adrenalin and cortisol levels (hormones that are closely implicated in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease), lowered blood pressure and heart rate, improved mood, concentration and an increased sense of calm and vitality.

CALMING THE MIND WITH MEDITATION, A NEW PERSPECTIVE…

 

When many people see or hear the word meditation they worry that they need to become a Buddhist, Yogi or some sort of spiritual Guru. The good news is that meditation is a broad concept and does not necessarily require you to sit for hours at a time chanting. If this is how you enjoy or chose to meditate, terrific, however for those who need convincing there are other options you can enjoy…

Realistically, meditation can be whatever you want it to be ,where you feel at peace and relaxed away from the frantic world outside. For example, you may like to attend a dance class, knit a scarf, plant seedlings in the garden, play tennis, walk silently in the bush, run along the beach, sit or lie in a peaceful space, take a bath, do a yoga class or eat in silence. You choose!

Everyone has heard someone express “if you don’t relax, you will give yourself a heart attack”. The good news is various studies on meditation have concluded that the practice alters brain patterns (alpha and theta waves) and reduces stress, having a positive effect on heart rate and blood pressure. All you have to do is make the time for yourself and chose the meditative activity that you prefer and dedicate time to it regularly.

Interesting, a study conducted by Sydney University found that just 10-20 minutes of meditation in stressed office workers (two times a day) is effective in improving mood, alleviating depression and increasing concentration at work. This occurs as a result of the mental silence practice triggering positive brain changes (increasing plasma/ blood melatonin levels), thus allowing the body to heal and express itself more efficiently.

Researchers have also found that as well as being highly effective in reducing stress, meditation also has a positive effect on the immune system. This is possible as a result of reducing the levels of stress hormones in the blood which cause the nervous system to function on overdrive, leading to a susceptibility to illness (colds and flus as well as lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cancers and heart disease).

We can make all the excuses in the world for why we ‘don’t’ have the time to go for a walk or to sit and breathe, however if we just begin some form of meditation practice each day, coping with the stress of daily life will become easier.

1. Meditation practice #1: Exercise                                                    

This form of meditation can be more gentle types of exercise such as tai chi, yoga and stretching or can be more dynamic such as running, ball sports, dancing or gymnastics. You find what it is that you enjoy, decide the day that suits you and take the time each week to exercise for your meditation practice.

With majority of the community being desk-bound and sedentary at work (including me whilst I write this article!), it is vital that we all take the time to stretch a little (or a lot) each day. Find a class that you enjoy or create a simple routine of 5 or 6 stretches that you can master and do regularly throughout the day. This activity will help you to promote better posture at work as well as in your general day-to-day life. Interestingly, young children are extremely flexible and mobile and this is partially because their bones and joints have not get fully grown or fused into place, but mostly because they are up and about moving and being active throughout the day. So, to all the adults out there, draw your chest forward, pull your shoulders back, tuck your tummy in and tilt your head back a little... Now roll your shoulders back a few times and breathe!

2. Meditation practice #2: Get in touch with nature                                                    

Whether a person is spiritual or not, we are all ‘inhabitants of the earth’ and this is why we all feel a tremendous sense of inner calm and peace when we are outside in nature. In a way nature and its fresh air, sunlight and refreshing smells remind us to breathe, slow down and relax. In saying this nature is also good for our health and without trees and the oxygen that they generate (and the carbon dioxide that they filter), humans would be in a great deal of trouble.
At least once a week, you may practice your meditation in nature by walking on the beach, swimming in the ocean, strolling through a park/ wetlands or reserve, sitting by a waterfall, hiking in the mountains or running in a forest… Just chose the place that allows you to go within and relax and commit to doing this regularly. Your body, mind and spirit will love it.

3. Meditation practice #3: Mindful Meal times

Meal times as well as ‘cuppa-time’ can be used as an opportunity to stop, be mindful and contemplate your day. Unfortunately most people eat on the run, rush their chewing and often make unhealthy meal choices...

Our teeth and the enzyme Amylase that exists in our saliva is the body’s first step in the complicated process of digestion. If  our meal times are rushed and if we are not chewing our food well enough, healthy metabolism is interrupted. When food is incorrectly digested, digestive pain, bloating, constipation/ diarrhoea and unnecessary weight gain can result (metabolic syndrome). For optimal digestion we should be chewing our food at least 25 times per mouthful (depending of course of the texture of the food that you are consuming). No doubt most people’s reaction to reading that would have been “I don’t chew that much”, and if so perhaps start counting how many times you chew with your next meal. A healthy tip; never eat when you are stressed or angry.

4. Meditation practice #4: Relaxing bathing time

Most people love submerging themselves in a nice hot bath, dissolving away all of their worries. Before sleep, bathing is a great time to calm down and practice meditation so that you may process of your thoughts and experiences from the day. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil and a chamomile tea bag and breathe in the relaxing aroma it creates. If you do not have a bath, you can always make a regular visit to your local pool and use the spa or sauna there. It is important to implement safety measures while in the bath, and for obvious reason, avoid drinking alcohol or falling asleep during this form of water meditation!

5. Meditation practice #5: Taking the time to breathe deeply

Between work deadlines and rushing around with babies and kids, people forget to breathe. Simply taking the time to breathe in 5 deep belly breathes can instantly reduce your racing heart rate and ‘bring you back to the middle’. Try to adopt a stress-free approach to your day and if it helps, write all of your tasks down in order of completing them, and for your mental health perhaps cross 2 off that you can do tomorrow. On this list add breathe next to each task or errand. Now, switch on the kettle, make yourself a cup of herbal tea, close your eyes and take 5 deep breathes, enjoying the sense of calm breathing gives you as every cell in your body is re-oxygenated.

  

Some people are naturally positive and optimistic (critics might say that they have ‘rose-coloured glasses) and others find it more difficult or perhaps a challenge to see the glass as half full being naturally more cynical, negative or pessimistic. At every dinner party there is always a pessimist and there is always an optimist constructing a wall of argument… The fact is that people who have a positive outlook to life (either of their current life situation or of the future) are in general more happy, relaxed and healthy people. Life is short and can often throw us blows that are difficult to stand up from, however if we approach our challenges with a different mindset, the outcome may just be a different one than we expected. The good news is that we can change our mind and our mentality and re-train ourselves to enjoy our precious life with a more positive outlook…

Below are some helpful and realistic tips that you may like to use to implement change, but do remember that firstly you have to be willing to see that your current outlook is not healthy or vibrant and secondly you have to be willing to make the necessary change.

Step 1: Be grateful for your life.

Step 2: Be yourself and believe in yourself.

Step 3: Appreciate that you are exactly where you are supposed to be (even if you are having more bad hits than good experiences).

Step 4: Highlight the ‘issues’ in your life (bad relationship, job you dislike, ill health, poor lifestyle etc) and plan the steps to change them.

Step 4: Write down 5 easy to implement steps/goals you can take to approach step 4. Try not to be too stringent and avoid attempting to overhaul your life all at once. Ie. Prepare your lunch the night before, search for a new job, discuss relationship issues with your partner, start walking, start stretching, eat more fruit/ veggies etc.

Step 5: Do your best to avoid being negative. You can achieve this by avoiding  gossip, staying clear of negative people in your life, ignoring people’s judgements and negative comments and by being 100% authentic.

Step 6:  Listen to your mind chatter (subconscious thoughts)… If you hear yourself saying “I never”, “I can’t”, “no”, “it’s terrible”, ”I shouldn’t” or “it’s too hard ” then immediately counteract these thoughts with positive responses such as “I can” and “I will” and “I am worthy” etc.

Step 7:  Be nice to yourself and avoid being your hardest critic. Try to avoid all situations where you may argue with people or become angry. Arguments just aren't worth it!

Step 8: Relinquish control, let go and go with the flow.

Step 9: Resume or take up reading… However make every effort to avoid reading newspapers (sports pages being the only exception) as they more often than not contain negative news that can clog your mind and spirit. Also, try to avoid reading ebooks and digital sources as our lives have become too technological. Perhaps read a good old fashion paperback novel.

Step 10: Exercise your body as well as your mind. Exercise is a great way to burn off steam and clear your mind, using adrenalin as it was physiologically meant to be used.

In conclusion, stress leads to poor lifestyle choices and can cause lifestyle diseases, so take a step back, relax, and meditate to potentially reduce your risk of developing lifestyle diseases… Remember, meditation can be many things, whatever you choose... Discover what and where makes you feel relaxed, relax and meditate regularly! Enjoy!

 

  

References:

1. Tooley, GA etal. (2000). Acute increases in night-time plasma melatonin levels following a period of meditation. Vol 53 (1). Biolog Psych. Pg. 69-78.
2. Jim Lagopoulos etal (2009.). Increased Theta and Alpha EEG Activity During Nondirective Meditation. Vol 15 (11), Journ Alternat Comp Med.
3. Canter, PH. (2003). The therapeutic effects of meditation. BMJ. Vol 326. Pg 1049.
4. Tacón, AM etal. (2003). Mindfulness Meditation, Anxiety Reduction, and Heart Disease: A Pilot Study. Comp Altern Ther. Vol 26 )(1). Pg. 25-33
5. Tang, YY etal. (2007). Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation. PNAS. Vol. 104 (43). Pg.17152-17156
6. Manocha, R etal. (2011), A randomized, controlled trial of meditation for work stress, anxiety and depressed mood in full-time workers.  Evid Based Comp Altern Med.
7. Barnes, VA etal. (2004). Impact of Meditation on Resting and Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Youth. Psychosomat Med. Vol 66. Pg. 909-914.
8. Davidson, RJ etal. (2003). Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation. Psychosomat Med. Vol 65. Pg. 564-570.